|
2014 Award Winners
2014
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Tom Monaghan, Founder,
Domino's Pizza |
|
|
Thomas
S. Monaghan,
although best known as the founder of Domino’s Pizza and former
owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise, is currently
devoting his attention full time to non-profit endeavors, specifically
focused on underwriting Catholic higher education. This support
primarily flows through the Ave Maria Foundation, which he founded in
1983 and for which he serves as chairman of the
board.
In
1998, Monaghan provided the impetus for a major initiative in Catholic
higher education with the founding of Ave Maria Institute in
Ypsilanti, Michigan (which later became Ave Maria College), a
Catholic liberal arts institution designed to prepare students for
leadership in academics, professional occupations, and service to the
greater community.
Ave
Maria College was the predecessor to Ave Maria University, which
was founded in 2003 and which operated in an interim facilities in
Naples, FL until its permanent facilities were completed in the
2007. The university’s permanent campus is located in Ave Maria,
Florida, which is just northeast of Naples. Monaghan serves as
the university’s chancellor.
In addition to supporting the university, the Ave Maria Foundation
provided the initial funding for Ave Maria School of Law, which
was founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but relocated to Naples, Florida in
2009 (for which Monaghan serves as chairman of the board of
governors). The Foundation also helped establish the
Thomas More Law Center, a public-interest law firm that provides
legal counsel to organizations and individuals whose religious and
other freedoms are threatened.
In
1987, Monaghan founded Legatus (Latin for “ambassador”),
an international organization of Catholic CEO’s and presidents committed
to studying, living and spreading their faith through their professional
and personal lives. Then-Domino’s
CEO, Tom Monaghan and his wife, Marjorie, met Pope John Paul II on May
7, 1987 (pictured, above). This meeting inspired Monaghan to found
Legatus.
Tom
was born in Ann Arbor in 1937. His father died four years later,
ushering in a childhood spent largely in an orphanage and a succession of
foster homes. After graduating from Ann Arbor’s St. Thomas High
School in 1955, and enrolling at Ferris State University in Big Rapids,
MI, Monaghan enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956. Honorably
discharged three years later, he returned to Ann Arbor, where he
enrolled at the University of Michigan.
While
still a student, Monaghan founded Domino’s Pizza. He and his
brother, James, borrowed $900 to buy a small pizza store called
DomiNick’s in Ypsilanti. He later bought his brother’s
share of the business, and opened additional stores in Ann Arbor and
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. By 1998, Domino’s had 6,250 stores, and
ranked as the world’s largest pizza delivery chain, pioneering a number
of industry innovations inspired by Monaghan.
The
story behind Domino’s Pizza (including the many obstacles and setbacks
Monaghan overcame and the path he took to success) was compiled for the
first time in his 1986 autobiography, Pizza Tiger, published by
Random House. He sold Domino’s Pizza in 1998 to Bain Capital, Inc.,
leaving behind its day-to-day operations, which he had overseen for 38
years.
Monaghan has received
honorary degrees from twelve universities around the country, and in
March of 2000, he was named an Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College
within Britain’s University of Cambridge.
Monaghan and his wife,
Marjorie, have four daughters, ten grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
Spirit
Of Christmases Past,
Present & Future Award Maureen
O’Hara = "Miracle on 34th
Street" |
|
|
Maureen
O’Hara
first captured the public’s eye in her breakout role as
the dancing gypsy, Esmeralda, in The Hunchback of
Notre Dame. She has held our attention ever since.
Known for playing feisty heroines, O'Hara's famously
flame-red hair lit up the screen like no other star from
Hollywood’s golden age. In a career that has spanned over
seventy-five years, she has starred in over sixty motion
pictures including such critically acclaimed classics as Miracle
on 34th Street, The Quiet Man, and How Green
Was My Valley. She is widely recognized as Ireland's
most renowned and celebrated actress.
