Spirit of Service winners use blessings to help others

CNN anchor Betty Nguyen speaks at the Spirit of Service Awards Dinner on April 26. (Photo by Richard Clark)

By John Shaughnessy

Even as she lived her version of the American dream, Betty Nguyen knew she had to do more with her life—especially when she remembered a haunting moment from her childhood.

Born in Vietnam, Nguyen is now a CNN anchor who has contributed to the

network’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina, the Iraqi elections, the London bombing attacks and the death of Pope John Paul II. Yet it’s another historic moment that changed her life forever.

As the Vietnam War came to an end in 1975, Nguyen’s family raced toward one of the last American cargo planes taking

South Vietnamese residents out of the country. After being sent to three refugee camps in three different countries, Nguyen’s family finally arrived in the United States—a move that has made all the difference, she contends.

Still, she often thinks about what might have been if her family hadn’t made that plane, if they had to stay in Vietnam. That thought stays with her, especially when she views news reports from Vietnam showing children struggling to live in poverty.

It’s why she became co-founder of Help the Hungry, an organization that strives to alleviate global hunger by providing humanitarian relief to poverty-stricken families.

“Help the Hungry is my way of making a difference and offering some hope,” Nguyen said. “It helps me realize I do have a purpose beyond the work I do.”

Nguyen shared her story and that message during the April 26 Spirit of Service Award Dinner in Indianapolis, an event that raised more than $220,000 to benefit Catholic Charities Indianapolis in its efforts to help the poor and the vulnerable.

The dinner was also a celebration of this year’s seven Spirit of Service Award winners, who live these words from Nguyen: “I have been blessed, and with that blessing I must take responsibility.”

Consider the work of Dr. Mercy Obeime, a member of St. Luke Parish in Indianapolis who is also the medical director of St. Francis Hospice and St. Francis Neighborhood Health Center in Indianapolis. In 2003, on her 40th birthday, the native of Nigeria extended her care for others by starting the Mercy Foundation, dedicating her organization to bringing hope, mission trips and medical supplies to the people of her homeland.

Consider the efforts of Louise Collet, who has dedicated more than four decades of

volunteering to help children, the poor, the sick, the hungry, the elderly and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis, she has always looked out for the less fortunate through her commitments at the Cathedral Kitchen, St. Augustine Home for the Aged and A Caring Place, a Catholic Charities Indianapolis program that provides adult day care services.

Martha and Bill Kuntz earned their award for the countless ways they have quietly worked behind the scenes to improve the lives of others. Bill has also volunteered for more than 40 years with the Catholic Youth Organization, the organization that his father led when Bill was a child. And Martha is also involved with Christ Renews His Parish efforts at their parish, St. Jude in Indianapolis.

Dr. Raymond Pierce Jr. was saluted for his lifelong commitment to the Church, the community and the improvement of people’s lives. A member of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis, the retired orthopedic surgeon was one of the original board members of the archdiocese’s Multicultural Ministry Commission. He is involved in efforts to improve the health care of the poor and to fight sickle-cell anemia, a disease that predominantly strikes the black community.

Gil Viets received the Community Service Award for his contributions to the archdiocese and the city of Indianapolis, including being a board member of St. Vincent Health, and helping the United Way and the American Heart Association. He is a member of St. Alphonsus Parish in Zionsville in the Lafayette Diocese.

The Corporate Leadership Award was given to Fifth Third Bank for its many contributions to the central Indiana community and the archdiocese, including being a generous sponsor of the Spirit of Service Awards Dinner and the Celebrating Catholic School Values Awards Dinner.

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein saluted the award winners, saying, “Your commitment to selflessly serving the poor, the sick, the elderly and anyone in need is an inspiration to us all. You are humble servant-leaders who have truly answered God’s call to be compassionate toward others.”

The need for that compassion continues to grow because of the increasing number of people who need help, said David J. Bethuram, the executive director of Catholic Charities Indianapolis.

“Last year, Catholic Charities Indianapolis helped nearly 20,000 through our

11 programs,” he said. “We served people in our support programs that include counseling, family education, and after-school and

summer camp programs for at-risk youth. We served the elderly and their caregivers in our community through Adult Day Services and the Senior Companion programs, and provided those in need with temporary shelter, food, clothing and job assistance.”

The generosity of donors and volunteers has allowed Catholic Charities Indianapolis to reach more people every year, he added.

That spirit of generosity was echoed by the award winners, who each made a videotaped acceptance speech that was shown to the audience as they received their awards.

“We are all called by God to serve,” Obeime said.

A depth of humility also bonded the award winners.

“We are humbled by this honor,” Bill Kuntz said. “What we have been given pales in comparison to the many gifts God has given us, starting with our Catholic faith.” †