November 4, 2009

Sister Cuaron twice honored for service

By John Gleason

Marycrest Franciscan Sister Alicia Cuaron, founder of Bienestar Family Services at Centro San Juan Diego, is being honored for her work in the Hispanic community with two different awards. 

Centro San Juan Diego, located at 2830 Lawrence St., is the Denver Archdiocese’s center providing family and pastoral care to Hispanics.

On Sept. 27, Sister Cuaron received the Colorado Rockies 2009 Hispanic Adult Leadership Award, an honor that she was a runner-up for in 2006.  The award is presented to a person based on their community involvement, promotion of family values and personal achievements. The presentation was made Sept. 27 during the Colorado Rockies-St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Coors Field

“I’m very thankful to all those I work with at Centro San Juan Diego,” Sister Cuaron told the Denver Catholic Register.  “I especially want to thank Msgr. Jorge De los Santos for nominating me for this honor.”

On Oct. 30 Sister Cuaron was the honored guest at the Bernie Valdez Awards Luncheon at the Denver Merchandise Mart where she was presented with the Sheldon Steinhauser Community Service Award by the Latin American Research and Service Agency.  The award is given to an individual who has taken an active role in Colorado’s communities and who also supports the mission of LARASA by leading and influencing change to improve the quality of life for Latinos with the belief that when you improve the lives of Latinos, you improve the lives of all Coloradans. 

Sister Cuaron told the Register that she is humbled by the award.

“I daily thank the Lord for all the talents and gifts he’s bestowed on me with which I can use to serve our community,” she said.

One of six siblings born to Mexican immigrants who moved to El Paso, Texas, in search of better opportunities, Sister Cuaron said she believes diversity can create harmony through awareness and acceptance of others. From her parents she learned fundamental qualities such as integrity and a commitment to serving the poor and the needy.