ST. LOUIS, Sept. 6, 2011 — Sheila K. Gilbert was elected president of the National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), a Catholic lay organization that works extensively with those in need and living in poverty.
Officially commissioned at the Society's annual meeting on Sept. 3, 2011, she is the first woman to hold the office. For the past six years, she has served as national officer for the organization.
Gilbert has a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and a Master of Science degree in public and environmental affairs, both from Indiana University. In addition, she has a certificate in public management from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in pastoral theology from St. Mary of the Woods College.
"I am humbled and grateful that the members of the Society have granted me this responsibility," said Gilbert. "Having been involved in the organization for some 30 years, I am privileged to serve in the company of exceptionally talented and compassionate men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving those who are most in need."
She said that in addition to helping the members of the Society (known as Vincentians) grow personally and spiritually, she wants to enhance the organization's effectiveness in helping those living in poverty not only to survive but, more important, to move out of poverty.
Gilbert is a strong advocate of "systemic change" – working closely with those living in poverty to better understand and address the root causes of their condition, collaborating with other organizations to develop innovative ways to reduce or eliminate poverty, and to advocate for long-term change at the local, state and national levels.
"These goals are attainable," said Gilbert. "We just need to find the will to carry them out."
Photo: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2011-Sheila-Gilbert.jpg
One of the oldest and most effective charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (http://www.svdpusa.org) is a Catholic lay organization of more than 690,000 men and women throughout the world who voluntarily join together to grow spiritually and offer person-to-person service to the needy and people living in poverty in 142 countries on five continents. With the U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., membership in the United States totals more than 172,000 in 4,600 communities. Programs include home visits, housing assistance, disaster relief, job training and placement, food pantries, dining halls, clothing, transportation and utility costs, care for the elderly and medicine. Providing more than $595 million in tangible and in-kind services, SVdP serves more than 14 million people in need each year, performs more than 648,000 visits to people in their homes, and delivers more than 7 million service hours to those in need, regardless of race, religion or national origin.
Media inquiries only:
Charles B. Henderson
Office: (314) 576-3993, ext. 214
Mobile: (314) 623-6505
Email: Email
# # #