The ICCR Legacy Award

As part of her corporate engagement work for the Maryknoll Sisters and Trinity Health, she convinced Hollywood executives to reduce tobacco use in movies, pharmaceutical companies to give middle income countries a seat at the table in developing the global response to HIV/AIDs, and other corporate leaders to account for the ways that the opioid crisis was harming communities across the United States. Since 1994 when she first represented the Maryknolls to the Tri-State CRI (now IASJ), Cathy has grappled with flawed and daunting systems in all their intractable complexities, never wavering from her advocacy for a more safe, just and peaceful world — all with tenacity, thoughtfulness and grace.

Chief among the achievements that led to Jeff being selected for this award were his thirteen years of steady and transformative leadership at Friends Fiduciary Corporation. Joining the organization in 2011 with more than three decades of financial management experience, Jeff guided Friends Fiduciary through a period of economic and social turmoil to a place of remarkable and impactful growth and modernization. Under his direction, assets under management expanded significantly, new investment options –including the Short-Term, Quaker Green and Quaker Index Funds– were launched, and a formal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee was established to strengthen the organization’s commitment to Quaker values. Jeff’s clarity of purpose, bold and compassionate vision and collaborative spirit helped Friends Fiduciary evolve into a more professional, institutionally oriented investment manager. Known for fostering a culture of respect, transparency and trust, he also brought deep experience from both nonprofit and corporate sectors and decades of service within the Religious Society of Friends. Years after his retirement, his achievements in leadership continue to shape the organization’s mission and impact.

The late Sister Nora Nash, OSF, said “Cathy is an exceptional person who has worked tirelessly for justice, peace and all that benefits the common good. Her knowledge, due diligence, commitment, approach and general manner are exemplary. She probably is one of my most admired persons and I have had the privilege of working with her for over 17 years… I can’t speak to her plans for the future, but I know that she continues to impact issues of justice and faith by her very active participation in all that is just and integral to our work together. Cathy is truly an exemplary person, and I have no hesitation in recommending her for the ICCR Legacy Award.”

Katie McCloskey, Vice President of Social Responsibility at Mercy Investment Services, said “Cathy’s leadership in ICCR has been ubiquitous. Serving on the board, on the executive committee, on working group leadership teams, and in engagement leadership, Cathy deeply understands that community is built by collective and sustained action. Her work on engaging financial institutions on fair lending practices, destructive asset types, and safeguarding consumers were prescient calls in advance of the 2008 financial crisis… She is a natural, quiet and loving leader who shaped ICCR with the work of her hands and the strength of her resolve. Her prophetic voice on protecting and ensuring the rights of all peoples globally ensures that ICCR’s future work will always be grounded in love because of Cathy’s influence on us all.”

Rob Fohr, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Engagement at the Presbyterian Foundation, and former Board Chair at ICCR, said “Jeff faithfully and diligently served on the ICCR Board of Directors for three consecutive terms for nine years, including serving as Treasurer and Executive Committee member for two consecutive terms of four years. In Jeff’s tenure as Treasurer, he provided excellent leadership to help ICCR stabilize its finances, and oversaw the establishment of its first-ever ‘reserve fund’. Perhaps Jeff’s greatest contribution to the Board was his expertise in corporate governance, as he helped standardize, streamline and augment many of ICCR’s governance functions… Jeff retired in late 2023, however, the legacy of his work is still felt on the ICCR Board of Directors and throughout the ICCR community.” 

We will celebrate and honor Cathy and Jeff at our annual event on October 8th at Riverside Church in New York.

Please join us in congratulating them both for their outstanding achievements and their enduring legacies in sustainable and faith-consistent investing.