WLOY is proud to announce that our Operations Manager, John Devecka, has won the 2010 Loyola University AMDG Community Award. He is the man who started our push for Haiti relief fundraising. Without him, there wouldn’t have been a 100% match from the Aber D. Unger Foundation. John has made an impact on the Loyola Campus, the Greater Baltimore Community, and from his efforts this past semester, to countless people in Haiti.
The entire WLOY staff would like to thank John for all his hard work over the years at WLOY. We are proud of you and proud to say we work for WLOY. Read the full press release after the break!
Devecka Recognized for Public Service
May 11, 2010
Communication Dept.
410-617-2528An administrator in the Communication Department won the 2010 Loyola University AMDG Community Award. John Devecka, Operations Manager of WLOY Radio, won the award for his leadership of a campus-wide campaign spearheaded to raise donations for victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
The AMDG Community Award recognizes the extraordinary collaborative efforts of a Loyola University administrator to enhance the University or greater community environment in keeping with Loyola’s mission, vision and values. The award is named after the Jesuit motto “Ad majorem Dei gloriam,” which means “for the greater glory of God.”
Devecka responded within 24 hours of the disaster to the overwhelming needs of victims by mobilizing dozens of radio students for an ambitious fundraising drive, with a donation goal of $10,000. He spent many hours in personal service, having set aside all other priorities to embrace the Haiti tragedy. He partnered with Catholic Relief Services because of its existing service operation on the ground in Haiti. Devecka’s community connections led to a matching gift from the Aber D. Unger Foundation. To date, the fund has exceeded $22,000 and is still growing.
Communication Dept. chair Dr. Russell Cook said, “John teaches Loyola students by example how to be men and women for others. He sought no notoriety for himself or his students. His motivation in this is Catholic/Christian charity for those in need. Through John’s efforts, we Baltimoreans can feel like we can make a difference in the best Jesuit/Catholic tradition.”
The WLOY Haiti Relief Fund project has been a vehicle for hundreds of students, faculty, and staff to collaborate in a top priority global service effort. WLOY is well known on campus for public service activities, having raised donations for Xavier University flooded by Hurricane Katrina, Relay for Life, and in community partnerships such as the Baltimore Community Radio Coalition and Baltimore Middle Grades Partnership.
In his acceptance remarks, Devecka dedicated the award to his students and said donations to the WLOY Haiti Relief Fund are still being received online at wloydev.com/helping/haiti/.