2005 Award Recipient
SISTER PAULINE MULLEN
The Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity
The Transitional Living Center of Our Friends' Place

Sister Pauline Mullen has devoted her life to working with girls and young women who come from a history of abuse, abandonment and neglect. In the warm structured environment created by the Transitional Living Center, these wounded girls are given the tools to become independent adults transforming lives of dependence into lives of self-reliance.The mission of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity since the 17th century has been devoted "to pray and work without reserve for those whose dignity is threatened or wounded, and first and foremost to the rejected, broken and exploited women we so desire to recognize and respect as sisters." Thus, Sister Pauline Mullen serves her Order and her young women through her inspirational work at the Center.

Our Friends' Place began in 1985 as a nondenominational non-profit organization dedicated to providing a base for girls and young women to build from adversity by learning a selfreliant approach to their development. The initial Therapeutic Group Home, which provides long-term residential services to girls, ages 10 to 17, was such a success that it led to the establishment of their second program, the Transitional Living Center of Our Friends' Place. This program focuses on teaching independent living skills and providing opportunities for employment and higher education for young women, ages 18 to 24, with very limited economic and/or emotional support. Sister Pauline Mullen has worked as the program manager of the Transitional Living Center since its inception.

This sensitive and sensible approach has resulted in over 92% of the young women enrolled in the Transitional Living Center for three months being actively employed at least part time and enrolled in educational or vocational courses to improve employability. Of the young women at the center, 83% either successfully completed or are still involved in the program. One hundred percent of these women increased their job-related skills.

Sister Pauline Mullen is an inspiration and daily mentor to these young women as they navigate young adulthood to becoming self reliant citizens in the community.