CCS honors those who serve the vulnerable

IC photo by Marie Mischel

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lder M. Russell Ballard accepts the CCS Humanitarian Award from Pamela Atkinson during the Humanitarian Awards dinner.

SALT LAKE CITY - The VIPs of Utah's humanitarian community gathered at the Little America Hotel Nov. 17 to pay tribute to organizations and individuals singled out at the annual Catholic Community Services (CCS) awards dinner.

About 650 people, including Thomas Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Sister Julie B. Beck, general president of the Relief Society; Brigham Young University President Cecil Samuelson and Msgr. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, attended the dinner. The Most Rev. John C. Wester was in Washington D.C. that evening at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops convention.

"This is the highest number that we've had at this dinner in many years," said Pamela Atkinson, the event's master of ceremonies.

The turnout was "a remarkable tribute to the humanitarian feeling that exists in this state," said Brad Drake, CCS executive director.

Among the honorees was LDS Church Elder M. Russell Ballard, who first encountered Catholic humanitarian efforts 20 years ago in Ethiopia, when he helped bring aid to the drought-stricken nation. "And ever since then, back in 1984, I've had a wonderful experience of being close to the Catholic Church," he said after receiving the humanitarian award from CCS. "I count it a great privilege to be partners in so many ways in trying to help maintain the values and the good principles that both of our churches and, I think, most people of faith stand for... We all try to follow Jesus Christ and do the things He would have us do. I look forward to many more wonderful years working together."

Elder Ballard, who was presented with CCS' Humanitarian Award, is always the first person to reach out a hand to help, said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "He builds bridges. He tries to bring about unity in the diversity of our community."

The other honorees follow.

• Wells Fargo Bank was lauded as a Corporate Partner not only for its support of CCS, but also its contributions to many nonprofit organizations. Wells Fargo officials go out of their way to be supportive and "to get the funds that they need to continue providing critical services," Cathy Bray, president/CEO of Volunteers of America, during the videotaped remarks honoring the bank.

• United Way of Northern Utah, Community Partner - "Without the United Way of Northern Utah, the problems of poverty, of getting people back on their feet could not be accomplished because government cannot do it, and oftentimes families cannot do it," said Scott Erickson, northern Utah director for Congressman Rob Bishop, in the video comments. It's oftentimes an organization that a person feels connected with, that cares about him, that can really help."

• The Bashire family, which was presented with the Unsung Hero award. Originally from Burundi, Bashire Nigarura and Sarafina Ndagijimana and their children came to Utah two years ago. They are representative of many of the refugees that have been resettled by Catholic Community Services," Atkinson said, and "have been through probably what we would call unspeakable hardships. They spent 11 years in a refugee camp and they now live in Holladay, and the family has adjusted quite well."

• Msgr. Terence Moore - "I think Msgr. Moore truly deserves this Humanitarian Award given by Catholic Community Services," said Bishop Wester about the pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish. "He's a splendid priest and a remarkable human being. He truly loves people." Msgr. Moore was formerly a CCS director and in the 1970s started the refugee resettlement program in Utah.