Born Maureen FitzSimons on August 17, 1920 in
Ranelagh, Ireland, O’Hara began acting at age five with
her own shadow. She studied at the Ena Mary Burke School
of Elocution and Drama and by age ten had joined the
Rathmines Theatre Company working in amateur productions.
She was soon hired by Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) to
perform classic plays over the radio reaching nearly every household
in Ireland.
As a teenager, Maureen FitzSimons joined the famed
Abbey Theatre and worked nights typing tags at a local
laundry. She was offered a leading role with the Abbey
Players at age seventeen but chose instead to take a
motion picture screen test in London at the request of
Elstree Studios. Her screen test caught the attention of
Oscar-winning actor and producer Charles Laughton, who quickly
signed her to a seven-year contract. Laughton launched his new
protégé’s film career by casting her as his niece, Mary
Yellan, in Alfred Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn (1939)
and by changing her screen name to Maureen O’Hara.
Maureen O’Hara first arrived in Hollywood in 1939 to
make her American film debut (opposite Laughton’s
Quasimodo) in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She was
unable to return to Ireland with the outbreak of World
War II and became part of Hollywood’s studio system when
her contract was sold to RKO Pictures. In 1941, O'Hara
achieved critical acclaim for her haunting portrayal of
Angharad in the Welsh family saga How Green Was My Valley,
which marked her first collaboration with legendary director
John Ford. The film went on to win five Oscars including
Best Picture and Best Director.
During the 1940s and 1950s, O'Hara was often cast in
lavish Technicolor movies. Her fiery characters and
striking features earned her the nickname "Queen of
Technicolor." O’Hara is also the first female action
star, having performed many of her own stunts and sword
fighting sequences in swashbuckling pictures. The most
notable include The Black Swan with Tyrone Power, Sinbad
the Sailor with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and At
Sword’s Point with Cornel Wilde. In 1947, O'Hara
appeared in the holiday classic Miracle on 34th
Street, playing a single mother whose sensibilities
are challenged by Santa Claus.
This
period in O’Hara’s career is also highlighted by her frequent
work with John Ford and John Wayne. Her
screen chemistry with Wayne was dynamic and she served as
“the Duke’s leading lady” in a series of Ford
films including Rio Grande, The Wings of
Eagles, and her personal favorite, The Quiet
Man.
O'Hara turned to lighter roles in the 1960s appearing
in family comedies such as The Parent Trap, Mr.
Hobbs Takes a Vacation, McLintock!, and Spencer’s
Mountain. In 1971, she reunited with John Wayne a
final time in the western comedy Big Jake, before
retiring to operate a Caribbean commuter airline with her
husband, aviator Charles F. Blair. Upon Blair’s
tragic death in a plane crash, O’Hara became the first woman in
United States history to head a scheduled commercial
airline.
In 1991,
following a 20-year hiatus, O'Hara returned to the silver
screen to play John Candy's overbearing Irish mother in the
bittersweet comedy Only the Lonely. She later
starred in a string of television movies and published
her bestselling memoir, Tis Herself, in
2004.
http://www.amazon.com/Tis-Herself-Autobiography-Maureen-OHara/dp/0743269160
The motion
picture academy announced on Thursday, August 8, 2014 that
actress, Maureen
O'Hara,
will receive an honorary Oscar on November 8, 2014 in the
Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood &
Highland.
|
|
2014 Spirit Of
St. Nicholas Award Winners Padre
Gerardo Cioffari – Paul W. Smith – Joe Kocur – Ron Mann –
Chris Baker – Debra Bonde
|
|
Nicholas as Our
Model – Padre
Gerardo Cioffari –
Director,
Centro Studi Nicolini, Bari, Italia
http://www.basilicasannicola.it/
Reverend
Father Gerardo Cioffari
was born in Calitri, Italy on December 1, 1943. Following
his primary education, he joined the Dominican
Order in Naples, Italy. In 1970, the friar was
ordained a Dominican priest. Shortly thereafter, he
received his Master of Divinity Degree from St.
