Catherine Draeger Wins TOYA Award
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United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Catherine Draeger Wins TOYA Award

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The Executive Director of Friedens Community Ministries, Catherine Draeger is one of the ten recipients of the 2015 TOYA award. She shared with us what it was like to win, what work she’s so passionate about and why others need to get involved.

Q: Congratulations on being honored with a TOYA (Ten Outstanding Young Americans) award! Share what winning this prestigious honor means to you?
To be a recipient of an award for the work you’ve poured your heart into is very humbling. Working in nonprofit I spend a lot of time looking at all the needs in our world, I often do not spend time looking back to see what footprints I’ve left behind. As award recipients, we learned that one of the criteria of the award was not only all that you have accomplished to date, but what you have potential to do in the future. 

Our keynote speaker was Nathan Osmond, who quoted his grandma Olive who said, "You will be able to do great things, if you don't care who gets the credit."  While I may have spent the weekend receiving a TOYA award, it is because I am surrounded by people every day willing to care for others and make a difference regardless of who gets the creditI left feeling both inspired and moved to continue pressing on and doing good.

Q: How long have you been the Executive Director of Friedens Community Ministries, and what do you enjoy most about your work?  
I have been the Executive Director of Friedens Community Ministries for almost two years. Each day I feel blessed to go to work with an amazing team of diverse individuals who together are building ladders of peace throughout the community. With 80% of Friedens work being accomplished by volunteers, it is really those individuals who dedicate their lives to Friedens mission that make us so successful. Unfortunately, the reality of food insecurity is only getting worse in our neighborhoods, and there is a greater need for our services than ever before. While the base of our ladder is making sure that we give peace to families knowing they can feed their children, our ladder doesn’t end at that point. Our volunteer opportunities allow individuals who need work experience, a place to give back to others and a chance to be in a community that cares for each other.

Q: What moved you to want to work in the Milwaukee community, particularly around the issue of hunger?
My first experience volunteering in Milwaukee happened while participating in a Milwaukee Urban Plunge for spring break during my junior year in college.  After that week, my heart always tugged to come back. Since then, I interned at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission; directed programs for International Students helping meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs; founded Shielded Hearts, an organization for police families; and connected with the mission of Friedens to help direct their network of food pantries.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to give back and get involved in Milwaukee?
Most of us are often too busy to add another thing to our schedule, but if we looked around at the people already between our own two feet, we would see that we are surrounded by people and opportunities to serve every day. While it is overwhelming to meet all the needs around us, we can start with something that we are already passionate about and enjoy doing. Whether cooking, organizing, watching children, medical training, gardening, etc. To really make a difference you need to do it with a purpose. 

If you can look between your feet and connect the people that are around you, while doing something that you are passionate about, with a deep purpose you will be unstoppable and the light of hope will shine.

Q: What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy living in Milwaukee with my three children and am looking forward to be getting married in May. We are blessed by all this city has to offer; you can find us frequently visiting its museums, parks, theaters, zoo, restaurants and coffee shops. 

We also love to travel. My children attend Milwaukee German Immersion School and to celebrate their language skills last summer we traveled to Germany and enjoyed time as a family experiencing their culture, sites, language and people.

I also feel that it is important to teach my children to give back to our community.  We find opportunities to volunteer, either at one of my food pantries, collecting items for Shielded Hearts’ RoundUps, or sharing a meal with individuals from various social or economic backgrounds.

In the rare free moments left, I enjoy riding as a passenger on my fiancé’s motorcycle, spending time in God’s word, reading a good book, running and enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.