The Christ Child Society of Cleveland honored Father Walt Jenne for his ability to inspire others and to help those in need, naming him the group’s 2021 Person of the Year.
The presentation took place during the Christ Child Society Soiree, the organization’s 70th annual fundraising gala, on Nov. 5 at the Cleveland History Center. Mary Herrick, Christ Child president, said when committee members went to inform Father Jenne of his award, he had one request.
“I’ll do it if we can have chocolate cake,” he quipped.
“Hence, our dessert,” Herrick said, drawing laughter from the nearly 500 people gathered for the event.
Father Jenne, the retired pastor of St. Basil the Great Parish in Brecksville, also guided Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, for two decades. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1970 and earned a master’s degree in social work in 1977. Father Jenne served on the boards of Templum House, AIDS Housing Council of Greater Cleveland, Mental Health Services, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging and Greater Cleveland Committee on Hunger.
In 1994, Father Jenne was appointed St. Basil pastor and administrator of St. Catherine Parish in Cleveland’s Union-Miles Park neighborhood, which began a strong partnership between the parishes. St. Catherine’s closed in 2007, but its food pantry continues to serve more than 7,000 meals monthly. He retired in August 2020.
In his retirement, Father Jenne continues his ministry, serving on the boards of Jennings Center for Older Adults and Regina Health Center.
Father Jenne’s accomplishments were recapped in a tribute video shown at the gala.
“There is no limit to Father Jenne’s ability to inspire others to help those in need. He encourages everyone to find the time to serve the poor, the hungry and the homeless,” Herrick said. “We are so grateful that he has been a supporter of our Cleveland chapter for so many years. His kind words and humble heart have inspired so many others to join with us to serve the needs of children who have so little.”
Herrick also offered thanks to the volunteers and donors who support Christ Child’s mission of challenging poverty in Greater Cleveland. “Together, we can fulfill the words of our founder, Mary Virginia Merrick, who said, ‘Nothing is ever too much to do for a child,’” Herrick added.
Bishop Edward Malesic, who offered brief remarks and said grace before dinner, was among those in attendance. Paula Conrad, president-elect, offered a welcome and John Barnes Jr. served as emcee for the evening.
The event included a silent auction, raffles and a video outlining the mission of the Christ Child Society of Cleveland. Gala attendees were asked to support the organization’s work by bidding to help fund layettes, libraries, reading enrichment programs, providing beds and coats for children in need, as well as “My Stuff” bags. Herrick said the group hoped to raise about $200,000 from the soiree.
The layette program is a cornerstone of the Christ Child Society. Members sew blankets and package infant clothing and essential items for newborns. The layettes are distributed to under resourced mothers through social service and community agencies.
The Christ Child Society of Cleveland also funds and staffs libraries at two schools in the diocese. Volunteers in the reading enrichment program read to preschoolers to help reinforce reading and language development, as well as promoting a love of learning and reading. The group distributed more than 8,000 books to children in Northeast Ohio.
Another key initiative of the organization is My Stuff bags, which provide personal items for children living in shelters or transitional housing. The bags contain a seasonal casual outfit, underwear, socks, an activity book, notebook, markers and age-sensitive hygiene items. Bags are delivered to area shelters to help children who were abused or neglected or who are homeless.
Through its emergency needs program, the Christ Child Society provides portable cribs, beds, winter jackets and school uniforms to children in need. Herrick said the group has heard heartbreaking stories of families and children who need assistance. In one instance, a family was living in a car and one child had been confined to a car seat for so long, he couldn’t walk. Another child was thrilled to receive underwear, noting he would no longer have to wear his mother’s underwear.
Members of the Christ Child executive committee are Herrick; Conrad, president-elect; Julie Jerdonek, second vice president; Kathy Michael, organization vice president; Denise Shafer, financial secretary; Marsha Gleine, recording secretary; Liz Niehaus, corresponding secretary; Cathy Caruso, immediate past president; and Father Ralph Wiatrowski, pastor of St. Barnabas Parish in Northfield, spiritual advisor. Starlight Soiree chairs were Conrad and Kate Toma.
The nonprofit Christ Child Society of Cleveland has been serving children in Greater Cleveland since 1916. Last year, it worked with more than 80 social service agencies, health care facilities and schools in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, touching the lives of nearly 7,000 children and their families through nine programs. Support from donors and more than 12,000 volunteer hours from members made the impact possible.
For more information on the Christ Child Society of Cleveland, click here.