Father Baker Legacy Awards Past Recipients 1981 1982 1983 Dorothy & Robert Debolt Paul Weiss William Sample Adoptive parents of 21 disabled Local native who founded South Philadelphia policeman who children in Oakland, CA. California’s shelter for children, founded the Sunshine Foundation Los Ninos which grants wishes to dying youth. Judge J. Douglas Trost Joan Male Dr. D.S. Subramanian Former Erie County Buffalo Chapter of Heart surgeon at Children’s Family Court Judge. Parents Anonymous Hospital of Buffalo. 1985 1986 1987 Clara Hale Trevor Ferrell John Walsh Founder of Hale House, a home for Philadelphia man who started a Founder of Adam Walsh Child children born to drug-addicted program to aid the homeless. Development HQ and initiator of mothers in New York City. programs for missing children. Ken & Miriam Barth Leo John Newton Anna Caplan Directors of the Diocese of Buffalo’s An orphan raised by Father Baker Recipient of the National Jefferson Right to Life Office. who coached youngsters throughout Award for volunteer service. Lackawanna and Buffalo. 1988 1989 1990 Sister Elaine Roulet, CSJ James Campbell Dr. Lois Lee Began a children’s center program at Director of residential treatment Founder of Children of the Night Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for center for those diagnosed with AIDS program in Hollywood, CA women in prison and their kids. in Yonkers, NY. Joan Edwards Barry Lillis Dr. & Mrs. Luther Robinson Founder of the WNY Task Force on Local TV personality honored for his Director of Clinical Genetics at Prevention of Mental Retardation & commitment to youth in the Children’s Hospital. Nurse who Developmental Disabilities Buffalo area. runs a 24-hour hotline dealing with development problems of fetuses. 1991 1992 1993 Dr. James Renier Camille Geralidi James Casion CEO of Honeywell who developed Founder of Up With Down Executive Director of Baker Hall & Success by Six and Phillips Syndrome Foundation. OLV Infant Home. TLP programs. Jack Anthony Mark Kelso Joe Cozzo Director of Cradle Beach Camp, Buffalo Bills player who was active Baker Hall administrator who also which serves physically and/or with Athletes in Action & Athletes spends time with local school leaders economically handicapped kids. Against Drunk Driving. discussing violence and anger therapy issues. Past Recipients 1994 1995 1996 Bishop Edward Head, DD Ilio DiPaolo Leonard Lenihan Bishop of Buffalo, who has worked World Champion wrestler and Chairman of the Erie County on many committees championing restaurateur, raised funds for Legislature who, among other things, social justice causes and minority organizations such as Leukemia founded a proposal to reduce the rights issues. Society, March of Dimes, Camp Good waiting list of kids in search of Days & Special Times, etc. Also mental health services, and led the awarded scholarships to local high downtown library’s center for school students. children with alcoholic parents. 1997 1998 1999 Elizabeth O’Donnell Mercedes De Martinez & William Balliew Founder of the Skating Association Jerri Wegner Founder of the Winner’s Club in for the Blind and Handicapped, which Founder and local coordinator of Georgia, offering after school and teaches thousands of physically, FANA, an adoption service based in weekend programs for physically emotionally and mentally challenged Columbia, which has found homes for and emotionally challenged youth. individuals to ice skate. over 10,000 abandoned and orphaned children worldwide. 2000 2001 2002 Rev. John Drexel, O.M.I. Ronald Talboys Dick Gallagher Started association in Brazil which Founder and unpaid president of Executive director and founder of runs foster homes to care for, WNY Chapter of Habitat for Renaissance House (now Renaissance rehabilitate, and raise hundreds of Humanity, responsible for building or Campus) a residential treatment abandoned children refurbishing over 80 homes for low- program that has served more than income families. 1,200 chemically dependent adolescents since its inception. 2003 2004 2005 Gary Mervis Msgr. Robert Wurtz & Sister Veronica Anne Armao Founder of Camp Good Days & the Employees of Nursery school teacher, psychologist Special Times, a sanctuary for children OLV Institutions and administrator who dedicated over 60 years to the OLV Institutions. coping with the affects of cancer, To commemorate the AIDS, or familiar abuse. 150th Anniversary, employees were honored for their ongoing dedication. 