Homeless Jesus Award For Exemplary Leadership in Community Service
Homeless Jesus Award For Exemplary Leadership in Community Service
Make a Difference:
At iCare Home Health, one of our core values is to “Make a Difference” in everything we do. We care about our clients, and we’re aware that their families need to be supported to live healthy lifestyles.
One of the ways of supporting our clients is to support the programs, organizations, and hospitals in our service area. We do this through direct donation and/ or sponsoring fundraising events.
While we are a for-profit organization, another way for us to make a difference is to leverage our resources which allows us to contribute, help, and serve those who may not qualify for public assistance or are unable to afford private care services. The need is great!
By giving where we serve, we believe that together we can make a positive difference in our communities and the lives of others.
Homeless Jesus Award:
Philanthropy is one of Canada’s greatest attributes at individual and corporate levels.
To encourage this generosity, we were inspired to recognize individuals and businesses that quietly and positively affect marginalized individuals, groups, and communities that are in the shadows and missed by the larger philanthropic efforts.
Generous with their time and talents, they bring light and life to many incredible charitable and community endeavors. Recognizing these individuals for their valuable contributions is an essential part to inspire others to follow suit and make our world a better place to live.
For the specific recognition we wanted to convey, we looked for an award that conveys the meaning and purpose of the award in its own right. The usual array of glass and metal works of art were “message neutral” and were not up to the task. In the end, however, we found a sculpture that fit perfectly: the “Homeless Jesus”.
About the Sculpture – “Homeless Jesus”:
Regardless of an individual’s religious beliefs, the historic character of Jesus is known for his peaceful ministry while on earth, serving the poor, hungry and underprivileged articulated in his famous Sermon on the Mount.
As recorded in Matthew 25: 35, 36, 40.
- 35. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in.”
- 36. “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me”.
- 40. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me”.
The life size bronze sculpture is representational of Christ who identified with the most marginalized in society.
The statue of a covered homeless man on a park bench with only his feet showing and revealing the scars of the crucifixion, challenges the attitudes of passers-by.
Would they give, or give more if they know that the homeless man is Jesus Christ?
Sculpted by Tim, P. Schmalz, from Kitchener, Ontario; it has now spanned the globe with copies in Toronto, Canada; Washington, N.Y., New York; D.C., Dublin, Ireland; Madrid, Spain, Johannesburg, South Africa, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Singapore to name a few locations. A small model is also placed at the Papal Office of Charities at the Vatican City, Italy where it was blessed by Pope Francis.
About the Artist – Timothy P. Schmalz.
For over 25 years, Timothy has been sculpting large scale sculptures. He is a figurative artist with his pieces installed worldwide. Some of his most reputed pieces are installed in historical churches in Rome and at the Vatican.
Timothy describes his most important work as visual translations of the Bible. Although most of his work is based upon a spiritual theme, he also creates large, complex public sculptures in bronze. Some of these include monuments that honour veterans and firefighters.
Timothy strives to create epic works of art that connect with viewers through design and details that not only touch the viewer on an emotional level, but also allow them to feel somewhat a ‘part’ of the piece.
For more about Timothy, visit his web site
#Homeless Jesus, #Jesus, #Community Service, #Make a Difference