Friends of the Creche Award of Recognition Recipients
At its biennial national convention, Friends of the Creche bestows an Award of Recognition on those who have contributed significantly to the fostering of the crèche tradition.
2011 Recipients at "A Northern Nativity" in Toronto, Canada
James Govan
Founding and first President of Friends of the Creche, author of "The Art of the Creche", docent of the James and Emilia creche collection to the Loyola Univeristy of Chicago
Edith Vuchnich
Force behind creche display for many years in Toronto and inspiration for many more across Canada. Instrumental in aiding many self help groups through sale of nativities at a shop at the YWCA in Toronto.
2009 Recipients at "Follow HIs Star" in Salt Lake CIty, Utah
Judy Davis
Judy Davis of El Cerrito, CA for her past work on the board of directors, co host of Santa Fe convention and ongoing work on exhibit guide and bibliographies.
Mary Herzel
Mary Herzel of Harrisburg, PA for her onging contributions to the Creche Herald, co host of our first convention, and serving as secretary for eight years for the association
2007 Recipients at “Heartland Cradlesong” Dublin/Columbus OH
Betsy Christensen
Betsy Christensen of Ann Arbor, Michigan for her work of twenty five years of creche exhibits in her church and for the inspiration and guidance she provided to many other exhibits around the country.
Creches International
Creches International for their support through fund raising, publicity and maintenance of the nativity collection at the Marian Library at the University of Dayton for the past ten years.
2005 Recipients at “Land of Enchanting Nativities”, Santa Fe, NM
Eileen Canty of Pennsylvania
For her year-round tours of her private collection; her displays in schools, churches museums, and galleries; her donations of crèches to charitable institutions; her speaking engagements; her support of crèche artists world-wide; and her writings
Guy and Doris Monthan of New Mexico
For their ground-breaking authorship of the first comprehensive book on the Southwest Nativity tradition, “Nacimientos”
2003 Recipients at “Crèches by the Sea”, Hyannis, MA
Michel Forrest of Canada
For his imaginative crèche settings at St. Joseph Oratory and the Marian Library of the University of Dayton
Judith Fosher of New Hampshire
For her work as founding director of the Museum of the Diocese of Manchester, fostering the tradition of the crèche though exhibits, educational programs, seminars and public events
2001 Recipients at “2001 – A Creche Odyssey”, Lancaster, PA
Kevin Hanna of Connecticut
For his unique interpretation of the Nativity in his artwork entitled “Mirror of Hope”.
The piece is now on permanent public display at the Marian Library at the University of Dayton
Robert F. McGovern of Pennsylvania
For his emotionally moving interpretation of the Nativity
Matthew Powell, O.P. of Rhode Island
For his best-selling book “The Christmas Creche; Treasure of Faith, Art and Theater”
