
CONGRATULATIONS TO SISTER MIRIAM MACLEAN, OUR 2021 JACK V. DOLAND AWARD WINNER
Sister Miriam Maclean is the Director of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana. She has a Phd from the University of Michigan and is a licensed Social Worker. She is a former resident of Lake Charles who made her way back to Southwest Louisiana in 2018 just in time for a pandemic, two hurricanes, an ice storm, and recent flooding, but somehow could not be stopped. She was instrumental in expanding the facility to which she is assigned and also purchased a refrigerated truck to deliver food items to outlying parishes. A truck she named “Big Joe” because of her deep affection for St. Joseph.
She turned a room into a chapel where mass is said throughout the month for the staff and volunteers and expanded food distributions to a five parish area serving over 700 families each month.
Her favorite bible verse is Psalm 9:18 “But God will never forget the needy, the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”
Jack V. Doland Award
The Jack V. Doland Citizen of the Year award was created to honor the late Senator for his contribution to the causes of women. Each year, the Women’s Commission selects a recipient from a slate of candidates nominated based on their reputation in the community, humanitarian efforts, volunteer services and contributions made to the lives of the people they touch. The Women's Commission of Southwest Louisiana has honored many wonderful people throughout the years and continue to do so each year at the annual fall conference. We also proudly make a $1000 donation each year to the recipients charity of choice.
Jack V. Doland Award
Past Recipients
1991 Joanna S. Viccellio
1992 Willie L. Mount
1993 Leona Clements
1994 Blanche Michel
1995 Rose Spencer
1996 Angela Miller
1997 Dr. Lajuana Lee
1998 Dr. Nancy Shepard
1999 Faye Barnhart
2000 Evelyn Cloutman
2001 Bertha Stoner
2002 Rosalie “Poddy” Champeaux
2003 The Honorable Patricia H. Minaldi, Judge
2004 Koni Bridges
2005 (Hurricane Rita)
2006 Anne Gillett Monlezun
2007 Jennifer Jones
2008 Ann Polak
2009 Clarice Raichel
2010 Pearl Cole
2011 Dr. Susan Jones
2012 Jennie Finch Daigle
2013 Christy Papania Jones
2014 Ethel Precht
2015 Stella B. Miller
2016 Jeri Christ Landry
2017 Judge Lilynn Cutrer
2018 Dianne Frelot
2019 DeWanna Tarver
2021 Sister Miriam Maclean