The Dismas Charities Board of Directors 2017 Community Involvement Gold Standard Award was presented to the Laredo facility during a special ceremony as part of the Leadership Symposium in January. The award is presented to a center “for outstanding contributions to the community and who, by their caring actions, upheld Father William Diersen’s call for Healing the Human Spirit.” The plaque contains a photo of Diersen in his typical community service stance, and is signed by Board Chairman William G. Ferko and Vice Chairman Thomas E. Moss Sr. Accepting the award are (from left) Laredo Assistant Director Felipe Jaime, Laredo Director Danny Reyes and Regional Vice President Joe Driver, who has operational oversight of the program. Driver is followed by Executive Vice President Jan M. Kempf and President/CEO Raymond J. Weis. Kempf cited the Laredo program for a number of accomplishments, including their untiring efforts at helping the children of the Santa Monica Mission, in El Cenizo, Texas. Since the Laredo center opened in 2003, in partnership with the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Probation Office, it has provided over 1,100 Christmas gifts, 1,260 pair of new shoes, 150 bicycles, 500 pounds of school supplies, $8,000 for learning materials, and chairs, furniture, copiers and television set’s for the mission school. In addition to Laredo’s support of the Mission, staff have assisted citizens with flood damage, supported the Junior League and youth programs, maintained excellence in service to the Bureau of Prisons and developed a community support system second to none.
