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I was the last link in a text message, Facebook, e-mail chain just now meant to spread some great breaking news: Mary Peterson, co-founder and executive director of Maggie’s Place, was just named Phoenix Woman Magazine’s 2009 Woman of Excellence Award.

Mary Peterson, right, I think with her mom, was just named a Woman of Excellence for her work with Maggie's Place. (Maggie's Place photo)

She was up against nine other women, including a council member and a TV anchor. Check out the nominees. Her bio for the magazine starts off like this:

Mary Peterson’s legacy, which began with an idea in 1999, will live on in our community forever. Peterson wanted to tackle what she felt were the root causes of our social problems–extreme individualism, materialism, and lack of love and dignity. She would counter those issues with love, respect and community through a special organization she called Maggie’s Place.

Read the full bio. Local Catholics should know that Maggie’s Place, which now has three houses of hospitality in the Phoenix area and two nationwide, welcomes pregnant and parenting women with infants up to six months old who would otherwise be alone or on the streets.

This announcement marks the latest in a whirlwind of publicity in recent weeks. Maggie’s Place was featured in the September issue of St. Anthony Messenger magazine, is in the November issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine, had a spot on Channel 12’s Raising Arizona Kids segment Nov. 2 and I think I saw the station at their benefit race/stroll in Tempe on Sunday.

Stay up-to-date with Maggie’s Place through Facebook. or an e-newsletter.