40th Annual House of Providence Awards

Fr. Chris was born and raised in Lyncourt and attended St. Daniel Church. The youngest of three children, Fr. Chris was raised by two loving and practicing Catholic parents. He attributes his love of Christ and the Catholic Church to his upbringing as well as his lifelong pastor, Msgr. Eugene Yennock. Before answering the call to the priesthood, he attended Ithaca College and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management. He only spent one season working for a minor league baseball team in the South Atlantic League when the call to the priesthood grew louder. After the 2001 season he applied and was accepted to formation for the priesthood in the Diocese of Syracuse. Fr. Chris studied at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland where he earned a Master’s of Divinity. He was ordained a priest in 2008 and has served as a parochial vicar at Saints John and Andrew in Binghamton and pastor of Divine Mercy in Central Square. Father Chris received certification in spiritual direction in 2017 from the Institute for Priestly Formation. Currently he serves as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church and School in North Syracuse, board member of Bishops Grimes Jr./Sr. High school and as a local spiritual director.

Margaret (Meg) O’Connell serves as Executive Director of the Allyn Family Foundation, a private family foundation focused on building a vibrant, equitable and prosperous community. Prior to joining the Allyn Family Foundation, Meg worked in nonprofit fund development and from 2012-2013 served as Interim President of Onondaga Community College. In 2019, Meg led the creation of a 78,000 sq. ft. building in downtown Syracuse known as the Salt City Market and has recently undertaken the redevelopment of the Chimes Building at 500 South Salina Street. Meg currently serves as Chair of the Syracuse Urban Partnership, SEED Syracuse, Early Childhood Alliance, Work Train, and as Treasurer of Blueprint 15. She also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of CenterState CEO and on the Board of CNY Works. Meg is a graduate of Dartmouth College and she and her husband, Eric Allyn, have three daughters.

For over 25 years, Tim Penix has dedicated his career to opening doors of opportunity for thousands of underserved individuals throughout Central New York. As Vice President of Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center at Morrisville State College, Tim’s work transcends traditional education administration—it represents a lifelong commitment to human dignity, economic justice, and community empowerment. At the heart of Tim’s mission is the belief that education is a transformative force capable of breaking cycles of poverty and creating pathways to sustainable careers. Under his leadership, the Syracuse EOC has become more than an educational institution; it serves as a beacon of hope for those facing significant socioeconomic barriers. By developing innovative workforce training programs in healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing, Tim has helped countless individuals—many of whom are first-generation students, single parents, or career-changers—find meaningful employment and financial stability. The human impact of Tim’s work is evident in the thousands of personal success stories that have emerged from his programs: the single mother who completed healthcare training and secured her first living-wage job; the formerly incarcerated individual who found a second chance through skilled trades education; the immigrant who accessed language services and vocational training to support their family. These individual transformations represent the true measure of Tim’s contribution to Central New York. As Co-Chair of the Community Engagement Committee for the historic Micron investment, Tim ensures that the voices of marginalized communities are not only heard but centered in decisions about the $500 million Community Investment Fund. His advocacy guarantees that this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity creates equitable benefits across all neighborhoods and demographics, not just for those already advantaged. Tim’s successful advocacy for the $42 million renovation of the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center, scheduled for completion by 2027, further demonstrates his commitment to creating dignified, state-of-the-art learning environments for students who have historically been underserved by traditional educational systems. Throughout his career on the CNY Regional Economic Development Council, New York State Fair Advisory Board, and as President of both the EOC and EOP Directors Associations, Tim has consistently championed policies that promote inclusive growth and economic justice. His leadership in co-chairing the development of the Alliance for Economic Inclusion has created sustainable frameworks for addressing systemic inequities in workforce development. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tim’s humanitarian impact is perhaps best reflected in his deep personal connections to the communities he serves. As a lifelong resident of Central New York who lives in Syracuse with his family, Tim’s commitment to regional prosperity is not abstract—it’s rooted in genuine care for his neighbors and a vision of a more equitable future for all Central New York residents. Tim Penix’s legacy will ultimately be measured not by buildings renovated or dollars secured, but by the thousands of lives transformed through increased access to education, dignified employment, and economic opportunity. A lifelong CNY resident, Tim lives in Syracuse with his family while remaining dedicated to regional educational and economic development.