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Southern California divisional commander recognized for social work.
In early April, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) presented Lt. Colonel Paul E. Bollwahn with a Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of dedicated service to his fellow man.
E. Jane Middleton, board president of the California chapter of the NASW, presented the award and commended Bollwahn for his work in the social service field including testifying before Senate committees, working with coalitions and the United States Department of Agriculture on food scarcity for the poor, advocating better utilization of the nation’s food bank system, and organizing goodwill tours at the conferences on social welfare in Cape Town, Rotterdam, Jerusalem, Helsinki, and Kuala Lumpur.
The NASW mission statement says the purpose of the organization in general and social work in particular is “to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.”
For four decades, Bollwahn has embodied that mission statement and remained true to the precepts of The Salvation Armyto preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination. Bollwahn served within The Salvation Army as a corps officer, supervisor, administrator, national leader, and divisional commander.
Most recently, Bollwahn devoted his energies and social work expertise to the Southern California Division, which assists the homeless, the addicted, the abused, the ill, and any other person encountering a need.