Honored for work that has provided a strong moral foundation and an enduring record of demonstrated influence on corporate policies, Patricia Zerega received the 2024 Legacy Award from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) on Sept. 19 at Riverside Church in New York City. The ELCA is a member of ICCR.
“The breadth and depth of Pat’s dedication to amplifying the voices of those most affected by corporate activities and advocating corporate respect for human rights is a clear testament to her commitment to building a more just and sustainable world,” read an ICCR statement.
Zerega worked in the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program for decades, drafting issue papers and social criteria investment screens that still form the basis of this work today. “Every time I have updated something she wrote, I have been amazed at the rigor of her intellect, the profundity of her theological understanding and the breadth of her knowledge,” said Kaari Reierson, current ELCA CSR program director. “To add to that formidable brain and experience, Pat has the heart for people and the work of CSR that brings boundless energy to the task.”
“My faith as an individual really underlies the work that can be done here … stewarding God’s creation and a basic dignity of human beings as the two underpins for all of the different things that we advocate on,” Zerega said in a 2008 Lutheran Office for World Community interview. “That’s really where I come from … really believing that God has made us, and we’re made in that image as human beings and that there’s a role for us in terms of keeping the earth and keeping humanity alive.”
For nearly half a century, Zerega worked with Lutherans as well as Episcopalians, Methodists and most recently the Roman Catholic community Sisters of Mercy to center the dignity of each person and pressure corporations to respect human rights. Zerega was a relentless campaigner against human trafficking, working with hotel chains and airlines to raise awareness about the indicators of trafficking. Understanding the full spectrum of challenges raised by the human trafficking industry, she expanded the work into the trucking industry, encouraging trucking companies to also educate their employees about signs of trafficking.
“Every time I went to an ICCR meeting, Pat would introduce me to at least 10 other people,” Reierson said. “There is still so much work to be done, but Pat Zerega’s contribution to the field stands as an example of compassion, perseverance and dedication.”
