2008 Courage Award Presented at Jumpstart
2008
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Jeff Blumenthal of The Hartford
Financial Services Group (left), a member of
the 2008 Courage Award panel of judges,
presents the Courage Award to Frederick
Bohlen (center). Congratulating Bohlen is
Judy Gough, director of migration and
refugee services at Catholic Charities,
Archdiocese of Hartford (right).
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The United Way Community Campaign
presented its 15th annual Courage Award to
Frederick Bohlen of Hartford on Thursday, June 26,
2008, during Jumpstart 2008, a training
program for volunteer Campaign coordinators
conducted at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford.
Bohlen, a Liberian refugee, was resettled in
Hartford with his family by Catholic Charities,
Archdiocese of Hartford, a United Way partner
agency. Bohlen was honored for overcoming adversity
through the support of United Way funded programs
from Catholic Charities and Urban League of Greater
Hartford.
Four years ago, Bohlen was seeking asylum from
his war-torn country. He and his wife lived in a
refugee camp for over 15 years. They escaped an
attack on the camp, ultimately finding refuge
through the services of United Nations.
Catholic Charities assisted Bohlen and his family
in relocating to Hartford, providing them with
housing, food, and medical assistance. Both Catholic
Charities and the Urban League provided Bohlen with
job training services, enabling him to secure
employment. He currently works for Catholic
Charities in its tutoring and healthy marriage
programs.
The Courage Award was established in 1994 to
recognize an individual who has triumphed over
adversity with the assistance of programs supported
by United Way Community Investment funds
that are raised in the annual United Way Community
Campaign.