Support Our Aging Religious (SOAR!) celebrates its 27th anniversary at its annual gala on Oct. 2 at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan. Established in 1986, SOAR! is a national not-for-profit committed to financially supporting elderly and infirm members of Catholic religious congregations in our nation.

Sister Patricia Codey, S.C., Esq., President of Catholic HealthCare Partnership of New Jersey located in Princeton, N.J., will be honored with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.

Also honored will be Sister Joan Donovan, O.P., who will receive the Father Victor Yanitelli, S.J., Award, a memorial recognition presented annually to a religious of the greater New York area whose life reflects that of a generous spirit and creative service to the needs of others.

Sister Joan is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, L.I., and director of the Hurricane Sandy Project. The Hurricane Sandy Project was organized by Sister Joan, as well as the Hurricane Katrina Project, to help rebuild lives and communities hard hit by these natural disasters. With the help of volunteer sisters, Sister Joan moves door-to-door assessing basic needs and offering monetary, emotional and physical support thus providing the tools to overcome feelings of hopelessness and despair and thus enable lives to rebuild.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the mission of SOAR! to help ensure the safety and comfort of our aging religious and enable all members of those congregations to continue active ministries.

For more information, contact Sister Kate Clancy 202-529-7627, e-mail kclancy@soar-usa.org or visit www.soar-usa.org.