2015
Mary Jo Copeland, the founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands and Mary’s Place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sharing and Caring Hands is a nonprofit organization that provides a host of services that include food, clothing, shelter, transportation assistance, medical and dental help to those in need. Sharing and Caring Hands built Mary’s Place, a $7.5 million transitional housing apartment complex. Sharing and Caring Hands is an extension of the community to the desperate needs of the poor and exists as a vehicle for volunteers to commit their time and resources towards making a difference in the lives of others. Sharing and Caring Hands stands as an emotional anchor and a beacon of hope to those who are alone, afraid, or in need.
2013
Sister Virginia Welsh, OSF, Director of the Padua Center in Toledo, Ohio. Padua Center serves a predominantly African-American area of Toledo’s central city known as Kwanzaa Park. All of the Padua Center programs seek to recognize and instill the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
2011
Sister Marybeth McDermott, CSJ, Founding Director of School on Wheels, the mobile literacy program for immigrants in Chicago’s western suburbs.
2009
Both of these recipients were involved in Hurricane Katrina recovery and support:
Brenda B. Brown , Director of Projects for the University of New Orleans and a specialist in education for multiply-handicapped students; noted for her work with the House of Ruth which provides financial assistance to families in crisis.
Rev. Anthony E. Rigoli, OMI , pastor, chaplain and theology professor; opened the St. Jude Community Center as a shelter for homeless, hungry and desperate people in the city.
2007
Cynthia Canning, SNJM and Rosemary Delaney, SNJM, are recipients of the 2007 KGP Faith and Service Award. They are co-founders and directors of Next Step Learning Center in Oakland, CA. Next Step is a non-profit organization with the goal of teaching reading skills to men and women over the age of 17. The center helps clients prepare to take the GED high school equivalency exam. The efforts of the honorees, their staff and volunteers echo Kappa’s service project supporting literacy initiatives.
2005
Rev. Donald H. Dunson, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Saint Mary Seminary Graduate School of Theology, Cleveland. In 2001, Father Dunson spent a six-month sabbatical in Africa and Central America. His book, No Room at the Table: Earth’s Most Vulnerable Children, shares the shocking realities of poverty: hunger, violence, child labor, AIDS orphans and lack of education, side by side with warm personal stories of children and families he has met. Father Dunson’s book and his numerous articles highlight the needs and suggest that we act in solidarity with the poor through contributions to Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF, and the International Red Cross. The St. Kizoto Scholarship Fund that Father Dunson initiated provides education to African children.
2003
Mary and Bill Carry, full time justice and peace activists and advocates who have traveled the world working for the transformation of society through non-violence and conflict resolution methods.
2001
Blanche Macdonald Francis, outstanding community activist and organizational volunteer; New Orleans, LA
1999
Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative from Ohio House District 9, defender of American jobs, workers and businesses
1997
Sisters Carol Anne O’Marie and Maureen Lyons, ministers to homeless women and children at A Friendly Place, urban drop-in center; Oakland
1995
Mary Ann and Robert J. Kresse, community activists and philanthropists; Buffalo
1993
Mary Bill, Director of the Great Lakes Theatre Festival, outstanding advocate for arts in America; Cleveland
1991
Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, CoFounder, principal and director of a community country day school for emotionally disturbed children; Erie
1989
Sister Sally M. Furay, RSCJ, Vice President and Provost, University of San Diego; San Diego
1987
Florence Edelbrock, Organizer of international service programs for the poor, including the African Water Project; Detroit
1990
Sister Mary Peter, SP, Director of support agencies for women and children; Springfield
1983
Barbara H. Willke, Right-to-Life leader; Cincinnati
1981
Zoe Dunphy, Educator and advocate of legislation for the elderly; Toledo
1979
Virginia Breher Colson, Childrens’ Services, social worker; Columbus
1977
Lucienne Gourdon Biggs, International figure in liturgical music and Catholic philosophical thought; Los Angeles
1975
Eleanor Josaitis, Cofounder and Director of Focus Hope, a food prescription project; Toledo
1973
Sister M. Aquin Gallagher, OP, Advisor-Educator; Grand Rapids
1971
Dr. Francis Quinlivan, noted educator; Cleveland
1969
Teresa Posey, activist laywoman; Washington, DC
1967
Marie Kilgannon, Supervisor of Unwed Mothers Services, Catholic Charities; Chicago
1965
Margaret Sullivan, outstanding laywoman; Chicago
1963
Kathryn O’Hay Granahan, Treasurer of the United States; Philadelphia
