Prentice Butler, Executive Director of The Neighborhood Bridge, has been named the recipient of the Archbishop James P. Lyke African American Male Image Award for 2026.

This is the 32nd consecutive year the Male Image award has been given by a local Ladies’ Auxiliary of a national fraternal organization founded in 1911 to allow men of color membership in a Catholic fraternal society.

The Archbishop James P. Lyke African American Male Image Award recognizes outstanding African American men for their leadership, Christian values, community service and dedication to the African American community.

Prentice will be recognized at the annual Awards luncheon hosted by the Ladies’ Auxiliary on Sunday, February 22 in Orland Park. Honoring Prentice at a table hosted by The Neighborhood Bridge will be Prentice’s family, Father Carl, and members of the Board of The Neighborhood Bridge. If you want to congratulate Prentice on this distinguished honor, you can contact him at [email protected].

We wish to thank Father Carl for inviting a representative from The Neighborhood Bridge to speak at all Masses on the weekend of January 31 and February 1 at the three churches of our two parishes. Our speakers briefly highlighted the significant progress we achieved in 2025 and invited all parishioners who want to learn more to come to the Open House we host every Friday morning from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the offices of The Neighborhood Bridge at the former rectory on the campus of Saint Catherine-Saint Lucy (38 N. Austin). Please make plans to come visit on an upcoming Friday.

The Neighborhood Bridge’s leadership is both proud and grateful to report that our organization enjoyed an exceptional first year of operations. Here's a partial list of significant accomplishments:

• Hiring a competent and committed staff, including a full-time Executive Director (Prentice Butler), a part-time Development Director (Vimla Homan), and a part-time Business Manager (Jackie Benson).
• Launching services that include (to date) matching 18 families in need with trained Advocates and fulfilling Essentials Pantry orders for more than 40 families.
• Training 36 volunteers to be Advocates and 15 volunteers to staff the Essentials Pantry.
• Establishing strong relationships with all five partner schools.
• Creating a visible presence among high-profile organizations in Austin (e.g., Austin Coming Together, the Leaders' Network, the 15th District Police Station, etc.).
• Overseeing the spectacular renovation of the space we occupy in the Bridge Center (the former Saint Catherine-Saint Lucy rectory).
• Holding an energizing ribbon-cutting ceremony for the community in mid-October.
• Developing TNB's first three-year strategic plan.

Just as significantly, we met our ambitious fundraising goals while staying well-within budgeted expenses. As a volunteer-driven organization, The Neighborhood Bridge relies on the community's generous donations of time, talent, and treasure - particularly from the Oak Park Catholic Community - to offer our services free of charge and to have such an exceptionally successful first year of operations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for all of this support. We invite anyone who would like to visit our offices in the Bridge Center to come to the building (38 N. Austin) on any upcoming Friday morning at 9:00 AM when we will be conducting tours.

No news report from The Neighborhood Bridge would be complete without an appeal for volunteers. We have needs for people with expertise in external communications. Specifically, we are looking for volunteers with experience in managing social media accounts, graphic design, interviewing and article writing, and photography. If you have one or more of these skills and want to learn more about the volunteer needs of our Communications Committee, please reach out directly to Mary Beth Hausken at [email protected].