Catholic Charities Hawaii honored for nonprofit leadership

Pacific Business News presented its ninth-annual Business Leadership Hawaii awards program at the Sheraton Waikiki on Thursday, Oct. 21.

The Cades Schutte Nonprofit Leadership award went to Catholic Charities Hawaii for being “an organization driven by compassion and dignity as it assists Hawaii residents in need of social services.” The nonprofit serves 40,000 people statewide through more than 30 services and programs, including housing assistance for the homeless and living assistance for seniors.

The Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Meth Project and Punahou School were the other finalists in the nonprofit leadership award category.

Dr. Virginia Pressler, executive vice president of strategic business development at the nonprofit Hawaii Pacific Health, was presented the 2010 BLH Lifetime Achievement Award. Pressler graduated from the John A. Burns School of Medicine and ran a private practice before switching to health-care’s business side in 1993. She has played a vital role in Hawaii’s health-care industry, having served as deputy director of the state Department of Health, the president and CEO of HMSA’s Premier Plan and a vice president at Queen’s Hospital.

 Three nonprofit executives, Jerry Rauckhorst with Catholic Charities Hawaii, Betty White with Sacred Hearts Academy and Kenneth Zeri with Hospice Hawaii, along with Matthew Delaney with HiHR, were finalists for American Savings Bank Business Leader of the Year. John Morgan, president of Kualoa Ranch, was named this year’s Business Leader of the Year.

Bank of Hawaii won the BLH Community Spirit award. Bank of Hawaii employees focus on giving back to the community through volunteering, fundraising, and teaching all ages on how to manage money wisely.