Holy Cross Ministries will honor five community leaders at its annual Autumn Harvest Benefit on Oct. 8 at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City. The event aims to celebrate individuals whose work embodies the mission of the Sisters of the Holy Cross to do what needs doing.
The upcoming benefit will take place at the social hall of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, located at 1505 White Pine Canyon Road. According to the organization's website, the funds raised during the event provide unrestricted support for core programs, serving as stable funding to supplement grants.
Among the individuals to be recognized as Holy Cross Heroes are Dr. Kristen Ries and Maggie Snyder. Emmie Gardner, CEO of Holy Cross Ministries, stated that Ries and Snyder provided compassionate medical and hospice care to HIV/AIDS patients at a time when they were the only health system in Utah responding to that need.
Monsignor Robert Bussen, a retired priest of the diocese, will also be honored for his commitment to social justice and his pastoral ministry supporting Latino immigrants. Additionally, Sister Laura Guadalupe Tiburcio-Santos, CSC, will be recognized alongside Jacky’s Recovery Support Services for providing culturally responsive support for those in addiction and mental health recovery.
Anna Williams will also receive recognition for her work advocating for expanded higher education access for first-generation students through programs such as Latinos in Action and the Dream Big program. Gardner noted that Williams' leadership serves as a reminder of how individual efforts can create lasting change.
Holy Cross Ministries was established 30 years ago using funds from the 1994 sale of Salt Lake City’s Holy Cross Hospital. The organization provides services including health outreach, bilingual counseling, legal immigration aid, and early childhood education across various Utah communities. Gardner noted that the organization continues to adapt its services, such as providing legal representation for families navigating ICE detentions or deportations, to meet current political and social climates.
The benefit is scheduled for Oct. 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature food and drinks on the parish patio. Individual tickets are priced at $250, and sponsorships are available. Reservations must be made by Sept. 25.
