past honorees
2012 Honorees
Ascension Health, St. Louis, Missouri
Advocate for quality Catholic health care, especially for the poor and vulnerable.
Ascension Health provides health care that works, health care that is safe and health care that leaves no one behind. As the largest Catholic and non-profit health system in the United States, Ascension advocates for a compassionate and just society through its mission-focused health ministries.
In the spirit of the religious communities that brought their health systems together in 1999 to form Ascension, it remains rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, committed to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Dedicated to the heart of its mission, Ascension provided $1.2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and community benefit in 2011, reaching those in need at its 1,400 locations in 21 states.
The focus on the spirituality that underlies the mission and values is paramount in the workplace, nurtured in Ascension’s 121,000 associates through education, such as the lay leader formation program. In 2002, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet became the sixth sponsor of Ascension Health and today, we take pride in continuing the mission of supporting health care that leaves no one behind through our historical sponsorship of the system.
Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Virginia Coppinger, Kansas City, Missouri
Advocates for affordable Catholic education and service to the poor
When Tom and Virginia aren't helping at-risk inner city youth, providing basic essential services to the needy, or participating in their parish Habitat building, they are serving on boards and committees at Avila University and
St. Teresa's Academy to help raise awareness and funds so that Catholic secondary and higher education is affordable and accessible to all. Then again, they may be helping ensure that the mission and ministries of the
Sisters of St. Joseph in the Kansas City Metro Area are known and remain viable. Quietly, and motivated by their deep faith, they spend themselves giving their time, talents and resources, because this is what it means to be people of God
Jane Corbett, St. Louis, Missouri
Advocate for the children of Haiti and thos in need in St. Louis
At 76, Jane is not even close to retiring from serving the dear neighbor in Haiti. Whether she is working with the organization Healing the Children or organizing a huge three-day garage sale, her relentless commitment is contagious.
An advocate for all who are sick, homeless, hungry or in need of someone to care, Jane serves her parish, St. Michael's in Shrewsbury, Mo. and her St. Louis community with the zeal of Jesus. She selflessly spends all her energies helping others because she knows God is calling us to take action, joining with others to make a positive difference in our neighborhoods and our world.
2011 Honorees
Joe and Sue Fahey, Kansas City, Missouri
Advocates for Affordable, High Quality Catholic Education
Joe and Sue have made a lifetime commitment of generosity of time, talen and treasure to promote affordable, high quality Catholic education throug their steadfast service and dedication to CSJ-sponsored Avila University and St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City.
Jack and Julie Lally, St. Louis
Advocates for the Poor, Disenfranchised and Women at Risk
Jack and Julie unabashedly practice gospel values and the Catholic social teachings of the Church with their leadership in and service to the Archdiocese of St. Louis through organizations suchs as Catholic Charities, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services and Child Center - Marygrove.
Bob and Judy Sieckhaus, St. Louis
Advocates for Direct Service to the Poor, Homeless and Hungry
Bob and Judy devote their lives to serving the poor of St. Louis, particularly through their work at St. Vincent DePaul Parish. On any given day you will find them organizing fundraisers or delivering meals or sorting clothing donations.
2010 Honorees
Corliss J. DuBois Cox, CSJA, St. Louis
Advocates for Youth
Corliss is the senior youth ministry coordinator for the St. Charles Lwanga Center of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Instilling and promoting spiritual, economical, academic, social and cultural development of youth and young adults has been her mission.
Richard and Barbara Hammond, Haiti
Care for the Children of Haiti
Richard and Barbara founded the Friends of the Children in Haiti (FOTCOH) in 1991, after six years of organizing and overseeing a yearly medical mission to Haiti thorugh their parish. FOTCOH is a non-profit which provides critical care for the most vulnerable people on earth.
Thomas and Kathleen Gunn, St. Louis
Advocates for Faith-based Education, Health care and Social Services
Tom and Kate Gunn make a direct and systemic difference in the lives of individuals and faith-based education, health care and social service agencies and institutions through their countless hours of volunteering time and providing board expertise and leadership.
2009 Honorees
Lynne M. Cooper and DOORWAYS, St. Louis Missouri
Care and advocacy for those with AIDS
Lynne is the founder and President of Doorways, an interfaith AIDS housing and services organization dedicated to providing compassionate care for clients for more than twenty years.
Richard D. Egan, Sister Bay, Wisconsin
Advocacy for the poor, marginated and underserved
Richard is the founder and ongoing supporter of FUVIRESE in Baños, Ecuador. This organization serves people, especially children, hidden by society because of their disabilities.
John M. Ringwald, St. Louis, Missouri
Care and advocacy for older persons
John is the chairperson of the Nazareth Living Center Board of Trustees and an integral part of sustaining, advancing and advocating for premier care for aging persons.
2008 Honorees
Ruben Garcia, Director and Co-Founder of Annunciation House, El Paso, Ruben Garcia has made it his life's ministry to serve the needs of the immigrant at Annunciation House, providing hospitality to close to 100,000 immigrants, refugees and undocumented persons from Mexico, Central America and 40 other countries.
Marie Kenyon, Managing Attorney of Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Marie Kenyon has provided legal services to low income clients through St. Louis City and 10 surrounding counties since 1987, heping in both civil and immigration matters.
Robert G. Frazier, Executive Vice President, Mission and Community Services, Carondelet Health, Kansas City, Missouri
Robert Frazier is well knows and loved in the Kansas City community for his dedication to serving others in ways that foster unity, respect and justice, including with his work for Carondelet Health, Catholic education and in the formation of Catholic Charities in Kansas City.
2007 Honorees
Michelle Schiller-Baker, Founder/Executive Director of St. Martha's Hall, St. Louis, Missouri
Through St. Martha's Hall, a shelter for abused women and their children, Michelle Schiller-Baker has helped families heal from spousal abuse and empower them to change the course of their lives.
Hon. Judge Philip D. Heagney, Circuit Judge 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri
Judge Phillip D. Heagney serves from the bench in a manner that respects all. He was the first judge to give women the opportunity to offer women defendants the opportunity to choose to participate in a rehabilitation program rather than serve a jail sentence.
