We feel very excited and blessed that Tom will be working with all of us at Guardian Angels and we believe his efforts will support our continued mission to spread the word of Jesus of Christ.

Green graduated from Loras College in 1963 with a degree in business. He immediately put his education to good use and began working with JC Penny in their management trainee program. For the next 24 years he worked his way up through the ranks eventually managing the downtown store in Minneapolis. In 1986, when the corporate offices announced the store would be closing, Green began helping the 230 people who worked for him find a job. From resume writing to personal contact, Green was able to help secure jobs for all but eight people. He was one of those eight.

Eventually Green was offered a teaching position at the University of Minnesota and then sold insurance before being recruited to his true calling at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. The pastor at the time shared with Green that he was interested in increasing the parish’s outreach to the poor and disadvantaged—a challenge Green was up for.

When Green began in 1989, there were approximately 1,000 families at the Basilica and buildings were in need of repair. Together with the staff, Green helped increase the parish numbers in 2003 to more than 5,100 families, and organized an effort to launch the first capital campaign that raised more than $11 million. In addition, he oversaw the $23 million restoration to the buildings and developed an outreach program that has helped thousands of people, who were in job transition or unemployed, gain meaningful employment.

Green credits his mother for creating in him a desire to serve others and being committed to making the world a better place. He also notes that his Catholic education impressed upon him the importance of community service and integrity; tenets he lives his life by.

In spite of all of this work for others, his own family, his wife Cheryl and their four grown children, remain number one. He makes his friends feel important and he always knows the score to the most recent Twins baseball game. Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others’ lives.” Green’s life has had a significant impact on others.

Tom can be reached at (952) 227-4002 or via e-mail at tgreen@gachaska.org