Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award

About Sister Cecilia

Sister Cecilia B. Abhold was the founding Executive Director of Health Outreach Partners (then the East Coast Migrant Health Project). During her 20-year leadership, Sr. Cecilia pioneered and advocated for the importance of outreach for serving our most vulnerable and marginalized communities. HOP presents the Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award in her honor to organizations that exemplify her passion and dedication to their communities.

Prior to serving as HOP’s Executive Director, Sister Cecilia graduated from Seattle University and entered the Sisters of Providence, where she remained a member for 53 years and was the Provincial Superior for six years. She was especially compassionate toward farmworkers, always grateful for their contribution to society, because she had been a seasonal farmworker in Yakima Valley, Washington. After retiring from HOP in 1990 for health reasons, Sr. Cecilia resided with her order, The Sisters of Providence, in Seattle, Washington until her passing on May 2, 2000. To this day, Sister Cecilia’s spirit remains an integral part of HOP, motivating and inspiring staff with her dedication, innovation, and hands-on commitment to improving the quality of low-income, vulnerable, and underserved populations nationwide.