ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA presented Gordon Wadge, Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater New Orleans, with a Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday in recognition of decades of service to the Catholic Charities movement.

"Gordon's commitment to collaboration and his passion for helping others serves as an example for all of us working on behalf of the least among us," said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA. "His calm and steady presence throughout his leadership, particularly in disaster response, truly personifies what it means to be a servant leader."

Wadge, the former President of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, led that agency during such natural disasters as Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav. His leadership after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in Catholic Charities of New Orleans being awarded a $15 million grant to coordinate the delivery of mental health counseling, job training, and other services to Louisianans affected by the spill.

The Catholic Charities USA Lifetime Achievement Award is given to leaders within the Church and Catholic Charities movement who have shown extraordinary leadership and dedication in advocating on behalf of those in need.    

About Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. To learn more about CCUSA, please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA