Gathering of Friends / Blitz Award
Take me to information about Humanitarian Awards Dinner and Walk for CommUNITY.
Annually, JCCA holds its Gathering of Friends and presents the Father Joseph Biltz Award to outstanding individuals or groups who work for social change.
Father Joe was called “a prophet, the conscience of the community, loving, caring and joyful.” Biltz was a passionate leader for peace and justice, and his actions often sparked controversy. He worked with an array of people on many issues, including the poor and the elderly, for the repeal of the death penalty and the reduction of nuclear arms. He was chair of the Urban League and a member of the Arkansas Peace Center. His commitment to social justice inspired all who knew him.
There are many people in our community striving to create inclusion, acceptance and justice in different ways. Click here to nominate someone for this annual award.
Past recipients of the Father Joseph Biltz Award include:
Biltz Honor Roll
| 1987 | Henry Tuck 1988 Rev. Hezekiah Stewart |
| 1989 | Dr. Raymond V. Biondo |
| 1990 | Accept No Boundaries Founders, LR Central HS |
| 1991 | Brownie Ledbetter |
| 1992 | Ourtown Founders |
| 1993 | Jane Mendel |
| 1994 | Freddie Nixon |
| 1995 | Mimi Dortch |
| 1996 | Anytown Founders |
| 1997 | Elizabeth Eckford & Hazel Bryan Massery |
| 1998 | Irene Gaston Samuel |
| 1999 | Elijah Coleman & Grainger Williams |
| 2000 | Senator Jim Argue & Imam Johnny Aleem Hasan |
| 2001 | Members of The Panel of American Women |
| 2002 | LaVerne D. Feaster & Willie D. “Bill” Hamilton |
| 2003 | Col. Dutch Dorsch (Ret.) & Rev. William H. Robinson, Jr. |
| 2004 | Annie Abrams, Bishop Kenneth Hicks & Nina Krupitsky 2005 Dr. Betty Lowe, Bishop Larry Maze & John Walker |
| 2006 | Rev. Stephen Copley, Sister Catherine Markey, Albert J. Porter |
| 2007 | Dr. K.S. “Sunny” Anand, Jean Gordon, Sanford Tollette, IV |
To learn more about this or other JCCA events, contact the JCCA office.