The Italian American Human Relations Foundation will present special humanitarian awards to Ms. Joan Collaso and Monsignor Patrick Lagges. The presentation will take place on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at Cucina Biagio, 7319 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Joan Collaso is an Emmy award winner and international vocalist. Her capacity to fuse jazz, R&B, blues and gospel sets her apart and has been greatly enjoyed by music lovers all over the world. She received rave reviews each of the four times she performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and again on her tours of Italy, Japan and other countries. In 1997, Joan appeared in the history-making hit film “Soul Food.”

Joan has performed with numerous national and international artists as a background vocalist (George Duke, Heather Headley, Jerry Butler, Celine Dion, Ray Parker, Jr, Michael Henderson, Susan Boyle, Alicia Keyes, Jennifer Hudson), and as a featured soloist on Ramsey Lewis’ “Urban Renewal” CD. She has also been featured on numerousjingles and commercials. Joan has also recorded 5 CDs of her own.

Joan is the Founder and Executive Director of Timeless Gifts Youth Program for the Performing Arts, a 501c3 arts apprenticeship initiative that affords talented young people the opportunity to receive mentoring in their chosen discipline(s) from world-class and professional musicians, dancers and technical experts. Timeless Gifts mission is to positively impact the lives of young performers by imparting and encouraging the perpetuation of character, confidence and professional etiquette, in order to insure the integrity of our musical and artistic communities, while providing avenues for artistic growth, greater opportunities and exposure. Joan Collaso will receive the John Bach Humanitarian Award.

MONSIGNOR Patrick Lagges is a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He brings 30 years of experience in the field of canon law and 36 years of experience in the field of pastoral ministry. His primary interests in canon law are Church governance and structure, the sacrament of marriage, and procedural law. He was an adjunct faculty member at Mundelein Seminary for 16 years, and currently teaches in the summer canon law program at Catholic University of America.

He has published articles in Studia Canonica, The Jurist, and Liguorian Magazine, and has been a frequent speaker nationally and internationally on topics related to canon law. He also serves as the Chaplain at Calvert House, the Catholic Student Center at the University of Chicago. Father Patrick has taught several courses at Catholic Theological Union.

Most recently he taught Canon Law during the J-term and Canonical Issues for Pastoral Ministers during the Summer Institute. Monsignor Patrick Lagges will receive the Dominic DiFrisco Humanitarian Award.