Sister Edna Lonergan’s, St. Ann Center founder and president, discusses plans for the unfinished, second story of the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee has named Sister Edna Lonergan, OSF as its 2016 Person of the Year.  Sr. Edna is the President of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, a highly respected organization that introduced dementia-specific day care to this area and was among the pioneers of fully integrated intergenerational day care in the United States.

The Milwaukee Rotary will honor Sr. Edna on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at its regularly scheduled noon meeting at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center (750 N Lincoln Memorial Dr.).

Rotarian Jim Gormley, the St. Ann board chairman has high praise for Sr. Edna.  “She has an incredible vision.  It’s an incredible vision that’s powered by her faith.  Her dedication to the mission of St. Ann’s is incredible.”

The Rotary Person of the Year award is a unique honor that focuses on the professional accomplishments of the award winner.  Rather than celebrating civic or philanthropic achievements, this award recognizes the winner’s work and career.  A committee of Milwaukee Rotarians reviews all the nominations with a particular focus on how the nominees have applied their professional work to better the community.

“The purpose of this award is to highlight the second objective of Rotary: to foster high ethical standards in business and professions, to recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations, and to dignify each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society,” President Dan Vliet of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee said. 

In recent years, Rotary Person of the Year awardees have included prominent local individuals in manufacturing, academia, professional services, and not-for-profit organizations.

St. Ann began in 1983 with a focus on adult day care.  As Sr. Edna led its growth, incorporating the mission of intergenerational care, St. Ann moved into its Stein Campus in the late 1990’s.  The organization describes the goal of the intergenerational program as serving the underserved and including day services for the whole person-body, mind and spirit.  Meaningful interactions among people of all ages are a consistent element of the St. Ann’s program.

Just last year, St. Ann opened a new Bucyrus Campus on West North Avenue where it has expanded its award winning services.

Tuesday’s award presentation will include a video tribute highlighting Sr. Edna’s work at St. Ann.

The program will begin at 12:15 pm.

Tuesday, June 7th, 2016

 Memorial Hall

War Memorial, 3rd Floor

750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.

Milwaukee, WI 53202