Caritas honorees inspire others to give

from 2021 Summer - Catholic Charities Connections Newsletter

Oltjenbruns matches volunteers to ministries

Jeff & Nicole Arensdorf

Caritas horees inspire others to give

The first-ever group of Caritas Society honorees surpassed their collective goal of $100,000, replacing about half of the funds that would have been raised if the Cruise Night gala had not been docked for 2021.

“We are grateful that these wonderful supporters of ours volunteered to inspire others to give to Catholic Charities,” says LeAnne Miller, senior director of development. “It was important to replace a portion of the funds traditionally raised at Cruise Night, and the Caritas honorees did a tremendous job.”

The inaugural Caritas Society honorees were: Jeff and Nicole Arensdorf, Christ the King; Wendy and Karl Glick, St. Thomas Aquinas; Missy Hampel, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Alice Johnson, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Jeff and Ronnie Leonard, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Christina Ricke, Church of the Magdalen; Scott Rosell, St. Thomas Aquinas; Juvetta Slane, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Carol and Chris Streckfus, Blessed Sacrament; Andrew and Emily Thengvall, St. Thomas Aquinas; and Marilyn and Randy Wells, St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Leonards were selected as the 2021 Caritas Society Honorees of the Year for rallying their friends and family to contribute more than $14,000.

“Having worked with Catholic Charities for many years, we’ve seen first-hand how its ministries positively impact the lives of those most in need in our community – no other

organization does so much for so many,” the Leonards say.

The Caritas honorees raised dollars for Catholic Charities’ Faithful Servant Fund, giving the agency flexibility to address the most urgent needs within the community in the priority areas of hunger and homelessness, domestic violence and enrichment services.

“We may not be able to go out and feed the hungry, but Catholic Charities does every day. We may not be able to provide shelter to the homeless, but Catholic Charities does every day,” the Thengvalls say. “We see that Catholic Charities provides for those in need on our behalf. As followers of Christ and His Church, we know that today we are called to give so Catholic Charities can serve Our Heavenly Father’s children, every day, on our behalf.”