Four community leaders to be honored by Catholic Charities
By Claudia Mathis
SUN staff writer
Four individuals who have made a significant difference in Central New York will be honored at the 24th annual House of Providence Dinner on May 20 at the OnCenter starting with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner following at 7 p.m. More than 600 people are expected to attend. Stickley, Audi & Co., Time Warner Cable, Alliance Bank, M & T Bank and National Grid are sponsoring this event, which recognizes individuals who define the best traits of Central New York citizenry.
Dan Cummings of WSYR-News Channel 9 will emcee as awards are presented to this year’s honorees: Darlene Kerr, Marion and Linda Ervin and Doug Logan.
Doug Logan will receive the Bishop’s Medallion. This award honors those individuals who selflessly serve their community, living their lives as a model of service to others through their vocation and voluntary pursuits. The Bishop’s Medallion stands as a testimony to their devotion and commitment to others.
Logan has made an indelible mark both professionally and personally on the community. As director of Time Warner Sports in Syracuse, Logan is in his sixth year of overseeing the programming, operations and advertising sales for Time Warner’s Sports Channel. For 19 years, He served as the play-by-play “Voice of the Orange” for Syracuse University football and basketball on the WSYR New York State Radio Network. He has broadcast the NCAA National Game of the Week in football and basketball for Host Communications and has been an annual elector for the Heisman Trophy and the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award. Logan worked for 19 years as sports director of WIXT-TV in Syracuse, serving as a sports anchor. For 21 years, he hosted “This Week on DIRT,” a weekly television racing show which was syndicated across the U.S. and Canada. Logan also provided play-by-play for “Rush Hour on DIRT,” a live race telecast which was seen throughout the eastern U.S. and was syndicated around the world. During his broadcasting career, Logan has won awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, New York State Broadcasters Association and the Syracuse Press Club.
Logan is a 2007 inductee into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. He is serving his second term as president and chairman of the board of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) which is based in Salisbury, N.C., and has been a member of NSSA’s national board of directors for the last 29 years. In 1998, Logan became the first play-by-play announcer in either radio or TV to be honored with the BIG EAST Media Award for his outstanding contributions to college basketball. In 1999, Logan was awarded the Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence from Syracuse University. In 2001, he was named a Syracuse University Honorary Letterwinner of Distinction. In 2003, he received the Dean’s Citation for his exceptional service to the School of Management. He has been voted State Sportscaster of the Year three times by his peers and in May 2005, he was presented with a “key to the city” by the mayor of Salisbury.
Logan has received many awards and much recognition for his service throughout the community.
He continues to serve as honorary chairperson, master of ceremonies or guest speaker for countless non-profit groups in Central New York, helping to raise millions of dollars for charity. He chairs the advisory committee for Catholic Charities’ Kids Win initiative, co-chairs the Crouse Health Foundation’s Tribute Evening and has served on the Sports marketing Advisory Committee for the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Logan is a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in speech, radio-TV and is president of the Purdue University Alumni Association of Central New York.
“I’m certainly deeply honored and humbled to be recognized by Catholic Charites with the Bishop’s Medallion,” said Logan. “Catholic Charities means so much to the fiber of our community by the vast array of services that they offer.”
Marion and Linda Ervin will receive the Humanitarian Service Medallion, which honors individuals who have the consistent desire to improve the human condition through a life of service to others, both personally and professionally. Their spirit of concern for others, coupled with their substantial and long-standing commitment to meeting human service needs, is recognized with this award.
Marion is a retired executive of New Process Gear Corporation, a division of New Venture Gear, Inc. He served in the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C. and in Vietnam. Marion is currently serving as assistant vice president for Community Resources, on the United Way board of directors, treasurer of the HOME, Inc. board, a member of the 314 Hudson Street board of directors, a member of the executive council of the Hiawatha Boy Scout Council, a member of the board of directors of the Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice, Inc., and treasurer of Faith Hope Community Center.
Linda has been a community activist in the Syracuse area for over 30 years. She served on the Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education and currently serves on the Time of Jubilee/Jubilee Homes affordable housing land trust boards and as vice president of the 314 Hudson Street board. Linda is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) appointed by Onondaga Family Court to assist abused or neglected children and is a member of the New York State CASA board. In addition, she is a member of the board for Meals on Wheels of Syracuse and Home Aides of Central New York. She served six years on the board of Hospice of Central New York, where she was instrumental in helping the agency to encourage diversity in its client base and its staff.
Linda’s upbringing as the child of a single parent in Tuckahoe, N.Y. influenced her decision to give back to her community. Her family life revolved around her church. Her minister told her that wherever she settled, she needed to give back to the community. Marion feels the same way. “We do what we do because we feel that that is what God wants us to do,” said Linda.
“We feel humbled and proud that the committee thought we were deserving of the award,” she added.
Darlene Kerr, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce since 2006, will receive the President’s Medallion, which honors individuals who, through their voluntary contributions, have enhanced Catholic Charities and the community. These individuals exhibit a devotion to the betterment of the human condition and a concern for others, as well as vision and leadership in their contributions.
Kerr served as the board chair at the Chamber of Commerce from 1999 to 2000 and has also served as president and chief operating officer at Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and as president of National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. She previously served on the boards of Leadership Greater Syracuse, Rural Metro, Health Alliance of Central New York, Central New York Regional Compact, among others. Kerr’s community service affiliations are extensive. They include chairing the Red Cross annual Great Chef Dinner, serving on the boards of the Crouse Health Foundation, SUNY Environmental School of Forestry, NYS Commission on Health Care Facilities for the 21st Century, Syracuse 20/20, Le Moyne College, Near West Side Initiative, Farmers & Traders Life Insurance Co., M & T Bank Advisory Council, New York State Women in Communications and Energy. She currently chairs the CNY Economic Development Leadership Council. She was also a founding board member of Success by 6.
Kerr said she feels it’s important to be involved in her community. “I believe these organizations are making a significant contribution to the community by improving the quality of life and creating economic opportunities for people and businesses,” said Kerr.
Kerr has received numerous awards. Some of them are the Mover and Shaker and Women of Achievement awards from Syracuse Newspapers, Citizen of the Year Award from Temple Adath Yeshuran in Syracuse and the Extraordinary Woman Award from the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls.