Vladimir's Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
(1973). He attained his Doctorate in
Ecclesiastical Oriental Studies at the Pontifical
Oriental Institute in Rome (1977). Padre Cioffari has
distinguished himself globally as highly respected
scholar historian, and is the Director of the Center for
Studies Nicolaiani. His important personal
responsibilities include the care of the Archive and
Library of the Basilica of S. Nicola, Bari, Italy.
In
1990, the Dominican first published a magazine,
Nicholas Historical Studies.
For
more than 3 decades, Fr. Gerardo Cioffari’s diligent work
and scholarship have contributed enormously to attaining
a more historically accurate understanding of the
real-life person of St. Nicholas. In consequence,
he is recognized globally as a quintessential expert on
the beloved 4th century bishop and Patron
Saint of Children.
The
following titles (primarily available only in
Italian) represent but a small sampling of Padre
Gerardo’s invaluable printed work:
La
Leggenda di Kiev: La Traslazione Delle Reliquie di S.
Nicola
(The
Legend of Kiev: The Translation of the Relics of St.
Nicholas,1980)
S.Nicola
Nella Critica Storica
(St. Nicholas in Historical Criticism,
1987)
San
Nicola: Leggende e Cronache Russe
(Saint Nicholas: Legends and Russian Chronicles,
1986)
S.
Nicola Nella Critica Storica
(St. Nicholas in Historical Criticism, 1987)
San
Nicola di Bari
(Saint Nicholas of Bari, 1988)
Saint
Nicholas. His Life, the Translation of His Relics and His
Basilica in Bari (English
language edition, 1994)
Saint
Nicholas: Documentary Evidence in Literature and Archeology :
Historical Criticism on His Identity (English language edition,
1997)
San
Nicola di Bari (Saint
Nicholas of Bari, 1997 editon)
Saint Nicholas: His Life, Miracles
and Legends
(English language edition
2008)
L'abate
Elia. Il benedettino che costruì la basilica di San
Nicola
(Abbot
Elijah. The Benedictine Monk who Built the Basilica of
Saint Nicholas, 2012)
|
|
Openness to the Christmas
Spirit – Paul
W. Smith,
Paul W. Smith Golf Classic (Benefiting
P.A.L.) www.paulwsmithgolf.com
Paul
W. Smith
was 15 years old when he started his radio career in 1968
at WVMO/Monroe, Michigan. In the 1970s, he divided his
time between college and WSPD/Toledo and later returned
to the station for nearly a decade as a salesman and
afternoon drive host. A successful turn as a television morning
show host led to Smith's first morning drive show on
CWA/Toledo.
In 1984, Smith moved to morning drive and to
CKLW/Windsor, Ontario for a year before moving to
WJR/Detroit as a weekend host. Within a year, Smith had
added a weekday show at WABC/New York to his duties,
later moving (and commuting) to WMCA/New York while still
hosting weekends at WJR.
In 1990, Smith was hosting a noon interview show at
WJR while also working mornings (via satellite) at
WWDB-FM/Philadelphia. With the 1996 passing of longtime
WJR morning host J.P. McCarthy, Smith began a lengthy run
as the station's morning host. Smith also co-hosts
Destination 313, a weekly interview show devoted to Detroit
events and entrepreneurs.
Through
the annual Paul W. Smith Golf Classic http://www.paulwsmithgolf.com/
, Smith has raised over $4,500,000
for the Detroit Police Athletic League. Detroit PAL is a private,
nonprofit organization that is working to make Detroit a
great place to be a kid and raise a family. In
partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community
volunteers, Detroit PAL builds character in young people through
athletic, academic, and leadership development
programs.
Detroit
PAL is a non-profit organization positively impacting the
lives of more than 11,000 children each year through
athletic, academic and leadership development programs.
