The Justice for ALL 2009 awardees are:
Kevin J. Connor, of Westmont, is receiving the Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Award for Leadership. Connor currently serves as Director for Lay Ministry Formation for the Diocese of Camden, and is responsible for preparing and engaging the laity in all aspects of church ministry. For the past eight years, he was the Director of Development for Catholic Charities. Connor also served as Associate Director of Development for the diocese. Additionally, he is the Practice Administrator for St. Luke’s Catholic Medical Services. Connor held a number of management positions in healthcare. He was the COO and CFO of Frankford Health Care System in Northeast Philadelphia and Administrator of Frankford-Bucks Hospital. Connor is an active member of Holy Saviour Church in Westmont where he is an adult leader of their Youth Ministry, chair of the Finance Committee, liaison to Pastoral Council and an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.
Nelva Ancona Paraison, of Millville, is receiving the Peter J. O’Connor Award for Social Justice. She has been an energetic advocate for equal access to health care for Hispanic people for more than 20 years. She is a founding member of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a member of the Hispanic Task Force formed by the Centers for Disease Control to address cultural needs in health care delivery, and a collaborative member of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Although employed full time by Community Health Care, Inc., her commitment to justice for all led her to create Centro Guadalupano which is a non-profit organization providing social and educational service to non-English speakers. For the past 12 years, she has hosted a community television program, Perfil Latino. Through her commitment to justice, she has ensured that thousands of Hispanic people are part of the fabric of American life.
Bill Klatt of Sewell is receiving the Sister Grace Nolan Award for Social Ministry. For more than six years, Klatt was engaged as a pro-life speaker for the Diocese of Camden, giving more than 100 talks to teenagers about life issues and chastity. From 2001-05, Klatt was Coordinator of the Pro-Life Office for the Diocese of Camden. His tenure was marked by energetically working to partner with religious, political and community leaders in social justice, family life, and right to life ministries. While serving in the Pro-Life Office, Klatt became increasingly aware of the local need for safe housing and education for homeless pregnant women and their children. A fortuitous meeting with Chris Bell, co-founder of Good Counsel Inc., launched a project to establish a maternity home in South Jersey. Over the last several years, Klatt and his leadership team, volunteers, and supporters have raised funds and friends sufficient to begin this necessary project.
Father Jeff Putthoff, S.J., of Camden, is receiving the Monsignor Michael Doyle and Monsignor Robert McDermott Award for Parish Social Ministry in recognition for outstanding service to the community. He has lived and worked in Camden for the last 11 years. He is the founder and Executive Director of Hopeworks ‘N Camden, a youth technology portal using the technologies of web site design/development and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to work with youth ages 14-23 in Camden. Father Putthoff has been a Jesuit priest for 11 years and has been a Jesuit for 23 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University, master’s in English from Loyola Chicago, master’s of divinity and of theology from Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. He is currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania for a master’s in organizational dynamics and is enrolled in the A.K. Rice Institute training program.
The prestigious social and community awards were created in 2004 to recognize the achievements of those who have actively and diligently pursued social justice throughout the six counties of the Camden Diocese which stretch from Cape May to Camden, Atlantic City to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and all of the many communities in between.
As mentioned, all proceeds from this event will be used to provide direct assistance to individuals and families of all faiths who are in need throughout the six southern counties that the diocese serves. From the 2008 Justice for ALL Awards Dinner proceeds, Catholic Charities raised more than $136,000 which, in turn, allows the agency to provide direct client services to more than 1,800 families and individuals. This money is being used to end crises and to prevent eviction, utility disconnection (electric, gas and oil), and to provide food and prescription needsand create stabilization within families.
“Every year we are challenged by the process of selecting individuals and organizations that we can recognize with our Justice for ALL annual awards dinner,” said Kevin Hickey, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, Inc. “I am confident you will find each of the 2009 honorees to be not only inspirational but also beacons of hope in a time where our nation and its people are feeling challenged-it’s through celebrating their outstanding work that we spread the good word and encourage others to join in giving back in whatever way they can,” he said.
For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesCamden.org.
Catholic Charities is a faith-based agency whose offices, located in all six South Jersey counties, offer assistance to the poor, oppressed and vulnerable, without regard to race, religion or financial ability. Services include: case management and emergency financial assistance to needy individuals and families; behavioral health counseling and treatment; school-based counseling and family support; disaster relief; training for unemployed individuals to enter for the workforce and entrepreneurial ventures; warehouse and thrift shops for low-income families; pregnancy and adoption services; refugee resettlement, and counseling and other support to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Also, comprehensive prenatal and gynecological healthcare; medical practice management for services to uninsured and underinsured patients; spiritual intervention and comfort to patients, families and medical staff at hospitals in the six-county Camden Diocese, and ministry to incarcerated men and women and their families, as well as training for clergy and lay prison ministry volunteers.