CCS' annual awards dinner to honor humanitarians

Friday, Oct. 10, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services will host the 29th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City on Nov. 6. 

This year, former Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. and his wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, have been named the Humanitarians of the Year. 

In addition, Elder L. Tom and Barbara Perry of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the Humanitarians. The ALSAM Foundation is the Partner of the Year, and the Unsung Hero is Jan Luger, who runs a satellite food pantry in Ogden. 

Jon and Mary Kaye Huntsman have supported CCS for many years, as have his parents, Jon M. and Karen Huntsman, said Danielle Stamos, CCS public relations and marketing coordinator. 

“CCS has a great relationship with them; their families come every Christmas and serve the homeless and low income people at the Saint Vincent de Paul Dining Hall,” said Stamos. “No matter where they are in the world, they fly in and serve Christmas dinner as a family; it’s special for them and for us. They are so supportive of everything we do.” 

As governor and first lady of Utah, the Huntsmans were always supportive of nonprofit organizations and of helping the homeless, said Jose Lazaro, CCS development director, noting that “they braved a snowstorm one year to stand outside in the cold at the [CCS] Weigand Center to attend a memorial vigil for the homeless.”

As Humanitarians, the Perrys also support CCS’ endeavors, said Stamos. 

“CCS and the LDS Church work together in all that we do in serving those in need,” she said, adding that 40 percent of the food tray offered at the St. Vincent Dining Hall is donated by LDS Humanitarian Services, which also provides Deseret Industries vouchers for refugees, low-income clients and homeless clients so they can get clothes, shoes, coats, household items and furniture.

Deseret Industries is both a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation facility and a thrift store run by the LDS church.

Humanitarian Services also hires and trains refugees to work, giving them on-the-job experience and a letter of recommendation for future jobs, said Stamos.

“We are really excited this year to honor The ALSAM Foundation,” said Stamos, adding that the foundation has given hundreds of millions of dollars to education and health research by way of scholarships, the establishment or funding of a wide number of university and research centers, and one of the nation’s largest parochial elementary and secondary school complex: the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper. 

“On the 53-acre campus are Juan Diego Catholic High School and Saint John the Baptist Middle and Elementary schools and Guardian Angel Daycare. They do countless things for CCS and they believe in investing in the community.”

The Unsung Hero is Jan Luger. She has been a CCS volunteer for more than 30 years, working for the CCS Northern Utah Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank running a satellite food pantry west of the viaduct in Ogden, said Stamos. 

“Before the food bank was started, Jan saw a need in the community,” Stamos added. “People were going hungry so she decided to do something about it by starting her own pantry. With the help of others, she began feeding those in need in the area, and the needs of the pantry grew. The pantry became a part of CCS, with Luger running it by herself. The pantry remains where it is because it is hard for people without transportation to cross the viaduct. She also delivers food boxes to shut-ins and the elderly.”

 

WHAT: CCS Humanitarian Awards Dinner 

WHERE: Little American Hotel, 500 S. Main St. SLC 

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 6, social hour at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.

COST: $150 per person; $1,500 per table 

Make reservations by contacting Andy Robinson 801-428-1231 arobinson@ccsutah.org. For more information, call 801.977.9119 or go to www.ccsutah.org.