Chapman Partnership to present Humanitarian Award to Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin

Oct. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- MIAMI, Fla.  – Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin, chancellor of Barry University, was named the 2011 recipient of the Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Humanitarian Award by Chapman Partnership, the organization announced today.

O’Laughlin is being recognized for her compassionate leadership and lifelong dedication to helping children and adults deprived of a fair chance at life. Chapman Partnership Chairman Trish Bell will present the award Friday, Oct. 22, at the nonprofit organization’s 10th Annual Gala.

“Sister Jeanne is a true humanitarian in every sense of the word, not only in our own community but in numerous communities throughout the world. Here at home, Sister Jeanne has been at the forefront of helping the homeless and rebuilding neighborhoods. We thank her for all her time and hard work to improve the quality of life for citizens of our community who need it the most,” Bell said.

Chapman Partnership’s 10th Annual Gala, led by chairpersons Brenda and Robert Castellano, will be at JW Marriott Marquis Miami. The program emcee will be Laurie Jennings, three-time Emmy award-winning reporter and main anchor on Local 10 News. For information to attend the event, call 305-329-3042.

During her 30 years in Miami, O’Laughlin spent the first 23 as president of Barry University. The Detroit native arrived with the childhood goal of erasing prejudice through education. In doing so, she built up the sleepy college, making it the fourth largest private university in Florida.

O’Laughlin’s service legacy at Barry University includes a commitment to the underserved Miami Shores neighborhood surrounding the school. She established service programs, including Pockets of Pride, where students would find meaning outside academics by helping to create a safe and healthy environment for neighborhood residents. Barry’s School of Nursing provides assistance to underserved families and children. Her commitment to low-income students led to Barry’s design for a charter school that set a national standard for middle-school education. Other initiatives include the Central and South Florida Higher Education Diversity Coalition to help under-skilled adults find the training they need to be productive members of society.

Founding board Chairman Alvah H. Chapman Jr. called on O’Laughlin to lead the Religious Task Force when he was chairman of “We Will Rebuild” to repair the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew. In 2005 she became a board member of Community Partnership for Homeless, which Chapman Partnership was formerly called. She has been an advocate against drug abuse as a past chairwoman of the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community and has won numerous accolades, including: the Sand in my Shoes Award given to the community’s top volunteer by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in 1999, The Charles Whited Spirit of Excellence Award given by The Miami Herald in 1993, and the Trail Blazer Award, presented by the Women’s Committee of One Hundred in 1988.

About

Chapman Partnership provides a wide array of services to help the homeless in Miami-Dade County rebuild their lives while offering dignity and respect. We are the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, commissioned to site, build and operate two Homeless Assistance Centers in downtown Miami and Homestead.  Chapman Partnership empowers homeless men, women and children to build a positive future by providing the resources and assistance critical to growth and stability. Visit www.chapmanpartnership.org/

# # #

A full service firm, we create and execute strategic public relations, communications and marketing programs that support clients’ objectives and communicate their messages effectively.