CCS dinner will be in-person, with livestream option

+ Enlarge

SALT LAKE CITY – Catholic Community Services of Utah will hold its 2021 Humanitarian Awards Dinner at Little America Hotel on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

CCS will honor several individuals for their service in the community at the event. Among those receiving awards are Jean Welch Hill, community activist and director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

“In addition to all of the amazing things Jean Hill does for the diocese and community in general, she also does so much to engage the legislature and local politicians on the work we do here at CCS, and ensure she is advocating on our behalf for laws that need to be passed or changed that affect those we serve,” CCS Development Director Maresha Bosgieter said.  “She is intimately familiar with the needs of our immigrants and refugees, families and seniors living in poverty, and our homeless friends, and we are so grateful for her efforts.”

Several nurses from Primary Children’s Hospital, University of Utah Medical Center, St. Mark’s Hospital and Salt Lake Regional Hospital will be recognized as representatives of service performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the last year and a half, front-line workers, and specifically nurses, have done so much to ensure everyone is receiving the care they deserve, and trying to provide comfort when families are not able to visit their loved ones,” Bosgieter said.  “The stories we have heard about personal sacrifice, such as delaying classes to focus on the needs, and putting themselves personally at risk of exposure, are amazing.  The emotional toll they have been subjected to is something that I think many of them will be dealing with for years, but they gladly put themselves in that situation day after day.  We wanted to figure out how to honor them collectively, so we are excited to have two nurses representing each of four area hospitals to be at the dinner so we can express our appreciation.”

CCS Volunteers of the Year Brittany and Ryan Atkinson and their family, and Employee of the Year Durrell Annis will also be recognized.

“This really is our major fundraising event for the agency, and an opportunity for us to say thank you to some of the individuals who do so much for us, as well as the community,” Bosgieter said.  “There are so many new and exciting things happening right now, with our brand-new building in Ogden, our first group of students at the Kitchen Academy, and the current situation with Afghanistan, so we are excited to be able to give a few updates to everyone who has been so supportive over the last couple of years, especially during the pandemic.”

CCS asks that those who attend in person be fully vaccinated. For those who prefer to not attend in person, virtual tickets are available; a livestream option will be offered, with the link provided to those who register for a seat or table.