Q: What is your name, occupation and how long have you volunteered to serve on the St. Joe Foundation Board?

My name is Saw H. Kapaw. I currently work as a Regional IT Director for Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne region. It’s been an incredible honor for me to serve on the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation board for a total of seven years now in two separate occasions (2013 – 2018) and (2021 – current).  

Q: What inspires you about the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and their Foundress Saint Katharina? Are there particular values or works that you find especially important?

The most inspiring part about the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and their Foundress Saint Katharina is their passion and dedication to continue serving the most vulnerable and least fortunate populations in the community for an extended period of time. Being on the St. Joe Foundation board, the opportunity to serve alongside the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and to give back to the community has been very honorable and inspiring all at the same time. An area that is particularly important to me personally is the Foundation’s efforts to work with different organizations around the community to support the refugee and immigrant populations. Being a first-generation immigrant myself, I can entirely relate to the struggles that come with settling in a new world. Having a supportive structure that the St. Joe Foundation provides via partnering with different organizations makes a big difference in the lives of refugee and immigrant populations.   

Q: Please share a memorable interaction you have had with a grantee and their staff/clients.

During my tenure here, I’ve had a few great memorable interactions with not just a grantee but a few that work within the same area of supporting vulnerable families, mothers and children. The organizations, such as New Mercies Ministries, Safe Families for Children Alliance, and Healthier Moms and Babies, all have been doing an incredible job supporting vulnerable families around the community. It’s been an amazing experience not only to provide grants but also to partner with their incredible staff members to work toward giving back to the community.  

Q: What do you enjoy most about serving on the St. Joe Foundation Board? 

The most enjoyable part about serving on the St. Joe Foundation Board is the opportunity to work closely with its incredible team of staff members, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and different organizations/grantees to fulfill the vision and mission of serving the most vulnerable and least fortunate populations in the community. It’s personally the utmost honorable and yet humbling opportunity to be part of this journey.

Q: Tell us about an accomplishment in your professional or private life that you are proud of.

Since I’ve been back in town with my current role with Ivy Tech, through the grace of God, it’s been a blessing to not only have the amazing opportunity to spend more time with my family, but also to give back and serve the community by being more involved. In addition to rejoining the St. Joe Foundation board, I’m also serving on the Chancellor’s cabinet, Diversity Council, Hiring committee, Process Improvement Taskforce, Indiana Broadband Initiative, and at my local church (First Baptist of Fort Wayne).