YOUNGSTOWN Catholic Charities to give 12 honors

'United in Faith' serves as the theme for the 2002 Voice of Hope Dinner.
WARREN -- Nancy E. Wisdo, director of the office of domestic social development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be the keynote speaker for the Bishops' Annual Voice of Hope Dinner for Catholic Charities at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Leo's Ristorante and Banquet Center.
This annual event celebrates the unity and identity of Catholic Charities services in the Diocese of Youngstown and honors individuals displaying excellence, creativity and leadership in the areas of charity and justice. The theme for the 2002 Voice of Hope Dinner is "United in Faith."
Catholic Charities will recognize 12 men and women from the Diocese of Youngstown for their service and advocacy efforts. Awards for both charity and justice will be presented to two recipients.
Nominees in the area of charity include:
Freda Cunningham, who is involved with parish projects at St. Paul Parish in North Canton. She is a Eucharistic minister and assists with chaplaincy at Aultman Hospital, Canton.
Salvatore and Mary L. Mormando, who have been volunteer prison ministers at Trumbull Correctional Institution for more than a decade. They are members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles.
Ken and Vicki Pavalko, parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Youngstown, who are founders of the Touched by Nathan Foundation, a nonprofit organization created in memory of their son, Nathan, who was born in 1997 with a rare chromosomal problem.
Irene Welling, who is the founding president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Joseph Church in Mantua. She is a Eucharistic minister.
Susan A. Keegan is a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church in Warren, where she is a Eucharistic minister and gathers parish women for weekly prayers. She is involved with the Fairhaven Workshop Venture Scouts.
James Doran Sr. has dedicated several decades to numerous activities and service projects. A parishioner at St. Charles Church, Boardman, Doran serves his parish as a member of the funeral choir and building committee, and is a Eucharistic minister. He is involved with The Samaritans, an ecumenical organization that raises money for charities.
Justice nominees
Nominees in the area of justice are:
Jean K. Rhodes is a parishioner at St. Paul Church, Salem, a member of the Catholic Charities Advisory Board, and served on the task force responsible for initiating domestic violence awareness projects in the Diocese of Youngstown. Rhodes is involved with the Ohio Council of Churches, the National Council Catholic Women and the Catholic Daughters of America.
Mike Kahanca is a member of Mother of Sorrows in Ashtabula. He served as the First Grand Knight of his local Knights of Columbus Council, as a trustee for the local Catholic Charities agency, and on various diocesan advisory boards and committees.
Dr. Phyllis Cooper is a member of St. Luke Church in Boardman, where she serves as the chairperson for the social concerns committee. She has organized events for foster children and poor students.
Derrick Wyman is a freshman at Walsh University, North Canton. During his senior year of high school at Canton Central Catholic, Wyman was president of the Massillon Area Right to Life organization in which he was responsible for helping several Right to Life groups in Stark County become one organization, of which he is now executive director.
Tickets are $40 each. Call (330) 744-8451, Ext. 328.