
Mobile, Ala. – For more than 20 years, Lolo Pendergrast, a proud alumna of the class of 1978, has dedicated herself to volunteering in disaster-stricken areas, helping those in need.
Pendergrast joined the Saint Bernard Project (SBP), a national nonprofit founded by Zach Rosenberg and Liz McCartney in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The organization focuses on rebuilding homes and restoring communities affected by disasters. Pendergrast traveled to aid communities in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Panama City, FL after Hurricane Michael, and Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

At Spring Hill, the Jesuit principle of cura personalis—”care for the whole person”—was instilled in Pendergrast and shaped her commitment to service. After Hurricane Katrina, her children raised money for recovery efforts in New Orleans by selling lemonade, but Pendergrast felt compelled to do more. The weekend after Thanksgiving in 2005, she traveled with a group of high school friends to New Orleans to help rebuild homes.
“This is a time in my life when I could help somebody during the worst time in their life and make things whole again. It really goes back to what I learned at Spring Hill. That Jesuit tradition of developing the whole person, both intellectually and morally, and preparing students to contribute to society by helping others,” said Pendergrast.
In Panama City, Pendergrast’s efforts were joined by four fellow Badger alumnae—Joan Nalls, Debbie Hibberts, Ellen McBride and Karen Wientge—who volunteered with her through SBP. Their shared Spring Hill background created a powerful bond of service amidst the destruction. The work was about more than physical rebuilding; it was about restoring spirits, fostering community, and showing people that, even in the toughest times, everyone has something to offer.
“People ask, ‘How can you put down a floor? How can you put on a roof?’ I always tell them, ‘Anybody can do this. I’m in my late 60s, and if I can do it, so can you. You just have to make the time.’”
The challenge in Puerto Rico, rebuilding homes constructed from stubborn concrete, only fueled their resolve.
“We worked for a week. It was really interesting. In the Caribbean, a lot of the houses are built with concrete and cinder blocks. It was not very square and difficult to work in so we just created a new house inside the old house. We put up new walls, new ceilings, new everything. We had a really good time doing that,” said Pendergrast.

The grit and determination Lolo Pendergrast displayed weren’t confined to national disaster zones. Back in her Charlotte, N.C., community, she seamlessly transitioned from SBP missions to local Red Cross duties, even finding time to register fellow citizens to vote—a quiet act of civic engagement that spoke volumes about her commitment to service.
“You can always help someone else. There are things that are greater than you. Helping other people and making their lives better is a bigger and better thing to be doing than serving yourself. Spring Hill really instilled in us to help others. I am going to keep doing that as long as I can,” Pendergrast said.
This spring, Pendergrast, along with other Spring Hill alumnae, plans to help the victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The tireless spirit of Lolo Pendergrast, fueled by the Jesuit values from her college years, shows no signs of slowing down. Her legacy extends far beyond the walls of her alma mater and is a reminder that true service transcends age, location and even the most devastating natural disasters.
ABOUT SPRING HILL COLLEGE:
Founded in 1830, Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third oldest Jesuit college in the United States. Spring Hill combines the Jesuit tradition of excellence in education and a commitment to caring for the whole person — mind, body and spirit — with innovative educational experiences. Located in Mobile, Ala., Spring Hill’s mission is to form leaders engaged in learning, faith, justice, and service for life. As a result, Spring Hill students are engaged, inspired and transformed by their experiences.