Contact:             

Lindsay Hansen                              

Catholic Charities                            

(480) 205-6195    

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2009)… The Phoenix Advisory Board will honor six outstanding Maricopa County individuals for their dedication and commitment to the community at the 2009 Annual Awards Dinner. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Moon Valley Country Club. 

“Each year, we look forward to honoring and recognizing individuals and companies who are committed to improving the lives of those touched through Catholic Charities,” said Tom Egan, Phoenix Regional Director.  “Our programs rely on community support to function and especially in challenging economic times.  These people are leaders in our community and we’re grateful to have them on board.”

Award winners are listed below:

Roxanne Rix, of St. Jerome Parish, will be receiving this year’s Magnificat Award, which recognizes a member of a Maricopa County Catholic parish who demonstrates remarkable love and service to those in need. 

Tommy Espinoza, of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, will be receiving this year’s Prophet Amos Award, which recognizes a person of any faith who demonstrates the passion of the Prophet Amos for the little-loved, little-respected and marginalized members of our society.

Patricia Bell will be receiving this year’s Helen Shea Service Award, which is given in honor of Helen Shea, a former executive director of Catholic Charities in Phoenix.  The recipient of this award has made an outstanding contribution to the goals and ideals of the agency. 

Steve Rude of Rude Family Northwest Mortuary and Lee Garrett of Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum will be receiving the Simon of Cyrene Award which is given to a company or corporation which assists good people in carrying out the Gospel of Jesus, as Simon did, by lightening their load and walking beside them. 

Additionally, Sister Mary Ruth Dittman, S.D.S. will receive a Special Tribute in the form of a Lifetime Achievement Award for demonstrating a lifetime of responding to human needs and a personal commitment to the values and mission of Catholic Charities, especially in the areas of charity and justice. 

Tickets for this year’s event are $75 per person or tables of ten can be purchased for $750. Business, corporate and individual sponsorships are also available.  For more information about becoming a sponsor or to reserve seating, please contact Pat Williams at 602-749-4421 or via e-mail at pwilliams@cc-az.org.

About Catholic Charities

Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities Community Services is one of Arizona’s oldest and largest nonprofit organizations which offers a diverse range of social services that strengthen families, protect and nurture children, and support people in crisis.  Catholic Charities serves people of all ages and faiths.  Last year, the charitable organization provided over 50 programs at 100 locations to more than 200,000 people in central and northern Arizona.  Catholic Charities is a member organization of Catholic Charities USA which is the largest private network of social service organizations in the United States working to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities.  The organization is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services.  To learn more about Catholic Charities visit CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.

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