CCS dinner to honor Bishop John C. Wester with Humanitarian Award; raise funds for programs

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester, shown earlier this year with Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-3rd District) looking at postcards signed by local Catholics urging immigration legislation reform, is chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.

For 65 years, Catholic Community Services has responded to the needs of the down-and-out. It offers everything from the basic – hot meals at the St. Vincent de Paul Resource Center – to holiday cheer through the Gift of the Drummer, giving Christmas presents to children who otherwise would receive nothing.

To help the thousands of Utahns seeking to escape hunger, homelessness and addiction, as well as helping refugees and immigrants learn the ways of their new home, CCS depends on community support; 51 percent of its budget comes from donations.

A primary fundraiser is the annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner, scheduled this year for Wednesday, Nov. 10. All of the proceeds from the dinner go to CCS; cost of the dinner is underwritten by sponsors. The dinner will celebrate CCS’ 65 years of service to people of all beliefs and backgrounds, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of its parent organization, Catholic Charities U.S.A.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, will receive the Humanitarian Award for his work as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration.

"He has visited refugee camps throughout the world, so he has personal contact with refugees," said Kathryn Brussard, CCS director of development and marketing. "He’s actually right in there, finding out firsthand about the plight of the refugees and applying that in the way that only Bishop Wester can do, with such compassion and humanity, building the awareness here locally and nationally about the importance of understanding both the plight of refugees and immigrants to inspire real reform."

The Unsung Hero Award will go to Sarah and Ray Osborn, who have taken in three refugee foster children from Myanmar (formerly Burma.) The award goes to ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things, Brussard said, a description that fits the Osborns.

The CCS Refugee Foster Care program accepts children from ages 8 to 18, many of whom don’t know if their parents are alive. CCS partners with Utah Youth Village to find foster families for the children.

Taking in a refugee foster child "has inherent difficulties with language and many other things attached to it – cultural differences, language differences," Brussard said. "You have to be prepared to take that on. Most people take one foster child. (The Osborns) not only took three, but they’re not even siblings, these three. They come from different parts of Burma."

The Osborns completed all the paperwork for the refugee foster care in 2008, and "within a week had three boys arriving at their house," said Lauren Gress, CCS PR and marketing associate. "They got a phone call that said, ‘Can you take them now?’ They said ‘yes.’"

The family, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are very culturally sensitive to the boys’ needs, Brussard said. "It’s the kind of open-mindedness and generosity that you never hear about."

Community Partner awards will go to LDS Relief Society General President Sister Julie Beck and homeless advocate Pamela Atkinson.

Beck is "really representing the Relief Society for the LDS Church," which last year provided hundreds of handmade quilts and blankets for CCS’ St. Martha’s Baby Project as well as for adults in northern Utah, Brussard said. "It was a huge project spearheaded by Julie Beck. We’ve been impressed with her care for what we do in the community. That represents our great partnership with the LDS Church, which has been something where they’ve given us financial support as well as all of these in-kind donations."

Atkinson is not only an advocate for, but friend to anyone in need, Brussard added. "I think all of us in the non-profit community owe her such a debt of gratitude. She not only helps us raise funds, but she is an advocate for us in places of power, especially up at the Legislature. (They) listen to what she says. She commands the attention of everyone on both sides of the aisle. She’s very focused on making sure that those who are not represented, those who have no voice, are heard."

Also honored will be Maggie St. Claire, the CCS executive director from 2002 to 2008. "She was a visionary leader," Brussard said, pointing out that it was through St. Claire’s doing that Intermountain Healthcare donated the building on 300 South for CCS’ offices. "She expanded programs where expansion was necessary and she ended programs that weren’t viable anymore."

The master of ceremonies for this year’s dinner will be Carole Mikita, KSL reporter for religion and arts. Guests this year are expected to include Gov. Gary Herbert and Lt. Gov. Greg Bell as well as LDS President Thomas S. Monson.

Tickets for the Nov. 10 dinner, which begins with a social hour at 6 p.m. at Little America, are still available. Individual tickets are $150; call 801-428-1231. For sponsorship opportunities, visit www.ccsutah.org.