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Hannah Storm and Dan Hicks step up to serve others as Chair-Couple of the 2008 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop's Appeal
By BRIAN D. WALLACE
Fairfield County Catholic
February 9, 2008
Page One: Introduction / New Generation
Page Two: Good Works / Faith as Foundation
Page Three: Doing Our Share / Prayer
Good Works
Bishop Lori met Hicks first, in 2006, when the PGA, NBA, and Olympics broadcaster volunteered his time to serve as featured speaker at the Cardinal Shehan Center's "Celebrity Breakfast" fundraiser in Bridgeport. The two hit it off, and the bishop soon met the rest of the family. The couple immediately responded to Bishop Lori's "gentle yet strong presence," but they also did their homework.
"We asked a lot of questions before we agreed to do this, and we offered a lot of suggestions," says Storm, who was the first woman in the U.S. to host a major TV sports program when NBC hired her to cover Major League Baseball and the NBA on NBC in 1994. She went on to become one of the hosts of The Early Show on CBS.
"The more Dan and I learned about the good works supported by the Annual Bishop's Appeal, the more enthusiastic we became about getting the word out and encouraging people throughout the diocese to participate," Storm recalls.
She says they are particularly impressed by the diocese's commitment to transparency and open communication, including the new Parish Finance Services program to enhance and standardize accounting procedures; the Safe Environments program to build awareness to protect children and young people; and the use of new technologies, such as online giving, to facilitate fundraising and broaden the potential donor base.
As parents, the chair-couple is also eager to increase support for Catholic education through the Appeal. They are impressed by the diversity within the diocese's 39 schools and the witness of faith they provide to young people. "Go to the website and look at the faces of those children in our Catholic schools," Hicks says. "And how about those 'Angels,' the kids assisted through the Angel Aid scholarship program? How could anyone not wish to help these kids?"
Faith as Foundation
A native of Tucson, AZ, and member of the Congregational Church, Hicks says he has grown closer to the Catholic Church through his marriage to Storm, a Catholic, and has supported their children's upbringing in the Catholic faith. He attends Mass on Sunday with the family, and is active in parish life. The couple firmly believes that a formation in the faith is one of the greatest gifts they - or any parents - can give their children.
"We feel a strong responsibility to nurture the faith of our children, letting them know they will rely on it as their fundamental base for their entire lives," Hicks says.
Storm, born in Oak Park, IL, was raised in a traditional Catholic household, and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (her most recent book is 2006's Notre Dame Inspirations: The University's Most Successful Alumni Talk About Life, Spirituality, Football - and Everything Else Under the Dome), agrees.
"Faith guides you throughout your life and helps you make the important decisions," she says. "The Church has been the major constant in my life, which can get pretty hectic and involve a lot of traveling. The thing I like most is that you can walk into a Catholic church anywhere in the world and feel at home. You can attend Mass or simply pray and always find a place for your faith."
Active in many charities, the couple also believes that faith must be lived and expressed through a life of service to others. As a high school student, Storm volunteered in soup kitchens, and Hicks performed volunteer service as part of his Christian commitment duties. They view their role as chaircouple of the Appeal as an extension of that basic need to help others.
Next: Doing Our Share / Prayer >>
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