LOWELL, Mass.– More than 250 people gathered at Lenzi’s in Dracut, Mass. to attend Lowell Catholic High School’s 16th Annual Bishop John R. McNamara Awards Gala. Mark S. Cochran, president and Chief Executive of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, was among the proud recipients of this year’s Award.
Lowell Catholic High School instituted the Award and Gala in memory of Bishop John R. McNamara, who passed away on April 15, 2001. Bishop McNamara devoted 40 years to community service and Catholic education. The Bishop John R. McNamara Award continues his legacy by recognizing those who are dedicated to improving the community, giving back to people in need and contributing to Catholic education.
“I am so honored to be a recipient of this year’s Bishop John R. McNamara Award,” said Mr. Cochran. “This Award has gone to so many great people over the past 16 years, who have done incredible work for our community. I feel so honored to be part of that,” he added.
At the Gala, Michelle Silveira, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, presented Mr. Cochran with the Award.
“When I think about the qualifications necessary to be chosen as the Bishop McNamara Award recipient, it is clear why this honor is bestowed upon Mark,” said Silveira. “Mark’s focus on community outreach and education directly relates to Jeanne D’Arc’s overall mission and desire to make a difference in the lives of our members and the public at large,” she added.
Cochran said he was proud to accept the award alongside another recipient, Jack Sullivan, President of Gavin & Sullivan Architects.
At right, Michelle Silveira, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, presented the Credit Union’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark S. Cochran, with Lowell Catholic High School’s 16th Bishop John R. McNamara Award at a Gala held on Tuesday, April 4th at Lenzi’s in Dracut.
Separately, as the first quarter of 2017 came to an end, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union closed out the first Give-A-Click campaign of the New Year with Marguerite’s Place as the latest winner. The Nashua-based non-profit organization received a $1,500 donation from the Credit Union’s We Share A Common Thread Foundation.
Marguerite’s Place provides transitional housing, child care and a wide array of supportive services to help women and their children make their way from homelessness to permanent self-sufficiency. They assist with finances, job-training, education, community involvement, healthcare and more.
The Give-A-Click campaign runs every quarter on the Credit Union’s We Share a Common Thread Foundation website. Community members visit the site, learn about three worthy non-profit organizations, and cast their vote for the one they would like to support. The organization with the most votes at the end of the quarter is awarded a $1,500 donation from the Foundation. New non-profits are posted every quarter and people of the community, Jeanne D’Arc members, employees and supporters of the featured organizations are asked to visit WeShareACommonThread.org to help their favorite nonprofits gain a much-needed donation.
The $1,500 donation won by Marguerite’s Place will be used to benefit the organization’s child care program, as well as its transitional housing opportunities.
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union said it was also honored to feature The Front Door Agency and Nashua Children’s Home as nominees in the first quarter campaign. The race proved to be tight throughout.
The second quarter contest kicked off on April 1st with the following organizations vying for the next donation: UnCommon Threads, The Humane Society for Greater Nashua and The Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program.