Roger W. Paulsberg, President and CEO of Lutheran Life Communities, as well as Fr. Michael Boland, President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Chicago, have been named the recipients of the 2009 Gutenberg Award from the Chicago Bible Society.

Named after Johan Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press that first allowed people to own a private copy of the Bible, the Gutenberg Award was created in 1951 to honor meaningful contributions to the cause of the Bible. General Douglas MacArthur received the first award in recognition of his work in promoting the distribution of the Bible in post-World War II Japan, where he served as military governor. Other recipients include Billy Graham, Cardinal Joseph Bernardine, Chicago Bears’ linebacker Mike Singletary, retired Loyola University President Raymond Baumhart, and Erwin Lutzer, Senior Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago.

Roger has worked in administrative positions in the senior healthcare field since 1980. He became Administrator of the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1989. In 1991, he was named President and CEO of Lutheran Home & Services. Since 2000, when Roger and the Board of Directors began the organizational transition from a single-site community, he has led the creation and growth of Lutheran Life Communities, one of the fastest growing not-for-profit senior service systems in the nation. Awarded the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s (AAHSA’s) Excellence in Leadership Award in 2007 and Wheat Ridge Ministries’ Seeds of Hope Award in 2008, Roger’s dedication to serving older adults in ministries of health, hope and healing is inspired, faithful and nationally recognized.

An official presentation ceremony for the 2009 Gutenberg Award was hosted by the Chicago Bible Society on October 7, 2009. Roger was joined by his family, and many proud Lutheran Life Communities professionals and board members came out to show thier support.