Wetzel Receives Caritas Award
Posted on 9/17/2006
Rodger Wetzel, Director of Community Health, Eldercare and Foundation at St. Alexius Medical Center will be the recipient of the 2006 Caritas Award. This award is presented by Catholic Charities North Dakota to an individual, organization or group of people who through their life in action, and their commitment to the works of charity and justice embody the spirit of Jesus in making real and present God’s love, compassion and caring for the least of God’s people.
Rodger was born in Benson County, North Dakota, where his elderly parents still reside. He is a trained Social Worker who has worked in rural North Dakota, within the state human services system and, for more than twenty years, as the Director of Community Health, Eldercare and Foundation at St. Alexius.
Rodger is recognized for the Caritas Award within the human services field as a champion in advocating on behalf of the people in North Dakota. Happily he will lend his energy, talents and leadership skills to endeavors improving the lives of persons with developmental disabilities, the aging population and other people with needs. He is recognized for his unrelenting pursuit of goals to enhance services for the residents of the state of North Dakota. Rodger has the unique ability to fortify and strengthen collaboration of various agencies into a single focused effort. He is a tireless lobbyist during legislative sessions, tracking legislation and providing testimony in support of the ongoing efforts of the groups.
In June of this year Rodger also received the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Award. This award is presented to an individual for their leadership activities that contribute to an enriched quality of life and enhancement of their communities.
The Caritas Award will be presented to Rodger on September 29, 2006 at the Christ of King Church in Mandan. The Most Rev. Paul A. Zipfel, Bishop of Bismarck, will address the gathering, and present the Caritas Award to Rodger.