Catholic Center to Honor Benefactors

The Catholic Charities Guadalupe Center will honor one of its chief early patrons and one of its top current benefactors during an awards banquet Thursday.

Officials from the North Hills facility have named the Prudential Insurance Co. of America the first recipient of the Mary Logan Orcutt Award, named for the woman who donated the land for the North Hills center in 1947 and two years later donated the buildings at the compound.

Regional Director Moeed Khan said the banquet was scheduled to coincide with the center’s 50th anniversary.

“We needed to recognize Ms. Logan, who donated way back when the center was in its beginnings,” Khan said.

“Celebrating our 50th just makes it very special indeed.”

Prudential employees have worked with the Guadalupe Center on everything from its advisory board to folklorico and music programs, Khan said.

“We definitely would like to see more and more corporations get involved in community enrichment and help communities like Prudential has,” Khan said.

Orcutt, the wife of a Union Oil oil magnate, oversaw the development of the compound, including classrooms and a town hall, and the establishment of the Friends of Guadalupe.

In 1949 she donated it to the archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Orcutt also was responsible for the official naming of Canoga Park and the creation of the WildflowerFestival and Catalpa Festival and Parade.

The awards dinner also will serve as a fund-raiser for renovations of the center.