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July 18, 2016FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LWML Receives John of Beverley Award

John of Beverley Award

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League received the 2016 John of Beverley Award from Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD) during a presentation July 10, 2016.

This award is presented only when a nominee is deemed to have made a significant meritorious contribution to mission and ministry to the Deaf and in recognition of accomplishments which directly affect and positively improve the lives of those who live in a world of silence.

To date over the past 57 years, only twenty-eight persons and two organizations have received the award. The medal, named for John of Beverley, depicts the English clergyman who lived at the close of the seventh century and was the first person of record to teach a Deaf person. Presenting the award was Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Duda, LWML Past President and Mill Neck Manor Trustee member from 2003–2015.

Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Duda with LWML President Patti Ross

The Lutheran Friends of the Deaf was founded in 1947 by a small group of clergy and lay people who committed themselves to helping Deaf individuals both physically and spiritually. Their Mill Neck Manor School on Long Island, New York, was dedicated September 23, 1951. Within the first year LWML Atlantic District and LWML English District had adopted the school as a mission grant. Grants from other groups and districts followed and continued throughout the years. A more recent grant from LWML was a grant for Bible Story Books in Sign Language and Written Text funded during the 2013–2015 biennium.

The mission of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations is to enhance the quality of life for people who are Deaf, or who have other special communication needs, through excellence in individually designed educational, vocational, or spiritual programs and services.

Lutheran Women in Mission — The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries, and to support global missions.

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