With expressions of gratitude to God and inviting all Dominicans to follow the example of people working to help others, engineer Francina Hungria and the Catholic priest Gregorio Alegria Armendariz received last night their awards as the “Man and Woman of the Year 2013”.
The statuettes of recognition for Hungria and Alegria were presented to the honorees by the president of the Onmimedia Group, Arturo Pellerano. Omnimedia is the publisher of Diario Libre newspaper that sponsors the awards.
Upon receiving the award, the young engineer thanked God and the fervor with which all Dominicans supported her after she lost her sight during an attempted assault, and that she “planted the love that has given its fruits in a job that has returned me to life, a life with meaning.”
Hungria was recognized for her work in favor of the blind through her foundation that seeks to improve their lives through training, providing the site impaired with opportunities to work and gain skills that promote their social inclusion.
For his part, Father Alegria expressed his appreciation to the faithful and his fellow priests in the order of the Paulist Fathers, for the support he has received during his more than 30 years of work. This support, he said, has made possible this project that benefits of the communities where he has worked from a spiritually fulfilling place “of the faith and service.”
The work of Father Alegria, and for which he was recognized, has improved access to quality health care of thousands of low-income families. He is responsible for efforts to provide services to the elderly through the Bethania Home, and for work of the Mutual Help Medical Center and the San Lucas Free Clinic. He also heads project of social development in La Barquita in East Santo Domingo.