Catholic Charities Salt and Light Awards will honor good works

GREENSBURG – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg will honor two individuals and one community organization at the 23rd annual Communities of Salt and Light Awards Dinner April 20.

Monsignor Raymond E. Riffle, Vicar General of the Diocese and Rector of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Monsignor Riffle was responsible for the growth of Catholic Charities during his 25 years as its director, a position he held until he was named Vicar General  He is just the fourth recipient to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gerald “Jerry” Wilcox will be honored with the Humanitarian Award. Wilcox, a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Greensburg, volunteers his time packing weekend lunches for the Food for Kids Program and serves as a volunteer with the Senior Care Ministry.

The Kindness Closet, based at St. Edward Parish, Herminie, will be honored as Outstanding Service Organization. Two parishioners, Kate McKinley and Natalie Jurcevich, wanted to find a way to get the clothes their children outgrew to families who needed them, so they stared the Kindness Closet, which provides free clothing to hundreds of men, women and children.

Since 1998, the annual event has raised more than $1 million to help nearly 9,000 individuals and families in the four counties of the Diocese of Greensburg.
To purchase tickets for the dinner, to be held at Stratigos Banquet Centre, North Huntingdon, or to become a sponsor, visit CCharitiesgreensburg.org.