Refugee Resettlement Program given award by national foundation

Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services of Utah’s Refugee Resettlement program was honored for their work in the community by the national Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

The award was given Feb. 11 during the foundation’s Utah Chapter Luncheon at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The award for community involvement honors organizations that “‘go above and beyond the call of duty’ on a local, regional or national level which promote good works and serve their communities on an ongoing, day-to-day basis,” according to the press release.

“CCS was nominated by longtime volunteer Karen Leonardi. Karen and her husband volunteer at CCS’ Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank in Ogden. They learned about our Refugee Resettlement program and decided to nominate us to the national foundation,” said Danielle Stamos, CCS’ public relations and marketing coordinator. 

Each year, CCS resettles approximately 600 refugees in Salt Lake City and provides them with a full range of supportive services, giving those who have never known liberty a chance to achieve the American dream and find self-supporting employment, Stamos said. 

“These refugees are victims of crises all over the world and come from countries such as Somalia, the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], Burma, Iraq, and the most recent group from the tragedies taking place in Syria. CCS ensures that each refugee has the necessary tools to begin their lives as free men, women and children,” she said.

The award – a plaque and a medallion – was accepted by the director of CCS’ Refugee Resettlement & Immigration program, Aden Batar. 

“This award is important in teaching the public about what CCS does and why it is a needed service in our local and global community,” said Stamos adding that “without programs like Refugee Resettlement, thousands of people would continue living in terrible conditions in refugee camps around the world. CCS is able to resettle over 600 refugees a year, saving their lives and adding to the richness of our community.”

Freedoms Foundation is a national educational non-profit that every year welcomes thousands of people to participate in programs to encourage engaged, responsible citizenship based on the Bill of Responsibilities authored by Freedoms Foundation in 1985.

The organization “promotes the ideals and principles of our free society and encourages all Americans to embrace both their rights and the responsibilities and contribute to the common good of society. By recognizing good citizenship through our awards programs and inspiring leaders through our education programs, we cultivate civic responsibility in all, strengthening and bolstering our democracy for future generations the ideals and principles of the society and encourages all Americans,” reads the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge’s Mission and Vision statement.

Catholic Community Services of Utah provides help and creates hope for needy families and individuals of all faiths and beliefs along the Wasatch Front. Its refugee resettlement programs help relocate people fleeing from persecution; it also offers treatment services programs to help community members who are battling addictions. In Salt Lake City, CCS operates the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall, which serves meals to the hungry; and the Weigand Homeless Day Center. In northern Utah, CCS operates the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank. CCS also provides emergency assistance to Utahns in need, and equips low-income parents in northern Utah with baby layettes.