LSF Board Honors Outgoing Head

of Lutheran Immigration Service

27 July 2009 - TLW

The Board of Directors of Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) has presented a Certificate of Appreciation and a desk plaque to the outgoing President of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Ralston Deffenbaugh, Jr., "for his outstanding service to refugee and immigrant families, the staff of LIRS, and the Lutheran Church."  The presentation was made by LSF CEO Samuel Sipes at the LIRS office in Baltimore, MD on July 22.

Deffenbaugh, who announced his resignation in April, will step down as President of LIRS on September 1 after serving the agency since 1991.  He is the longest-serving head of LIRS since its founding in 1939.

"It has been a joy to work with Rallie as a partner in mission," said Sipes as he reflected on Deffenbaugh's long years of service.  Sipes and the LSF Board together noted Deffenbaugh's "visionary service" that "helped to triple LIRS's program size," "revived the international system of resettlement and care for unaccompanied refugee children," and "resettled more than 100,000 refugees" during his 18 year tenure.

The complete resolution by the LSF Board of Directors honoring Deffenbaugh reads as follows:

WHEREAS, Raltson Deffenbaugh will be resigning from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services on September 1, 2009 after 18 years of visionary service; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Deffenbaugh has had the responsibility to handle many challenges during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Deffenbaugh has helped to triple LIRS’ program size; and

WHEREAS, while under Mr. Deffenbaugh’s leadership, LIRS revived the international system of resettlement and care for unaccompanied refugee children and has continued to champion fair and just immigration reform; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Deffenbaugh and his staff have resettled more than 100,000 refugees; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Deffenbaugh was instrumental in forming the Refugee Council USA and served as its first chairperson; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Deffenbaugh has led LIRS to become a distinguished moral voice for its Lutheran partners and beyond,

NOW THEREFORE, we, the Board of Directors of Lutheran Services Florida, do hereby recognize Ralston Deffenbaugh for his outstanding service to refugee and immigrant families, the staff of LIRS, and the Lutheran Church.
 

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