The following news release was provided by Deo Gratias Ministries.
DETROIT — Bob Sadler of Dearborn, a nonprofit professional with more than 30 years of experience at a variety of organizations, has been hired by Deo Gratias Ministries Detroit to be its new executive director. He becomes the first layperson to lead the organization, which was founded in 2018 by two Felician Sisters, Sr. Felicity Marie Madigan and Sr. Shelley Marie Jeffrey.
Deo Gratias primarily serves people living on the northeast side of Detroit, operating out of a building provided by the St. Jude Roman Catholic Mission on East Seven Mile Road. The organization’s mission is to honor the dignity of each person as they offer Christ-like hospitality to people in need. They fulfill this mission by operating a Café that serves free hot meals Monday through Friday, a Food Pantry that is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, a Community Garden, a tutoring program for children in grades 1-8 on Mondays and Wednesdays, and an art program. In addition, a case manager is available five days a week to provide referrals to additional community resources.
Co-founder Sr. Madigan has taken a new position leading vocational efforts with the Felician Sisters of North America and is now based in Chicago. Sr. Jeffrey remains at Deo Gratias and will focus on mission-based activities, continuing to lead the child tutoring program and community garden efforts.
“I am excited to have been entrusted with the role of executive director at Deo Gratias, humbly following in the footsteps of Sister Felicity and Sister Shelley,” Sadler said.
Sadler has spent the previous eight years at MotorCities National Heritage Area, most recently as director of communications and engagement. MotorCities is one of 62 National Heritage Areas around the country and preserves and promotes Michigan’s automotive and labor heritage.
For 18 years, Sadler worked at the Detroit Historical Society in a variety of marketing and communications leadership positions, the last three years as director of marketing and sales. During his time there, he dramatically increased the visibility of the Detroit Historical Museum in Midtown and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle.
As a full-time professional or consultant, Sadler has created awareness and established solid brands for nonprofits like the Epilepsy Center (now Epilepsy Foundation) of Michigan, the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan (now Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit), the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition and the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit.
Sadler is also heavily committed to parish and volunteer life within the Church. He has been a member of Divine Child Parish in Dearborn since 1989, where he has served as a lector, Eucharistic minister and parish council member. He has also been a member of the Knights of Columbus since the mid-1990s, where he has worked on a variety of service projects and currently serves as recording secretary for the Bishop Foley Council #2660. He has been a volunteer fundraiser over the years in support of Catholic education, both soliciting gifts and hosting live auction events.
“It's not every day a position becomes available that is more than just a job,” Sadler said. “I consider the executive director role at Deo Gratias to be more of a calling and strive to be a joyful servant leader now that I am here.”
