Rhonda Meister named NASW Public Citizen of the Year
The National Association of Social Workers named Rhonda Meister as the 2007 Public Citizen of the Year for her advocacy on behalf of low income children and families and those individuals who are homeless or at risk for homelessness.

For more than 20 years, Meister has served as executive director of St. Joseph Center in Venice, a comprehensive provider of support services for those who are struggling to overcome poverty and achieve self-sufficiency. She has advocated on a local and state level on issues surrounding poverty and homelessness.

Under her leadership, St. Joseph Center has experienced a four-fold increase in staff and budget and the addition of six programs to help meet the increasingly complex needs of low income families and homeless persons who rely on the center's services.

Meister also has served as the chair of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Homeless, working with the community to dispel myths and to bring more services to those who need it most. After many years of involvement, she recently stepped down from the executive committee of the Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition, which is a regional alliance of service providers and faith based organizations that are committed to ending hunger and homelessness through service coordination, public education and advocacy.

"Underlying all of these various activities is Rhonda's determination to uphold respect for the dignity of every individual," said Judy Alexander, associate director of St. Joseph Center. "Her energy and commitment are an incredible gift to her community, her staff and to the many poor and marginalized men, women and children that her efforts have served so well."

CHARITY RUN -- Runners compete during the Saint John's Santa Monica 5000 on Oct. 21. Haron Lagat won the Los Angeles Sports and Fitness Invitational at the second annual event in 14:06. In the women's 5k race, Kenyan Caroline Cheptanui won in 16:18. Race proceeds will help the new Emergency Department at Saint John's Health Center.

IHM Sister celebrates 75th
Sister M. Eleanor Borovich recently celebrated 75 years as a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Following her high school graduation in Holister, Calif., Sister Eleanor (nee Pauline Borovich) attended Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles where she first met the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. She then entered the I.H.M. novitiate in 1932.

Her first mission was to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. She later taught at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, and Immaculate Heart High School and Blessed Sacrament School, Hollywood. Other teaching assignments included St. Vibiana School and St. Thomas School, Los Angeles, and Bishop Amat High School, La Puente.

She also served as principal at Mary Star of the Sea School in San Pedro, St. Luke School in Temple City, Our Lady of Grace School in Encino and Sacred Heart School in Lancaster, as well as in assignments outside the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Today the jubilarian spends much of her time in chapel, praying for those who have been recommended to the Sisters' prayers, for the needs of the world, and, especially, for priests. An accomplished artist, she crochets afghans and remains and avid reader.