Annually, the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation has the privilege of nominating the Raymond Rosenberger – Minette Baum Awardee. The recipient is selected for their diligent and faithful service with an exempt charitable organization(s) that has been organized and operated to alleviate human suffering or enhance the quality of life of persons afflicted with illness or injury, or to promote wellness through the prevention of illness, disease or injury.

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation’s 2008 Raymond Rosenberger-Minette Baum Awardee was Mr. Anthony “Tony” Zirille, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Equity Investment Group, Fort Wayne, IN. Tony was instrumental in helping start the Fort Wayne Community Resource Center for Refugees. When the Foundation began exploring how to respond to the tremendous health and human service needs of the several thousand refugees relocating to the community, Tony helped the Board and the Foundation’s sponsor set strategic direction and hire outside counsel to improve communication with government entities. He also helped with negotiations to acquire a building to house the Center and its agencies, and provided long hours of service drawing up agreements and other policies and procedures for the new Center.

As a result of his many donated hours, over 2,000 refugees have benefited from services from the eleven different programs and agencies offering services since the Center opened in November 2008. Tony plans to use the award money to help Burmese refugee children attend summer camps to acclimate into the Fort Wayne community; to help underprivileged children attend soccer camps; to Big Brothers Big Sisters to mentor children; and to develop an Inner City Soccer Program for Fort Wayne youth.