Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Contact: Rob Egan
126 Logan Boulevard
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone (814) 695-5579
Cell Phone (814) 442-9384
Friday, April 25, 2008
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
HONORS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS REGION
Annual Dinner Recognizes Service of
Individuals from Four Central PA Counties
(HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA) – The Second Annual Catholic
Charities Board Dinner honored individuals from four different
counties on Thursday, April 24 at the Saint Rose of Lima
Parish's Maria Center in Altoona.
The event began with a light reception and continued with
the dinner and award presentations. The Most Reverend
Joseph V. Adamec, Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown,
was a guest of honor and Pastor Betty Landis
of Bethany Lutheran Church, Altoona, delivered the keynote
speech.
Receiving the Monsignor William M. Griffin Awards were:
Dr. Zane Gates, Gloria Gates Foundation,
Altoona; Norma Keller, Centre County Youth
Services Bureau; Dick Slavik, Prince of
Peace Parish, Northern Cambria; William McKinney,
Saint Columba Parish, Johnstown; Larry Harker,
Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Altoona; and Nancy Edmiston,
Saint Michael Parish, Saint Michael. The Msgr. Griffin Awards
are presented to those who exhibit exemplary service to
those in need and are named after the founder of Catholic
Charities in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. The Catholic
Charities board nominated two recipients, while parish pastors
nominated four.
The Catholic Charities Student Service Awards, presented
to nominees from Catholic schools and religious education
programs in the eight-county diocese, were received by:
Lerin Fultz, Bishop Guilfoyle High School,
Altoona; Scott Miller, Saint John the Evangelist
School, Altoona (Lakemont); Heather Kuhlman,
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Penns Valley; and Rachael
DeMartino, Saint Peter Parish, Somerset. These
honorees were deemed to have gone above and beyond required
social service hours to assist those in need in their communities.
Catholic Charities, Inc. of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
has offices in Altoona, Johnstown, and Bellefonte from which
it serves people in eight counties: Blair, Bedford, Cambria,
Centre, Clinton, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset. A review
of the award winners shows that they came from four of those
counties: Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Somerset.
Since its founding in 1940, Catholic Charities has strived
to fulfill its mission: "To provide service to those
in need, to advocate for justice, to encourage all Catholics,
all people to live justly and have a care for the poor."
In response to various needs, Catholic Charities offers:
individual, family, marital, and group counseling; emergency
financial assistance; foster care and adoption services;
Real Alternatives , a program which assists women in crisis
pregnancies; and marriage preparation and enrichment. The
services of Catholic Charities are offered without regard
for race, ethnic origin, religious belief, or financial
means.
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