Jim & Cathy Smith
Community Leadership Award
This year we are honoring Archbishop Leonard P. Blair at our Awards Dinner being held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
The Jim & Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award
The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation has established the Jim & Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award to recognize leaders who have demonstrated exemplary service to the non-profit community in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties. This award honors the work of Jim and Cathy Smith, exemplary community leaders, who actively support and nurture community service within the Archdiocese of Hartford. Jim Smith is the Founding General Chair of The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation (2016-2022). The award will be given annually to an individual or couple who has shown leadership in helping improve the Archdiocesan community and who demonstrates commitment to the schools, parishes, and ministries in the Archdiocese, with special consideration for service to the poor, needy and vulnerable.
2024 Recipient
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair
The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, fifth Archbishop of Hartford, had a vision for our future by establishing The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation (HBF). HBF is a nonprofit meant to engage our community to support the health, stabilization and revitalization of our Archdiocese. Archbishop Blair summoned the leaders of today to work together for a brighter future for the Archdiocese of Hartford.
It is with great joy and admiration that we honor our esteemed Archbishop for his visionary leadership with the Jim and Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award. HBF is founded on the principles of compassion, unity, and sustainable growth. It aims to be a beacon of support, fostering programs that enhance our community's well-being and ensure a vibrant future, inspired and informed by the Catholic Faith.
Join us to Honor and Celebrate
The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, S. T. D.
Archbishop of Hartford
Recipient of the 2024
Jim and Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award
In recognition of a decade of ministry and service to the Archdiocese of Hartford and as founding President of The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation
Date:
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Time:
5:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Aria, 45 Murphy Road, Prospect, CT
Social Hour and Dinner
$125 pp
Table sponsorships are available.
Enjoy special entertainment
provided by the students of our Catholic High Schools
and selections from an ensemble of the
Cathedral of St. Joseph Schola Cantorum.
Proceeds will be used
to establish the Archbishop Leonard P. Blair
Endowment for the religious and social ministries
of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
For more information about the event
and to reserve tickets call 860-242-5573 ext.1054,
email randee.gileau@aohct.org.
Online tickets are now available.
2023 Recipient
Dr. Peter Deckers
Dr. Peter Deckers joined HBF as a founding director in 2016. He provided outstanding leadership as a member of the Executive Committee; Chair of Forward with Faith Vibrant Parishes Council; and member of the Audit Committee. He now serves as HBF Emeritus Director.
Dr. Deckers also serves as Dean Emeritus of the School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center. At UConn Health, he served as Chair of the Department of Surgery, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Executive Vice President.
2022 Recipients
Jim & Cathy Smith
The inaugural recipients of the Jim & Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award were Jim Smith, HBF Founding General Chair (2016-2022), and his wife Cathy, community volunteer and philanthropist.
HBF and the Archdiocese of Hartford recognized Jim and Cathy Smith for a lifetime of philanthropy and service to their church and community. HBF has established the Jim & Cathy Smith Community Leadership Award to recognize leaders who have demonstrated exemplary service to the non-profit community in the Hartford, Litchfield, and New Haven counties. This award honors the work of Jim and Cathy Smith, outstanding community leaders, who actively support and nurture community service within the Archdiocese of Hartford.
HBF, at a recognition ceremony on December 14, 2022, honored the Smiths as the first HBF Community Leadership Award recipients.