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For immediate release: December 28, 2006
Contact:
Margaret Dubuisson
504-592-5691
mdubuisson@archdiocese-no.org
Corinne Knight
504-592-5690
cknight@archdiocese-no.org
THREE CATHOLIC CHARITIES VOLUNTEER HONORED
 (New Orleans) - Three volunteers for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans have been honored by the New Orleans Saints as winners of the Saints 2006 Community Quarterback Award. The three were recognized at a ceremony last night at the Airport Hilton and will be honored at the Saints home game versus the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
84 year old Helen Brown, who has volunteered with Catholic Charities for more than 60 years, was the recipient of a $5000 grant made to Catholic Charities in her name. Miss Helen, as she is known, began her volunteer service at the age of 19, after being raised by the nuns at St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage on Napoleon Avenue. She never forgot her time at St. Elizabeth’s and was an ardent supporter and advocate for the hundreds of girls who lived at the facility. Miss Helen still puts in many volunteer hours at Catholic Charities, helping with administrative tasks, mailings, and fundraisers.
John Hummel and Radhika Deva were the recipients of $1000 grants made to Catholic Charities in their names for their volunteer efforts.
Hummel, a retired oil company executive, was instrumental in helping Catholic Charities repair St. John Community Center after Hurricane Katrina so that it could be reopened to help people returning to the city. Hummel continues his hands-on volunteer efforts with repair and maintenance work at the Shirley Landry Benson Pace Center at St. Cecelia.
Deva, a student at the University of Notre Dame, has contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer service with Catholic Charities Operation Helping Hands program. OHH has gutted more than a thousand homes since Hurricane Katrina using volunteers like Deva. She has served as a coordinator for volunteer groups and spent 8 weeks here this summer helping to get the work done.
Brown, Hummel and Deva were among 7 volunteers honored with Saints 2006 Community Quarterback Awards. These awards are bestowed upon outstanding volunteers in all NFL cities. As first place winner for the Saints, Brown’s nomination will be entered into the NFL’s national competition. That winner will be announced at the Super Bowl and a $25,000 grant made to the volunteer’s charity in their name.
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