Kelly Ann deRosier '74: Benedictine Service Award

Benedictine Service Award 2009 Speech: Kelly Ann deRosier

The Benedictine Service Award is given to alumnae whose work has been in the social justice arena or whose volunteer commitment has been one of extraordinary service.  Kelly Ann deRosier (da ro’ zur) qualifies on all counts.  She graduated from CSB in 1974 with a humanities degree and later earned a Masters in Social Work from Minnesota State University in Mankato.

Kelly’s professional work has primarily been focused on helping couples create their families through adoption.   She worked for Crossroads Adoption Agency for two years, Catholic Charities for five years and the Children’s Home Society for 16 years.  She has helped to create more than 900 families.  Her current passion is placing special needs children from China with Minnesota families.  In 2004 Kelly Ann received the national Friend of Children award for her work in adoptions.

In her volunteer work, Kelly had founded some programs as well as serving as an exemplary volunteer in far too many organizations to mention.  She implemented and coordinated the Families Moving Forward project to help newly homeless families stay out of the shelter system.  She started an adoptive parents group called Our Korean Kids.  And, not wanting her children to hate and fear science, she started a Science in a Bucket program at their school.

Institutional Advancement
College of Saint Benedict
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