Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech is shown receiving the Kuhre Griesinger Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rev. Jan Greisinger at the 2010 UCM Social Justice Awards ceremony in Athens.

Jack Frech honored at Social Justice Awards ceremony

Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech was honored by the UCM: Center for Spiritual Growth and Social Justice (formerly known as United Campus Ministry) on Wednesday, May 12 in Athens.

Frech was among those recognized at the UCM Social Justice Awards ceremony, as he received the Kuhre Griesinger Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is named after longtime social justice activists Carol Kuhre and the Rev. Jan Griesinger, who were the initial winners of the award in 2008. Griesinger presented Frech with the award on May 12, saluting him for his work advocating for the poor.

“Jack is the real deal,” Griesinger said.

Frech said he is honored to receive the award that has previously recognized respected Athens area residents such as Griesinger, Kuhre and Art Gish.

“This is a very humbling experience,” Frech said. He thanked his wife, family and staff for their support, and said that much of his work over the years has revolved around trying to change policies and regulations in order to better help those living in poverty.

“But the longer I do this, the more I realize that it’s about spirituality, that it’s about faith,” Frech said. “This is not about changing laws and rules, this is about changing hearts. The end of poverty will come when we start sharing with each other.”

The work Frech has done advocating for the poor has been very important, but he joked that his repeated pleas to increase benefits for the poor have not done much good.

“I have the worst lobbying record in history,” Frech said. He has testified at every biennial state budget hearing since 1977 about the need to increase assistance programs for the poor, but said that the assistance programs have mainly been reduced.

Throughout his career, Frech has been inspired by the work done by local citizens to fight poverty and work for social justice. Many of the people in attendance at the awards banquet serve as an inspiration to him, and Frech thanked them for all that they do. He added that while he is proud to receive the Griesinger Kuhre Lifetime Achievement Award, he has more work to do and will keep fighting to help those living in poverty.

Also during the evening, UCM handed out its annual Social Justice Awards to the following individuals or organizations:

• Ada Woodson Adams was honored for her work promoting multicultural history, education and outreach, primarily through the Multicultural Genealogical Center in Chesterhill. Her late husband, Alvin Adams, founded the center.
• Athens County Will March, a grassroots effort led by Ohio University students, was recognized for its work supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality and rights. The students participated in the October 2009 Equality Now March in Washington, D.C.
• Erica Butcher was honored for her work promoting social justice at Ohio University and in the community. She is active in many causes, and led one of the first local efforts to provide relief to Haiti after the devastating earthquake there.
• The Interactivist, an independent, progressive publication in Athens, was saluted for its focus on issues such as poverty, social justice, peace, LGBT rights and the environment.
• Keith Peterson was honored for his work for the Donation Station, a Community Food Initiatives program that provides fresh produce from the Athens Farmers Market to area residents in need. Peterson, who recently retired from the volunteer position, has worked with local social service agencies, churches, non-profits and food pantries to get the free produce out to people who are living in poverty.