CHICAGO – Catholic Extension Society honored Brendan Mulshine, a prominent business leader and philanthropist whose generosity has supported the Catholic Church and underserved communities, with its Spirit of Francis Award at the organization’s 12th annual New York Spirit of Francis Award Dinner.
The Spirit of Francis Award recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant impact on the mission of the Catholic Church in America through service or philanthropy. Recipients are laudable for their commitment to “reach out to the margins of society.”
The evening also marked Archbishop Ronald Hicks’ first New York Spirit of Francis Award Dinner as archbishop of New York. “I truly believe in and support the work of Catholic Extension Society,” the archbishop said, explaining that he deliberately renewed his membership on its board of governors last year even as he was being named the new archbishop of New York. “It keeps the center of the mission of the Church of Christ, of God, completely at this center of everything they do … our own lives are transformed by participating in this mission.”
A leader in business and giving
Mulshine is the co-president of Ryan Specialty and chief executive officer of RT Specialty, the firm’s wholesale brokerage specialty and its largest business. In addition to supporting Catholic Extension Society, whose mission is to build up vibrant, transformative Catholic faith communities in the poorest regions of America, Mulshine’s philanthropy encompasses universities, hospitals, libraries, community foundations, medical research institutions, as well as Catholic secondary education and the arts. His giving shows a special concern for the underserved in resource-challenged communities that are too often overlooked.
“There is seemingly no area in life that Brendan has not touched with a great spirit of generosity,” said Fr. Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension Society, who awarded Mulshine alongside Archbishop Hicks.
“His concern for and his belief in people in the communities that are easily overlooked aligns directly tonight with Catholic Extension and our mission, and that’s why we feel such a deep and profound honor to recognize Brendan,” Fr. Wall continued.
Receiving the award, Mulshine said, “Thank you Catholic Extension, for this recognition tonight. I believe in striving for better outcomes, instilling hope and impacting others in a fundamentally encouraging and positive way; this truly aligns with Catholic Extension’s primary objective to be a missionary expression of the Catholic Church in the poorest and underserved areas in the country.”
More than 35 years in specialty insurance
In a career spanning more than 35 years, Mulshine has distinguished himself as a preeminent leader in specialty insurance. He is a graduate of Yale College, the University of Notre Dame Law School, and Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg School of Management.
The Spirit of Francis Award is inspired by its three namesakes: St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis, and Fr. Francis Clement Kelley, the founder of Catholic Extension Society. All three are known for embracing and helping the poor. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the mission of Catholic Extension Society.
Founded in 1905, Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America.