Formed through a merger of Think Detroit and the Detroit
Police Athletic League in 2006, Detroit PAL has roots
dating back to 1970.
Paul
W. Smith was formally inducted into the National Radio Hall
of Fame in 2013.
In addition to Detroit PAL, Paul has dedicated time on
his radio show and acted as an emcee for notable
charitable causes for the American Cancer Society's
Cattle Baron's Ball, Karmanos Cancer
Institute, the Salvation Army's Bed & Bread
Program, March of Dimes March for Babies, The Parade
Company and Detroit
Goodfellows.
|
|
Exercising Compassion
– Joe
Kocur – Ron Mann – Chris Baker Co-Founders,
Joe Kocur Foundation For Children
Gathered
around the warm glow of a campfire in 2009, ex-Detroit
Red Wing, Joe Kocur along with close friends,
Ron Mann and Chris Baker became inspired to
assist needy families and local charities. The dream the
three men envisioned became a reality when they
eventually co-founded what is today known as the Joe Kocur
Foundation for Children. The Foundation’s aim is to create
family-friendly events while, at the same time, bringing
together a variety of like-minded people from the local
community who share the same spirit of giving.
Since its formation, their non-profit organization has
assisted local charities who seek to offer assistance to
families in need. As a result, the Joe Kocur Foundation
for Children has proudly supported the efforts of a
number of charitable organizations, who include: The
Wings of Mercy, Team Kendal Kidz, Orchard Children’s
Service, FAR Conservatory, The Huron Valley Special
Olympics, The Thin Blue Line, The Shannon Gaber-Silverthorn
Scholarship and other charities.
In
addition to helping local charities, the Foundation has likewise
aided families who have endured profound tragedies. For
example, in December, 2012 a Benefit was held for the
family of Officer Patrick O’Rourke, a West
Bloomfield Police Officer who was killed in the line of
duty. Due to a tremendous outpouring of community love,
support, and generosity, the Foundation held special
hockey fund-raiser at Compuware Arena. The hockey game that featured
seven NHL Hall of Famers became a sell out; thereby
raising more than $150,000.00 for the O’Rourke Family. A
true “miracle on ice.”
Since
its inception in 2009, the Joe Kocur Foundation for
Children has raised over $500k through generosity of its
sponsors and faithful supporters.
http://www.joekocurfoundation.org/
Joe
Kocur,
Co-Founder, Joe Kocur Foundation for
Children
Hockey
fans will remember "Joey"
from hismemorable Detroit Red Wings days when he
and close friend, Bob
Probert, formed a gritty duo lauded as the "Bruise Brothers." Scrappy NHL
rival, Donald
Brashear, attests that Kocur actually
punched cracks into his helmet during one particularly
memorable physical altercation. Distinguishing
himself as one of the most penalized players inNHL
history, he spent 2,519 penalty minutes in the “sin bin.”
Although
he is widely remembered for his rough-and-tumble style of
play, die hard Red Wings fans will recall that Kocur
contributed crucially important goals in both 1997 and
1998 Stanley Cup finals series. On both occasions, Joe
along with other members of the “Winged-Wheelers”
subsequently hoisted the coveted Stanley Cup.
With
the creation of the Foundation that now bears his name,
Joe Kocur (never considered a Lady Byng Trophy
contender during his NHL career) is happy to reveal
his softer side. For,
as the former “Bruise Brother” once reflected:
“For
me, the most rewarding part of our [Foundation] events is
our ability to give back to our local charities and, at
the same time, seeing the smiling faces of the families
we’ve helped.”
Ron
Mann,
Co-Founder, Joe Kocur
Foundation for Children
Ron
Mann
founded Mann Made Resources (MMR) in 2008 and is the
President and CEO. MMR evolved from Mann’s long
history and experience in wireless construction and
provides professional services to the telecommunications
industries.
