Sr. Pat Marie Bernard, SC, and The Greater Cincinnati Latino Coalition to Be Honored at Luncheon | Community Spirit

Santa Maria Community Services, a Cincinnati-area human services organization which serves the wide range of community needs of the Greater Price Hill community, is honoring local healthcare leaders of the Hispanic/Latino communities at its seventh annual Bienestar Recognition Luncheon on Friday, May 18 at McCormick and Schmick’s in downtown Cincinnati.

Through its inception and development, Santa Maria’s Wellness/Bienestar program has counted on and benefited from the support of many exceptional individuals and organizations devoted to enhancing health and education options for Hispanic/Latino population. 

S. Pat Marie Bernard, SC, will be honored at the Luncheon with the Sr. Margarita Brewer Hope Award.  With degrees in both Medical Technology and Nursing, S. Pat Marie Bernard has ministered in healthcare for the past 50 years.  Forty-two of those years were in New Mexico at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, St. Joseph Hospital in Albuquerque and the last 23 years as Executive Director of the Villa Therese Catholic Clinic in Santa Fe, a basically free clinic providing health services to uninsured/underinsured families.  In 2004 Sr. Pat Marie moved to the Cincinnati area where the Sisters of Charity (SC) Motherhouse is located.  She volunteers at Santa Maria’s Wellness/Bienestar program performing wellness checkups.  She has served on Santa Maria’s Wellness Advisory Committee and currently serves on the Board of Directors.  Recent volunteer work has also included serving on the Sisters of Charity Bayley Senior Care Corp. Board and nursing assistance at the Bayley Adult Day Care program.  Sister Pat Marie states her “passion” in life is the spiritual journey.  She is involved in retreat work and spiritual direction through the Spirituality Center at the SC Motherhouse.

The Greater Cincinnati Latino Coalition (GCLC) will be recognized with the organizational award.  In 2006 the GCLC was formed so that service providers to the Hispanic/Latino community in Cincinnati could connect with others to ensure no gaps in critical services to the Hispanic/Latino population and to increase cultural competency in the delivery of existing services.  Since then the GCLC has assisted numerous agencies in becoming more aware of and sensitive to the issues within the Hispanic/Latino culture in the Greater Cincinnati area.  This has been accomplished through bi-lingual support and translation services, advocacy to Hispanic/Latinos and serving as advisory partners.  Members of the coalition all share the same passion and perseverance toward a common goal:  to make positive changes in existing service delivery systems that will have a positive impact on the quality of life for Hispanic/Latino individuals and families within the Greater Cincinnati community, empowering them to succeeds and thrive.

Luncheon speaker is local attorney Marilyn Zayas-Davis.  Mistress of Ceremonies for the event is Geri Hernandez from Macy’s.  The Bienestar Recognition Luncheon will be held on Friday, May 18 at McCormick and Schmick’s, 21 East 5th Street, in the Westin Hotel on the second floor.  The Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.  The cost is $40 per person and $300 for a table sponsorship (8 persons).  Parking is available for a minimal charge at the Fountain Square and Tower Place Mall garages, as well as in the outdoor lot across from Macy’s.  Reservations are required by Friday, May 11th.  For more information or to register, call Santa Maria Community Services at (513) 557-2730, ext 408 or visit www.santamaria-cincy.org.

Impact sponsors for the 2012 Bienestar Recognition Luncheon are PNC Bank, SC Ministry Foundation and Ethicon Endo-Surgery.  Proceeds from the Luncheon will benefit Santa Maria’s Wellenss/Bienestar Program, which is generously supported by TriHealth/Good Samaritan Hospital, Mercy Health and GE Aviation. 

Santa Maria Community Services’ mission is to empower Greater Price Hill families as they achieve sustainable health, housing, and family life.  Santa Maria provides Greater Price Hill with educational tools and resources to help build strong families, promote healthy residents, and foster neighborhood revitalization.  For more than 114 years, Santa Maria has helped families help themselves.  Santa Maria Community Services is located 617 Steiner Avenue in Sedamsville and various locations in Price Hill.