2006 2007 2008 Willie “Hutch” Jones Tribute to Msgr. Wurtz Molly Bethel Founder of the Locust Street For over 20 years, he has A special tribute made in memory of Neighborhood Art Classes, for nearly offered his Sports and Education Msgr. Wurtz for the tremendous 50 years she has brought art to needy clinics providing free opportunities for impact he made on the yet creative young people in Buffalo recreation and learning for thousands OLV Institutions and the that may not have had the of WNY youth. Diocese of Buffalo. encouragement or means to pursue their passion and talent. 2009 2010 2011 Sr. Johnice Rzadkiewicz, CSSF Fr. Joe Bayne, OFM Conv. Amy Betros & Norm Paolini Founded The Response to Love Center Executive Director of The Franciscan Co-founders of St. Luke’s Mission of with the Felician Sisters. Center serves Center in South Buffalo, NY and Fire Mercy which helps the inner city poor of the needs of poverty-stricken families Chaplain to the City of Buffalo Fire Dept. Buffalo by providing meals, housing, within the East Site of Buffalo. and Erie County Emergency Services. counseling, education, etc. Center provides long-term care and skills Robert Freeman to young men, 16-20. Youth Recipient – active with SABAH. 2012 2013 2014 Sister Diane Gianadda, OSF Sister Joanne Gangloff, OSF Msgr. Francis Weldgen Founded the The Women’s Respite Since 1982, Sr. Joanne has dedicated her life to working in Timau, a rural village in East Fr. Fran has served in many capacities in Program which provides respite to low- the Diocese, including Director of the income, single mothers and grandmothers Africa. She has worked to better the lives of the children and families by building and Youth Department and Pastor of St. and has since expanded to include retreats overseeing a school, and developing Christopher Parish and assisting at for women battling cancer and alumnae numerous programs that helps with the food various churches in WNY when there was reunions. and healthcare needs of children in the village, a need for a temporary pastor. in addition to funding scholarships, fighting Bishop Edward U. Kmiec AIDS and disease, housing the homeless, and Kyle Haller Bishop of Buffalo, who has worked on developing an adult literacy program. Youth Recipient – a graduate of Bishop many committees and major supporter of Timon- St. Jude High School who is for the Canonization of the Venerable Zachary Jancevski active with youth programs and Bible Nelson Baker. Youth Recipient – active with the School in his com Catholic Charities Immigrant & Refugee Evan Morgan Assistance Program and the Cantalician Youth Recipent – active with Western Center for Learning. 2017 New York Sibshop & Lose the Training Sisters of Saint Joseph Wheels, programs at Canisius College. The Sisters of Saint Joseph began their work at “Father Baker’s” in 1919 at the 2015 2016 Maternity Hospital and have continued to Robert Bennett serve the Our Lady of Victory (OLV) Michael Taheri Institutions through St. Joseph’s Orphan Former Regent and Chancellor for the Local attorney turned dedicated volunteer Asylum, St. John’s Protectory, and most Eighth Judicial District and elected at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, Mike and recently the OLV Elementary School. Chancellor Emeritus, Mr. Bennett also his wife, Josette, have devoted the last 6 worked for the United Way of Buffalo years to mentoring the youth who find and Erie County for 23 years, including their way to St. Luke’s, volunteering, and Rebecca Sullivan the position of President and CEO. working to raise much needed funds for A 2017 graduate of the Sacred Heart both the Mission and the students Academy of Buffalo and is currently a Caitlin Neumann educational goals. freshman at Villanova University in the Former BVS student, Caitlin is president Villanova School of Business. While at of the board of directors of YOUTH Jacey Diez Sacred Heart, Rebecca completed over POWER!, a public speaker and advocate Niagara University senior and volunteer at 250 hours of community service, for mental health awareness, and a Youth The Magdalene Project, Jacey has logged including volunteer with local groups Peer Mentor at the Mental Health countless hours participating in various such as Monkey See, Money Do Association of Erie County as well as a missions trips locally, domestically, and Children’s Bookstore, Saints Peter and Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. internationally. It is Jacey’s career goal to Paul Church and Elementary School, and serve as a teacher working with non- the Bison Children’s Scholarship Fund. English speakers. 2018 Ronald Thaler Ronald E. Thaler has devoted nearly 40 years to the Catholic faith community, with a specific concentration on youth involvement and family interactions, on the Westside of Buffalo. Douglas Coleman Douglas Coleman, a 2018 graduate of St. Francis high School, committed countless hours of volunteering to various WNY organizations. .