For
more than 15 years Mann has served his industry and
community through close relationships, personal service
and expertise. Ron and his wife Maureen believe in
a strong connection and commitment to investing back in
to the community. As a founding member of the Joe
Kocur foundation for children, over half a million
dollars has been provided to the community and families in
need.
Mann
has 2 children. He enjoys boating, skiing, all
outdoor activities and demonstrates a great love for all
people
Chris
Baker,Co-Founder, Joe Kocur Foundation
for Children
Chris
Baker
owns and operates three successful restaurants:
Bakers of Milford, South Lyon Hotel and Highland's
Comeback Inn.
His
generosity in the community earned him the honor of
Citizen of the Year in 2011 awarded by The Huron Valley
Chamber of Commerce for the communities of Milford,
Highland and White Lake.
He
has served on the Board of Directors of the Carls Family
YMCA for 6 years and as Chair of the Leadership
Committee.
He
is the current president of the Huron Valley Chamber of
Commerce and a respected spokesman for the business and
not-for-profit organizations in the community.
Chris
participates in several community fundraising activities
and is eager to assist the development of the youth
through career development and coordinated activities in
both the Huron Valley School District and South Lyon
School District.
Chris
is a co-founding member of The Joe Kocur Foundation for
Children.
|
|
Love for Children –
Debra
Bonde,
Founder/Executive Director, Seedlings Braille Books for
Children www.seedlings.org
In
1984, Debra Bonde quickly learned that Braille materials were scarce
and expensive. It was then that she set two goals: increase the
availability while lowering the cost of Braille books; and promote
literacy skills by enhancing a love of reading for visually impaired
children. In 1985, the first year of book production, Debra made 221
books in her basement office. By 1990, Seedlings was producing 5,000
books per year and in 2013, Seedlings produced nearly 24,000 Braille
books. This growth made it necessary to move from Debra’s home
office to the Bentley Center in Livonia, Michigan, and eventually to
its present location on Farmington Road in Livonia. To date,
Seedlings has produced over 400,000 Braille books and articles,
equaling over 18 million pages of Braille.
Seedlings’
Braille materials have opened up new worlds for thousands of
children. By reaching Braille readers in all 50 states and 75
different countries around the globe, Seedlings is able to ensure
that visually impaired children have access to many of the same good
books that their sighted peers enjoy. Seedlings produces both
classic literature and contemporary novels and by doing so, promotes
Braille literacy. At this time, less than 20% of the 50,000 blind
children in the United States are proficient in Braille. All too
often, the written word has been inaccessible to these children, and
this is what she is hoping to change.
Braille
books are provided at each level of development, from toddler board
books to classic literature for older children. Just as sighted
children learn to “read” as they are exposed to the printed word, so
do visually impaired children who are exposed to the tactile page at
an early age.
As a non-profit organization, Seedlings sells
its books for considerably less than it costs to make them. Support
is very broad based and comes from individuals, philanthropic
groups, corporations and private foundations. Seedlings is not a
United Way agency and does not receive any government grants. Thanks
to hundreds of generous donors and dedicated volunteers, the price
of Seedlings books remains far below actual production costs,
averaging only $10 per book.
2014 marks the 30th
anniversary of Seedlings’ commitment to producing high-quality,
low-cost Braille books and it expects to produce over 25,000 books
this year. The staff and volunteers work diligently to continue to
offer Braille books at the same cost today as when it first began in
Debra’s basement office. Thousands of visually impaired children now
know the thrill of being transported to a different place through
reading the printed word.
|
The
4 Core Values forms the acronym:
“N-O-E-L”.
Living
these St. Nicholas Institute values says:
Christmas!
|
|
ABOUT
|
HO-HO-HOLY!
|
SPIRITUAL RETREAT & SEMINAR
|
STAFF
|
SNI AWARDS BANQUET HONOREES
|
DONATE & SPONSOR
|
Copyright� 2011-2015 - St. Nicholas Institute - Livonia Michigan |
|