Gresham names 2010 top citizens

Cathe Wiese, Shelby Hollenbeck chosen for this year's honor

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Mar 10, 2010

CATHE WIESE 2010 Gresham Area Citizen of the Year

file photo / The Outlook

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Cathe Wiese, executive director of My Father’s House, has been named this year’s Gresham Area Citizen of the Year.

The East Metro Association of Realtors, in partnership with the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, also named Barlow High School senior Shelby Hollenbeck as the 2010 Youth Citizen of the Year.

This is the 21st year of the citizen award and the 19th year for the youth award.

A banquet honoring both recipients is on Friday, April 16, at Persimmon Country Club.

Cathe Wiese

Wiese helped create and now operates My Father’s House, the largest privately funded shelter for homeless families in the United States.

The Gresham shelter, in operation for 10 years, just marked its first year of operation in its new facility on Powell Boulevard.

In his nomination for Wiese as Citizen of the Year, My Father’s House board of advisers president Brad Ketch wrote, “Cathe’s love for, and commitment to, homeless families has enabled the people of Gresham to transform hundreds of lives. … (My Father’s House) has provided housing, education and a supportive community so that homeless families can regain their independence. … She extends grace and love to those who are struggling.”

Funded by churches, businesses, families, service organizations and individuals, the $3.9 million shelter does not rely on government or federal aid.

“While this was certainly a more difficult approach than trying to find government grant money to fund most of the project, the result is a facility and a cause that has the full buy-in of the community,” wrote Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis — and Gresham’s 2005 Citizen of the Year — in his letter supporting Wiese’s nomination. “Cathe’s work with My Father’s House has been nothing short of amazing.”

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