By Rita McInerney

The Outreach committee of St. Anthony's Church, Atlanta, and Frani Luehers, a member of All Saints Church, Dunwoody, have been honored for community service by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games,

The Outreach committee was honored for its work with homeless women and children while Ms. Luehers was named for her efforts as a member of the Grady Health System Olympic Force and other community involvements.

St. Anthony's committee was one of six groups selected to receive the Olympic Force Medal of Honor while Ms. Luehers was one of four individuals receiving the award.

Each of 1,400 community and civic groups in Georgia that participate in the Olympic Force was eligible for the award. In addition each group could nominate an individual member to be honored.

Awards were presented July 20 at a luncheon held at the Governor's Mansion with Governor and Mrs. Zell Miller as hosts. ACOG president and chief executive officer Billy Payne and senior officials attended.

St. Anthony's outreach committee was recognized for its work with numerous groups including Cascade House, a shelter for women and children; Achor Center, a transitional house; Atlanta Children's Shelter, Project Child Foundation, and Help House, a family shelter in Grant Park.

Danese Frazier, president of the outreach committee said the objective is not just to "give handouts but to help nurture the entire person."

The outreach committee also helps a family, formerly at Cascade House, now living at Eagan Homes. It sponsors educational and recreational activities for the children at Cascade and assists young women training as nail technicians.

Ms. Frazier said parish organizations and individuals respond generously to appeals from the committee. One "overwhelming success" was the parish-wide Help for the Homeless Day last August. Food, toiletries, underwear and school supplies valued at over $3,500 were collected.

Ms. Luehers, who is an administrator in the laboratory at Grady, was nominated after a food drive she coordinated at the lab collected more than 1,400 of a total 4,400 items contributed throughout the hospital. The items were distributed to the poor as part of a city-wide collection last November.

She also volunteers as a receptionist at Jerusalem House, residence for terminally ill AIDS patients, and coordinates All Saints parish activities for the Interfaith Outreach Home on Buford Highway.