Then, receiving the Justice and Compassion Award from Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, Rev. White-Hammond took the podium, thanking Catholic Charities, her husband, and others, as well as her congregation members who "give me license to get in the pulpit and misbehave every now and then."

Rev. White-Hammond took the attention off of herself, as she invited a group of Sudanese women at a table in the back of The Smith Hall dining room to stand during her acceptance speech.

"Their governments call each other enemies, but they call each other sisters. Together they have determined that they simply will not countenance the ongoing, systematic victimization of women and girls as pawns in a deadly war game. No more. These are misbehaving women," Rev. White-Hammond said.

In his remarks, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley expressed support for the work of Rev. White-Hammond, and all the women at the event.

"I know that I interpret the sentiments of everyone here when we say that we want you to keep on misbehaving," he said.

He also thanked the volunteers and board of Catholic Charities, before delivering a blessing to close the evening.

"We knew when we were honoring Gloria, as the first woman to receive the Justice and Compassion Award, that it would make the night a little bit special," Rambo told The Pilot, following the event.

Rambo said she was not surprised when the evening took a sharp focus on celebrating women in leadership roles.

"It gave us an opportunity to talk about women, their contributions, and the kinds of means and opportunities that women have. We were glad to be able to do that," Rambo said.

According to organizers, the event pulled in more than $1 million with more donations still coming in as of press time.

"We are thrilled to be over the million dollar mark. Every one of those dollars we need, to be able to provide the services that we offer, so it is a great night," Rambo said.