Catholic Charities Recognizes Alexis Weber as 2014 Volunteer of the Year

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA is pleased to announce that Alexis Weber, Director of the School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Hospital and volunteer at Catholic Charities Pittsburgh, is the winner of the 2014 Volunteer of the Year award. 

Weber has volunteered her talents as a nurse with St. Joseph House, a sixty-bed single room occupancy (SRO) facility for men ages fifty and over who have become homeless or were at risk for homelessness, since 1994. She has provided nursing care to more than 1,600 men during her twenty years of volunteer service. She provides health assessments, blood pressure screenings, and foot care for patients with diabetes. Ms. Weber also deals with cardiac issues, breathing issues, and the specific illnesses men may develop. She is well versed in issues associated with addiction and mental illness, which is often an important aspect of her care.

"Alexis Weber's big-hearted generosity is an inspiration and reminder to us all to give back to our brothers and sisters in need," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. "I want to thank Alexis and all of our amazing nominees for giving selflessly of their time and talents and realizing the importance of lending a helping hand. Our local agencies would be hard-pressed to serve so many without the tireless support that volunteers like Alexis and hundreds of thousands of others provide every day."

The Volunteer of the Year award honors the contributions of more than 300,000 volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to the Catholic Charities network. Honored during National Volunteer Month, Ms. Weber was chosen out of eight finalists to receive the award, which has been given out annually since 1998. The other seven finalists for CCUSA's 2014 Volunteer of the Year award were:

• Patty Bivins, Virginia Brannigan & Kay Noble (Catholic Charities of Camden)
• Elizabeth Klinepeter (Catholic Charities Jacksonville)
• Glenn Leach (Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Davenport)
• Tom McCoy (Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre)
• Dominic Rizzo (Catholic Charities Community Services of Summit County)
• R. Peter Ulland (Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis)
• Kim Winegar (Catholic Charities Hawai'i)

About Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is leading a national movement to end poverty in America. In communities across the country, Catholic Charities member agencies are helping individuals and families in poverty achieve their full potential. Together we are dedicated to creating a life of opportunity and self-sufficiency for each of the 46 million of our brothers and sisters who live in poverty. CCUSA was founded in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. as the National Conference of Catholic Charities. For more than 100 years, CCUSA has guided and supported the vast network of Catholic Charities agencies nationwide in a common mission to serve, advocate, and convene. For additional information, please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA