2018 Distinguished Achievement in Religion

Any discussion of Tony Pichler’s life of service must draw heavily on the word “also.”

Tony is currently director of the Norbertine Center for Spirituality, focused on advocacy and education, fellowship and faith.

He was also director for youth ministry and lay ministry formation for the Diocese of Green Bay. He has also served as a board member of the National Association for Lay Ministers, and as an associate of both the Norbertines as well as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. He has also been a committee member for St. Norbert College Parish, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a volunteer catechist. He also helped lead the initiative to bring the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing to St. Norbert Parish. 

Tony has also been a visionary in meeting the needs of his local community. He co-founded StreetLights Outreach, which serves as a positive presence in at-risk neighborhoods in Green Bay. He also led the establishment of Spokes of Hope, providing reliable transportation in the form of bicycles to the needy in our communities. He was also one of the founders of the St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter and the Micah Center daytime resource center for our homeless brothers and sisters.

He is also the driving force behind a new nonprofit, Whatsoever You Do, Inc., which serves as an umbrella organization for a variety of local service initiatives including StreetLights Outreach, Spokes of Hope, the Giving Garden—a community garden on the eastside of Green Bay, and Amani Outreach—a simple home adjustment program for seniors and adults with disabilities of any kind.

He also serves on the Advisory Committee for Wellspring, a women’s daytime resource center on Green Bay’s westside.

He has also found time to be an active volunteer for youth sports. For many years, he was a Special Olympics coach, and he also remains a fixture on the sidelines of West De Pere High School football games.

Tony has also been a loving husband to Janine and father to Andy and Meagan.

Tony Pichler works tirelessly on behalf of his church, his community and the world. He is a selfless, deeply committed individual. And also, the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Achievement Award.