The Catholic Diocese of Toledo is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Awards. The Diocese sought nominations for individuals whose lives demonstrate support for Dr. King's call for service, peace, justice, and racial equality.

One of the 2020 Drum Major Award recipients is Kennedy Coleman ’20. Kennedy is the daughter of Christine Coleman.

At SUA, faculty notice and applaud Kennedy not only for her volunteer work, but also for the generosity of spirit and goodwill which imbues her service.

Kennedy is a longtime volunteer in the Champions in Action, a service program for the youth of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, her parish. This program’s participants work with Feed Your Neighbor, work on an annual cemetery clean-up, and assemble and wrap the parish Christmas gifts for nursing home residents.

Kennedy volunteers at Beverly School, reading to first grade classes and individual students. She is a long-term volunteer with the Labre Project—a joint program of St. John’s Jesuit and St. Ursula—which is a mobile soup kitchen. Kennedy has participated for at least 20 weeks by preparing and delivering food and fellowship to hungry and homeless Toledoans. She is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Labre, encouraging other students to get involved in serving the poor. She also recruits other students to collect and donate basic supplies to support Labre's efforts.  

When asked for her perspective on social justice and serving others, Kennedy shared, "I know it takes a village to raise a family. I have my village, and I want to make sure I can help others and be a part of supporting their village as well."

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas is presiding at the Mass to Promote Harmony at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, 4201 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43614, with the presentation of the awards and a reception to follow in honor of the awardees. The three other award recipients are Fr. Robert J. Reinhart, Tierney Sturgeon, and Sr. Nancy Westmeyer, OFS.