RENEW International Awards Distinguished Women at Honoree Dinner

June 29, 2008 - PRLog -- For the past 28 years, with the help of dedicated colleagues, RENEW International has successfully fostered spiritual RENEWal of the Catholic tradition in Parishes, communities, college campuses, men, women, and children of all ages.  On June 5, 2008, RENEW International honored three of their long time supporters, Dr. Irma Chavez, Bobby and Carol Williams with President’s Awards for their commitment, dedication and long-time support.  Additional information on RENEW International can be found at: http://www.RENEWintl.org.

Dr. Irma Chavez has been a key component in bringing community and faith to war torn regions of El Salvador and Honduras.  She is being awarded and honored for her 25 years of passionate service in implementing RENEW’s ministry in Central American. Chávez’s work in building small Christian communities has done much to foster community, build faith, and improve social conditions. Many have hailed her work as ‘life changing’ and ‘empowering’.  She has personally facilitated formal education, vocational training, social skills, and faith formation among current gang members and at-risk youth.  She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Bologna, another in Theology from Saint John's University, New York, and has been Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Don Bosco in El Salvador. Dr. Chavez has published many reflection materials for small Christian communities.

Bobby and Carol Williams are committed to giving back to the community and serving others.  They reside in New Jersey and have been long-time supporters of RENEW International.  Together, they made major contributions in building the Family Resource Center and Bobby built a teen center for St. Agatha’s Foundling Home.

Bobby Williams first became involved in 2000 on the RENEW Core Team at the Church of the Presentation.  Bobby started and directed RENEW’s telethon campaigns at his Kanebridge Corporation site in Oakland, New Jersey.  He is an active member on the Board of Directors of Covenant House and serves as Chair of the Capital Campaign of the American Red Cross. He has also served on the RENEW International Development Committee, hosting numerous fundraising events.

Carol Williams serves on the Board of Trustees at RENEW International and is a member of its Development Committee.  She has served RENEW International in many capacities, including a leading role planning the Annual Golf Classic and hosting fundraising events in her home. She is on the Board of Directors of Meaningful Movements for disabled children and serves on the Core Team at the Church of Presentation for the Ministry to New Orleans and the Women’s Spirituality Ministry.

Sr. Terry Rickard said of the honorees, “We are uniquely blessed to have the support of Irma, Bobby and Carol, people so dedicated to the mission of RENEW International and to the well-being of the community at large. Their enthusiasm and commitment are exceptional.”

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About RENEW International
RENEW International is a Catholic organization based in Plainfield, NJ, in the Archdiocese of Newark. RENEW International fosters spiritual RENEWal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action. RENEW International has a 28-year record in revitalizing parish life in over 150 dioceses in the United States, touching the lives of 25 million people through its RENEWal processes. RENEW International also reaches many thousands outside the United States, having served people in 23 countries, across six continents and in 44 languages.

Deirdre Malacrea
Media Contact
Deirdre@RENEWintl.org
http://www.RENEWintl.org