LINCOLN (SNR) – Katie Patrick, executive director of Catholic Social Services for Southern Nebraska, was one of seven recipients of the 2022 Young Lincoln Leader Award (YLLA), which recognizes outstanding contributions to the Lincoln community.
The awards ceremony was held on September 29 at Robber’s Cave during YP Week, Lincoln’s annual celebration of young professionals.
Individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 were nominated for the YLLA in six categories. Patrick was named “Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year”.
Patrick served as Regional Director of CSS from March 2019 to July 2021 and was appointed Executive Director. She is the first woman, wife, mother and commoner to lead the organization.
She was nominated by Nicole Simon, a Lincoln businessman and board member of Catholic Social Services (CSS) of Southern Nebraska. Upon her nomination, she said she was inspired by Patrick’s “gentle demeanor, focused vision, and most of all, her determination to help the poor and marginalized in Lincoln and elsewhere.” rice field.
Simon said Patrick oversaw a $6 million, $3.5 million renovation and expansion of the CSS Lincoln headquarters beginning this fall, has 75 staff statewide, and is the mother of eight-month-old twins. I pointed out something.
“CSS has outreach centers in Lincoln, Auburn, Hastings, and Imperial, serving people of all faiths across 24,000 square miles of southern Nebraska,” Simon explains. “She managed her $6 million budget for the first time in her nearly 100-year CSS history while doing amazing things to help others find hope in the good life. I helped gather the staff who were there.”
As an example of Patrick’s work, Simon explained many things. Local partnerships to provide nutrition guidance to clients, provide breakfast to the homeless, and plan future community gardens. St. Gianna Women’s Home for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Critical Pregnancy. Onsite counseling and group therapy, financial literacy classes, self-care and family well-being opportunities.
Simon noted that Patrick oversaw and participated in the resettlement and immigration legal services of more than 50 refugees from Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, in addition to 134 Afghan refugees.
“Katie encouraged and guided staff towards partnerships with other nonprofits and provided wraparound services to better serve those in need,” Simon said.
An external nominating committee of seven business, nonprofit, public service, and education leaders met to evaluate and select the finalists and winners in seven categories.
“I am honored to receive the Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year Award from the Lincoln YPG, along with some truly impressive men and women,” said Patrick. I am honored to lead an incredibly talented and dedicated staff, where every day Christ invites us to meet the poor and the weak. We can give hope and love to all people in the world and love them as Christ has loved us.”
Other YP Week events included inspiring speakers, discussion panels, workshops and networking opportunities celebrating the talent, insight and energy of Lincoln’s young professionals. With over 1,500 members, the Lincoln Young Professionals group is one of the largest in the country.
Other winners were Mike Smith, Rabble Mill/The Bay and Young Professional of the Year. Jazari Kual, Qualdom Creations, Young Citizen of the Year. Angela Garbacz, Goldenrod Pastries, Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Tut Kailech, NeighborWorks Lincoln, Emerging Leader of the Year. Nathan He, Nebraska Alumni, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence. And Lutz, the next generation workplace.
