A Legacy of Strength and Compassion

At our Annual Emmaus House Benefit last Sunday night, we honored Ann Fowler with the Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award. This award honors individuals who embody the same spirit of strength and determination as Ethel Mae Mathews.

As a self-described “welfare mother,” Ms. Mathews sought to educate others about the struggle of those experiencing poverty. She headed Emmaus House’s first Welfare Rights Committee and went on to serve as Chairwoman on the Peoplestown Advisory Council, President of the Welfare Rights Organization, and a board member for both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger.

“I’m rich with many things,” she once said. “Not with money, but with courage, with strength, with faith, with independence, with my belief in God, and that makes me very rich.”

This year’s recipient, Ann Fowler, developed and led many programs as Director of Education Services for Emmaus House. Throughout her 12 years, she tried always to be guided by the question: “How can I make the world a better place? How can I help my neighbor… in my city, and in the world?”

“I may not be able to do much,” she said. “But I can do something.”

She described her role at Emmaus House as being more than a job. It was a ministry.

The Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award means a lot to us, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving than Ann. We thank her for her service and for embodying Ms. Mathews’s strength and compassion. We are all better because of it.