Alexandria, Va. — Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) announced that Lisa Namikas, a Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge volunteer, has been named the CCUSA Volunteer of the Year for 2022.
“It is the committed, compassionate service of volunteers like Lisa that allows Catholic Charities agencies to provide such an exceptional level of care and to uphold the dignity of our sisters and brothers in need,” said CCUSA President and CEO Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD. “Thank you, Lisa. You represent the best of all that we stand for.”
“Within the quiet demeanor of Lisa Namikas lies a well of strength and energy to serve families fleeing persecution and death,” said David Aguilar, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. “The numbers are too high to count, but since she began volunteering at Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge, Lisa has welcomed hundreds of refugees and helped them become our new neighbors.”
The CCUSA Volunteer of the Year Award, given annually since 1998, is granted to an individual who embodies the mission of CCUSA to provide critical services to those in need, advocate for justice in social structures and call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same. Catholic Charities agencies across the U.S. nominate candidates for the award from nearly 300,000 volunteers.