Gwen Farry, BVM Receives SGI’s 2024 Father Mike Crosby Award
The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary extend heartfelt congratulations to Gwen (Leontia) Farry, BVM., on being honored with the 2024 Fr. Mike Crosby Award. This recognition celebrates her unwavering commitment to social justice and her impactful advocacy work. Gwen expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am grateful to accept this award in honor of the Sisters of Charity, BVM who have responsibly invested in Companies for many years.” We share the following press release from the Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment:
Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment. (2024, October 15). SGI announces Sr. Gwen Farry, B.V.M. as the recipient of the 2024 Fr. Mike Crosby Award. [Press release].
“SGI’s Board is delighted to share that Sr. Gwen will receive this year’s Fr. Mike Crosby Award,” said SGI Board Chair Caroline Boden. “Sr. Gwen has been a long-time advocate for peace and justice and her work on trafficking prevention has had a profound impact within SGI, ICCR, and the broader community. Congratulations, Sr. Gwen, for this much-deserved honor and recognition!”
“It is a treat to work with Sr. Gwen. Her persistence and buoyant spirit capture the spirit of the BVMs: Freed by love, acting for justice,” said SGI executive director Chris Cox. “We have relied on Sr. Gwen’s gift of saying ‘Yes’ at so many invitations to engage corporations. Now, we get to honor her many contributions to SGI and to the work of building a more just and sustainable planet. We are inspired by Sr. Gwen’s generosity and the commitment of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
Sr. Gwen (Leontia) Farry, BVM has dedicated her life to social justice, education, and pastoral care. Born on May 13, 1935, in Los Angeles to Irish parents Leo and Marie Harrington Farry, Gwen grew to follow in her parents’ footsteps in social justice and education. Her father was politically involved in Ireland as were his mother and brothers, while her mother was a dedicated teacher.
After attending Catholic grade and high schools, Gwen entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1953. Her early career included teaching primary grades in Arizona and in Southern California, where she later served as an elementary school principal.
In 1982, Gwen completed a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and clinical pastoral education. She spent the next twenty years as a chaplain or in pastoral care in various healthcare settings.
On behalf of the Sisters of Charity, BVM, Gwen became the BVM representative at the Eighth Day Center for Justice in 2004, where she focused on corporate responsibility issues. As a member of the BVM Shareholder Education/Advocacy (SEA) group, she educated the BVM community about corporate accountability. Between 2004 and 2015, Gwen led and/or co-filed numerous shareholder resolutions and attended Annual General Meetings with BVMs and members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), where she engaged directly with company boards and shareholders.
Among her notable achievements, Gwen played a key role in advancing human rights resolutions with a company that worked internationally. As its policy, the company only stated, “We observe the human rights policies in the countries in which we operate.” After Gwen’s filing of a resolution over several years, the company produced a robust human rights policy that included UN guiding principles and International Labor Organization rights. Additionally, she successfully encouraged a fast-food company, which had no water use policy, to publish its first policy and continue regular sustainability reports after agreeing to withdraw her resolution. Her advocacy also led food and beverage companies to decrease sugar, salt, and fat in children’s meals. During the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Gwen urged pharmaceutical and health insurance companies to support the legislation. Most recently, she advocated for minimum wage plus tips for tipped workers.
Sr. Gwen adds, “In 2020, in the fourth month of the pandemic, I retired and moved to Mount Carmel where we continue to discover what ‘Retirement’ means. I continue to be grateful for the many opportunities I have been given and the gifts of the people who have blessed my life.” Even in retirement, Sr. Gwen continued to lead the SEA team until passing the reins this year.
SGI was founded in 1973 by Fr. Michael Crosby, O.F.M., Cap., Sr. Alphonsa Puls, S.S.S.F., and Sr. Charlita Foxhoven, S.S.S.F., who were pioneers in corporate shareholder engagement.
Please join us in congratulating Sr. Gwen.