What's Happening

June 22, 2016, Detroit – In her monthly blog for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Sister Nancyann Turner reflects on the violence and destruction that the people of Detroit – and now Orlando – have to deal with. She also writes of the hope she finds through the goodness of people, such as the 50 volunteers for the Rosa Parks Children and Youth Program – and the gifts brought by a young volunteer from Dublin. Read Sister Nancyann’s blog.

June 20, 2016, St. Louis, Missouri – Through the collaborative efforts of the Development, Communications, and Technology Departments, the Adrian Dominican Sisters received two awards from the Catholic Press Association (CPA): second place for best freestanding videos depicting religious life for a Christmas greeting to benefactors and a tie for third place for best annual reports by Catholic non-profit organizations. 

The awards were announced June 3 at the conclusion of the CPA’s Annual Catholic Media Conference, “Tweet Me in St. Louis,” held May 31-June 3 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The award-winning video, Christmas Wishes from the Adrian Dominican Sisters, placed between first-place winner Nuns Rock by Catholic Extension and third-place winner Nuns Usher Dying into Heaven by Catholic News Service. Amy Palmer, Director of Development, commissioned the video as part of her donor-centered approach to Development. She and Technology AV Specialist Scott Miller did the voice-over narration of the script; Scott also filmed and edited the video. Also collaborating in the project were Communications Department members Sister Elise D. García, OP, Communications Director, and Ashley LaVigne, Sheila Wathen, and Melinda P. Ziegler. 

The Congregation’s 2014-2015 Annual Report, Your Generosity, Our Service, tied with ONE Magazine, the 2015 annual report of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). Taking first place were the Jesuits for their annual report, Jesuits Transforming Lives. The second-place award recipient was Catholic University of America for Then and Now, their 2014-2015 annual report. 

Amy Palmer, Development Director, worked with the Communications Department to ensure that the annual report took on a new focus: the donors. Also involved with the Congregation’s annual report were Sister Elise D. García, OP, editor; Sister Barbara Kelley, OP, copy writer; Melinda D. Ziegler, graphic designer and photographer; and Sister Kathleen M. Schanz, OP, General Council liaison.