October 3, 2014

Claremont Colleges honor Pilgrim Place with Community Partner of the Year Award

Photo of group — From left: Lori Bettison Varga, president of Scripps College; Stig Lanesskog, chief executive officer of the Claremont University Consortium; David Oxtoby, president of Pomona College; Ginger Elliott, vice-chair of Pilgrim Place board of directors; Katherine Hauser Rubel, Pilgrim Place board member; William Cunitz, president and CEO of Pilgrim Place; Maia Thomas, Pilgrim Place board member; Thomas Poon, acting president of Pitzer College; Deborah Freund, president of Claremont Graduate University.

Pilgrim Place, a senior community for those serving in religious or charitable organizations, has received the Claremont Colleges’ 2014 Community Partner of the Year Award.

The award is given annually to Claremont community members who contributed significantly during the past academic year to enhance relations with the seven Claremont Colleges and their students.

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) President Deborah Freund presented the award to Pilgrim place officials on Oct. 2 during the annual Town and Gown Reception at the CGU President’s House. The ceremony was attended by Claremont Colleges leaders, City Hall officials, and an array of other community dignitaries.

“The residents of Pilgrim Place not only help to cultivate the minds of our students, they work to cultivate a deeper sense of community engagement in Claremont,” Freund said. “And for this we’re truly grateful.”

Pilgrim Place and the five undergraduate Claremont Colleges are partners in the Napier Initiative, which encourages leadership for social change. Students with interest and experience in working for peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability connect with residents of Pilgrim Place who have life experience and professional skills in these fields. In turn, the students invigorate the ongoing justice work of the retired residents of Pilgrim Place.

The individual Claremont Colleges have additional interactions with Pilgrim Place through specific courses and social justice projects.

Scripps College President Lori Bettison-Varga nominated Pilgrim Place for the award, and the Council of the Claremont Colleges voted unanimously in favor.

This is the 11th year of the Community Partner of the Year Award. Nominations are invited from the presidents and other key leaders at the Claremont Colleges.