Catholic Community Services to give tribute to community humanitarians during annual dinner

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The Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be honored the 2013 Catholic Community Services Humanitarians of the Year.

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) will host its annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner Oct. 24 at Little America Hotel to recognize those in the community who make a difference in the lives of those in need.

The CCS Humanitarian Awards Dinner will recognize Frank and Barbara Layden as the Humanitarians of the Year, the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Humanitarians, the University of Utah Lowell Bennion Community Service Center, as the Community Partner and 10-year-old Armani McFarland as the Unsung Hero.

"The annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner is our way of bringing awareness to those most in need, while giving tribute to community members who are making a very real difference in the lives of many," said Bradford Drake, CCS executive director. "This year’s dinner has particular importance due to the Year of Faith and the current government shutdown."

Pope Benedict XVI declared the Year of Faith as a time for Catholics to focus on deepening their faith, celebrating their faith and living their faith; one way to live the faith is through acts of charity.

"The CCS dinner is a great place to give, knowing that everything raised [that night] will go directly to program and client support," Drake said. "Although it has only been a few days, the government shutdown has made us see the true value in the services we provide for those in need and how the community can contribute through in-kind and monetary donations."

Frank and Barbara Layden have done tremendous work in the community over the past 30 years, said Danielle Stamos, CCS public relations and marketing coordinator. "Frank Layden, as the Utah Jazz coach and president, was in a unique position to influence many people at all levels, and he did it for the good," she said.

The Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "do a great amount of work in cooperation with us in assisting the Refugee Resettlement Program," said Stamos. "They help us provide furniture, beds and new mattresses for each refugee family."

Students at the University of Utah Lowell Bennion Community Service Center are incredible, said Stamos. "They work in an array of CCS programs throughout the year, such as assisting at Christmas in the Gift of the Drummer Program and the Refugee Resettlement Program by mentoring families and assisting in the Saint Vincent de Paul Dining Hall."

This year’s Unsung Hero is an elementary student from Ogden who has raised over $15,000 in monetary and in-kind donations for CCS in numerous food, clothing, and school supply donation drives, said Stamos.

"Armani has such an extraordinary story," said Stamos. "One day she went to school to learn from her teacher how some kids go to bed hungry. She thought that was odd and went home to ask her mother if that was true. Her mother agreed, and Armani didn’t like that, so she took it upon herself to make a difference and held a food drive."

The CCS Humanitarian Dinner is an opportunity for community members to learn how they can help the less fortunate, Stamos said. "We have already witnessed the effects of the government shutdown. We receive new refugees almost every day and if they can’t get a Social Security card, it may delay them in finding employment and if they can’t get food stamps, it will be difficult for them to get food. The people who are the most in need are the people who are the most vulnerable."

WHAT: The CCS Humanitarian Dinner

WHEN: Oct. 24, 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: Little America Hotel, 500 South Main, SLC

Tickets are $150 per person or $1,500 per table. For information, call Danielle Stamos, CCS public relations and marketing coordinator, 801-428-1216.