Sister Donna Hawk, CSJ, Receives Award From West Side Catholic Center

Sister Donna Hawk, CSJ, received the Sister Kathleen Kilbane, CSJ Walk in Faith Award on November 14th at the Warm Hearts Winter Nights gala. The annual award is presented to a person who continues to advance and support the mission of the West Side Catholic Center in faith-filled exceptional ways.

Sister Donna’s early career was spent as an elementary and junior high school teacher, principal and religious formation director. In 1980, she began her long association with the West Side Catholic Center, serving four years as the co-director of the Shelter. She continued her association with the Center serving many years on the Board of Directors.

In 1984, she used her experience with the poor and marginalized on the near west side to help found Transitional Housing, Inc, an organization which has assisted more than 1300 women and infants in its 25 year history. She served as its Associate Director for four years and Director for eight years.

Sister Donna’s passion for helping the homeless is exhibited in many different ways. Not satisfied with only providing direct service, she has been active in local, state and national organizations which seek to find the root causes and solutions to the problems of homelessness. She is a founding member of the Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and the founding president of its Northeast Ohio Chapter.

Through a lifetime of service and advocacy, Sister Donna has walked in faith. She has been a voice for the voiceless, always remembering those whom too often society has forgotten.

Please join us in congratulating Sister Donna for this well-deserved honor.