Erik Donner receives the Ky Chen Service Award

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Each year at Diocesan Convention, the Bishop recognizes a church employee in the diocese with The Ky Chen Employee Excellence “No Problem” Award, named after the staff member at Diocesan House who ran the print shop for 25 years, and famously replied "No problem!" to any request.

At this year's (virtual) diocesan convention, held last weekend, the 2020 Ky Chen award was presented to Saint Mark's Cathedral's own Erik Donner. As is made clear in the award citation, printed below, Erik serves an extraordinary number of different roles at the cathedral, and anyone who engages with Saint Mark's in any way has most likely experienced his dedication, conscientiousness, and efficiency first-hand.

Please read the Bishop's citation, and then watch the video of his acceptance below (or using this link). Congratulations, Erik!


2020 Ky Chen Award Citation

For several years Erik Donner has worn many hats at the cathedral—executive assistant to the dean, manager of accounts receivables, stewardship and membership support liaison, office manager and office volunteer coordinator, and the one who juggles many other responsibilities in this complex organization.

He always engages his work with grace and good will for all whom he encounters, and he has the deft gift of engaging parishioners in communication about money with non-anxious presence, a commitment to confidentiality and an eye toward the pastoral realities of people's relationship with money.

He greets all people with respect and a desire to help, no matter who it is that presents with an issue.

And on top of all that, he is a Cathedral Verger, acolyte, lector, altar guild member, and the spouse of Jenny, an equally gracious and active member of Saint Mark's.

Erik epitomizes the "no problem" approach to his work as ministry, and all at the cathedral are grateful for his presence among them.

The Bishop's presentation of the award may be seen in the video below, beginning at 24'40" (the final award presented in the video).

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