Sister Peggy Scarano, OP '70 | St. Thomas Aquinas College

A special congratulations to Sister Peggy Scarano, OP ’70, of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, and STAC Board of Trustees Emerita, who was recently honored with the Caritas Award by the Christian Development Council of The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) at its national conference in Washington, D.C. This prestigious award recognizes individuals in faith-based fundraising whose life and work reflect selflessness, humility, and profound impact.

The Caritas Award, whose name is rooted in the Latin word for self-giving love, is bestowed annually on a fundraising professional whose ministry has transformed lives—not only through financial support but through deep, personal relationships and spiritual leadership. This year’s recipient, Sister Peggy Scarano, embodies that calling.

In her introduction of Sister Peggy, Sister Kathleen Lunsmann, President of SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious), recalled meeting her over 30 years ago: “I remember being impressed with how easily Sister Peggy moved around the room, obviously comfortable talking and laughing with people. It was easy to see she was a really good fundraiser—because she was a really good friend-raiser.”

A trailblazer in the field, Sister Peggy began her ministry in 1986 with the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor (now the Dominican Sisters of Hope) as Mission Promoter. Two years later, she was named the first Director of Development for the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Since then, she has become a national leader in mission-driven development, known for her generous mentorship of other religious communities, her leadership at SOAR!, and her service on numerous boards and committees.

Sister Peggy expressed deep gratitude to the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, her alma mater St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Thomas Flood, VP for Institutional Advancement at STAC, who nominated her for the award. Sister Peggy also acknowledged her “side-gigs” in mentoring, public speaking, and community service as some of her most life-changing and rewarding experiences.

Whether guiding a donor, mentoring a young sister, or volunteering on a student service trip, Sister Peggy is known for showing up, lending a hand, and saying, “I can help you.”