Past Ad Lucem Award Recipients

2011 Ad Lucem Award Recipient
Religious Communities of Women of the Diocese of Pittsburgh

(Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh, Byzantine Sisters of St. Basil the Great, Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Daughters of Mary- Mother of Mercy, Dominican Sisters of Peace, Dominican Sisters, Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport, Felician Sisters, Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, Ladies of Bethany, Little Sisters of the Poor, Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, Religious of the Passion, Religious Teachers Filippini, School Sisters of Notre Dame, School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (formerly Vincentian Sisters of Charity), Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Sisters of Divine Providence, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God, Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Sisters of the Divine Redeemer, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Sisters of the Holy Spirit of Pittsburgh, Sisters of the Humility of Mary, and Sisters-Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.)

The 27 Religious Communities of Women of the Diocese of Pittsburgh are “founders’ in every sense of the word:  creators of institutions of higher education, such as La Roche and Carlow and hospitals such as Mercy and St. Francis; organizers of the “green” movement at Villa Maria Farm; initiators of programs to support those with Alzheimer’s disease, such as Marion Manor; and creators in independent living for the elderly poor, such as the Jeanne Jugan Pavilion.  Each of their good works and achievements are rooted in a remarkable spirit of humility, selflessness and a deep commitment to God. Many lives are made better because of their compassion, prayers and hard work.

2010 Ad Lucem Award Recipient
Monsignor William A. Kerr (posthumously)

The late Monsignor William Kerr’s tenure as La Roche College President (1992-2004) was a period of significant academic development for the College as well as substantial expansion of its physical facilities. Perhaps the most notable of his achievements was the Pacem In Terris program.  Taking to heart Pope John the 23rd’s admonition to establish new relationships between individual citizens and the world community to bring about world peace, Monsignor Kerr established the Pacem In Terris program in 1993. 

Pacem In Terris  provided scholarships to students from conflict, post-conflict and developing regions of the world, creating  at La Roche a microcosm  what the world, at its best, could be – a world of respect and open dialogue in an educational setting – a world of peace.

From  war-ravaged Yugoslavia through its expansion to the Middle East and Africa, Pacem In Terris attracted more than 450 students from 21 countries while at the same time bringing a world view to the entire La Roche College community. 

2009 - The Massaro Family
Founders of the Massaro Corporation

Joseph A. Massaro, Jr., chairman and CEO of Massaro Corporation, began his construction business in the late 1960s. Joe and his wife, Carol, both Pittsburgh natives, raised their children here – each has contributed to the success of the family’s construction and real estate company that delivers quality building solutions. David E. Massaro serves as president of Massaro Properties, LLC; Joseph A. Massaro III, as president and COO; Linda Massaro as Commercial Sales and Leasing representative of Massaro Properties, LLC; and Steven M. Massaro as vice president, Business Development. The Massaros are known for their service to and support for the community, volunteering with numerous Pittsburgh organizations.  They give of their time, they contribute through their family foundation and individual philanthropy and making the region a better place to live and work.  Today, the Massaro Corporation enjoys nationwide recognition in the construction services industry and has been repeatedly cited as one of the best companies to work for in western Pennsylvania.

2008 - Howard Hanna Family
Founders of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

The Hanna family business – Howard Hanna Real Estate Services – was created 50 years ago by Anne and Howard W. Hanna Jr. with one office at the corner of Bayard and Craig Streets. Now, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has 122 sales offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York and employs more than 3,600 sales associates and staff. Three generations continue to manage the family business: Howard W. “Hoddy” Hanna, III, serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Helen Hanna Casey, President; and Annie Hanna Cestra, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company; and third generation, Annie Hanna Engel serves as Chief Legal Counsel for the company; Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna, IV, serves as President of Howard Hanna Ohio, and F. “Duffy” Hanna serves as Executive Vice President of the company's title business, Barristers Land Abstract. Other family members involved in the company are: Dennis Cestra, Senior Vice President of Appraisal Services, Kelly Hanna Riley, Ricky Duffy, John Freyvogel, Michael Regan, Chas Conley and James McCready.

2007 - John F. Donahue, Thomas J. Donnelly and Richard B. Fisher
Founders of Federated Investors, Inc.

For more than 50 years, Federated Investors, Inc. has focused on delivering world-class investment solutions and expertise to millions of investors with a broad array of investment needs. Pursuing a vision of new investment horizons, and bolstered by their faith in the future and their courage to follow a dream, three Central Catholic graduates – John F. Donahue, Thomas J. Donnelly, and Richard B. Fisher – founded the company in 1955. In the intervening years, these imaginative industry pioneers pursued their business model with remarkable vision, astute planning and unrelenting drive. Now more than five decades later, Federated Investors has grown to be one of the largest institutional money market fund managers in the nation, with more than $237 billion in assets under management.

Along the way, the company has reached a number of milestones and industry firsts. Federated introduced one of the first exchange funds in the industry, created one of the first government bond funds, introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds, provided small investors access to U.S. money market investment vehicles by offering one of the first money market mutual funds, and created one of the first municipal bond funds. All of these accomplishments, along with the day-to-day commitment to evaluating successful business traditions of the past, exploring present trends and opportunities, and extending the vision to meet the needs of the future have benefited the financial lives of millions of individuals.

2006 - Sisters of Divine Providence
Founders of La Roche College

Since its founding in 1851 in Germany, the Congregation of Divine Providence has responded to the needs of the times in its ministry to people throughout the world. This response to “the needs of the times” led six pioneering Sisters to Pittsburgh in 1876 where they eventually established the Sisters of Divine Providence in the United States.

Throughout their 150-year history, the Sisters of Divine Providence have devoted their lives to their mission of co-creating a world of compassion, peace and justice and to making God’s providence more visible in the world. The founding of La Roche College in 1963 was another response to the needs of the times – the education of the great number of young women entering religious communities. However, the challenges associated with establishing, maintaining and growing the College were numerous and often ominous. Trust in a Provident God, personal sacrifice, congregational resources and visionary leadership, coupled with their dauntless spirit and commitment, helped the Sisters prevail over these obstacles.

The Sisters of Divine Providence are a group of women who are called by God to serve, love, help others and build the future based on Christian values. They are compassionate nurturers who work tirelessly to make the world a better place for all people and those most affected by poverty and oppression. Their legacy at La Roche College encompasses a trailblazing group of religious Sisters whose vision, leadership and determination created the path and light — Ad Lucem — necessary for the establishment of the College. Four decades later, La Roche College has evolved from a small college for religious Sisters into one of southwestern Pennsylvania’s finest co-educational institutions offering liberal arts and pre-professional academic programs.