CCS annual awards dinner to be Oct. 30

Friday, Sep. 27, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services of Utah will again honor some of those who have given much to the organization at its annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner, which will be held this year on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

“We are honored to be able to recognize the humanitarians who are making a difference in our community. The Humanitarian Awards Dinner is our favorite time to look back on the past year in gratitude of all those who have supported our efforts in the community, and look forward to a new year of making a difference in the lives of those most in need,” said Danielle Stamos, CCS director of public relations and marketing.

At the dinner CCS will recognize Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, the diocese’s vicar general emeritus, with the Lifetime of Services award. Msgr. Fitzgerald, a native Utahn and Judge Memorial Catholic High School alumnus, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1962. Since then he has held every major administrative position in the local Church including pastor, principal, school superintendent, seminary director, church historian and two terms each as vicar general and diocesan administrator. Although he officially retired in 2011, he still puts in many hours every week working at the Pastoral Center on the diocese’s business. Msgr. Fitzgerald twice served as executive director of CCS and several times was acting executive director; he has been a member of its board for many years.

“Msgr. Fitzgerald has been an integral part of CCS’ history and has never wavered in his support of the underserved,” Stamos said. “His guidance of CCS over the years has been invaluable to its success in expanding services to continue to meet the needs of our ever-changing community.”  

Local construction contractor Tom Stevens will be honored with the Humanitarian award. Stevens’ company has completed a number of projects for CCS in Salt Lake City over the past decade, including renovations of its former building at 745 East 300 South. It also worked on CCS’s new building at 224 North 2200 West to prepare it for use by the administration and migrant and refugee services departments. In addition, the company completed a remodel of the food services area in the CCS building in Ogden along with work at the Weigand Homeless Resource Center. They are currently finishing an addition and remodel for the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall that includes a new training kitchen.

“Tom and his team have helped us execute our plans to expand our services in helping those most in need,” Stamos said. “Tom has been very generous in his support of our work and always strives to make the best space for our staff, volunteers and clients.”

Odyssey House has been named Partner of the Year. The organization offers care for teens, adults, and parents with children who are dealing with addiction. It provides education, job skills, health care, sober housing, behavioral management and aftercare programs.

Along with providing complementary services for some of CCS’s clients, Odyssey House purchased the organization’s former building, and afterward, when permitting issues arose, they allowed CCS to continue to occupy the building for several months.

“Odyssey House has been a tremendous partner of CCS over the years as we both work to help those struggling with addiction,” Stamos said. “We were honored that they purchased our building and grateful that the space will continue to serve those in need.”