AWARDED
TOLEDOAN OF THE YEAR
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Father Donnelly, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in West Toledo was
chosen
for the humanitarian award for his work with
numerous organizations, including his
presidency of the Board of Community
Relations and leadership of the Ohio
Coalition against gun violence. Father
Donnelly “has worked tirelessly to promote
peace and justice in our
community” according to the judges. In making the award, his efforts were
describe as follows: The recipient of the Toledoan of the Year Award in
the
Humanitarian category was born to a Catholic West Toledo Family, served as
President of Central Catholic High School, pastor of St. Martin de Porres
Parish and is now Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church. However it is his
service to
promote justice and peace and lead the fight for Toledo’s diverse people,
neighborhoods, and communities that distinguish his efforts. As Pastor of
St. Martin de Porres, Fr. Donnelly’s leadership helped build grassroots
support and increased neighborhood involvement in the Detroit Avenue/Monroe
Street corridor. He was instrumental in the Central City Ministries of
Toledo’s efforts to ensure quality education in the town center and to
provide affordable quality housing for inner city residents, working to found
the Toledo Central City Neighborhood CDC. As President of the Board of
Community Relations, Fr. Donnelly helped to grow the Annual Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. event and luncheon. He accepted leadership of the Ohio Coalition
against gun violence in response to escalating youth gang violence in
Toledo. He has worked both inside and outside the Church throughout his
lifetime and continues to work for peace and justice issues. As pastor of
Blessed Sacrament, he is overseeing development of a new community center and
school building. Comments from the Mayor included: Fr. Marty is a “shining
example of giving” and the Inaugural recipients made the city of Toledo “A
better place to live.”
