Joseph M. Guiffre
Retired Owner and President, Guiffre Distributing Company
The Cardinal Newman Society gratefully presents the Saint John Henry Newman Award to Joseph Guiffre, the retired owner and President of Guiffre Distributing Company in Alexandria, Va. An astute businessman with great love for family, the Eucharist, and Catholic education, Mr. Guiffre loves to “plant seeds” and has been an invaluable partner to many Catholic organizations, including The Cardinal Newman Society, through which he has had a transformational impact on the reform of Catholic education. On behalf of Catholic families who greatly benefit from Newman Guide Recommended education, we recognize Mr. Joseph Guiffre for his transformational impact, and we uphold Mr. Guiffre as a model of lay Catholic leadership and a witness to the value of faithful Catholic formation.
The Guiffre Distributing Company was founded by Mr. Guiffre’s grandfather in 1933. Mr. Guiffre worked in the family business throughout high school and college. “I started at the bottom for very little pay and worked my way up,” Mr. Guiffre told the Alexandria Gazette Packet. “I cleaned offices and bathrooms and unloaded box cars. My father wanted me to have a very clear understanding of every aspect of the company before I assumed any supervisory role and I did.” After college, he rejoined Guiffre Distributing as a driver salesman and eventually became President and General Manager. He retired in 1993, handing off the position of President to his son Michael, and remained Chairman of the company until 2012.
Mr. Guiffre has been an extraordinary partner and advisor to The Cardinal Newman Society’s work of promoting and defending faithful Catholic education, with special interest in launching new projects. These include the initial distribution of our Catholic Curriculum Standards, which now used in at least 52 dioceses serving nearly half a million students; the Newman Guide scholarship program that introduces faithful Newman Guide Recommended colleges to thousands of families every year; the establishment of The Cardinal Newman Society’s headquarters building; and the creation of an endowment fund with the Diocese of Arlington to ensure that our work continues well into the future. When we expanded The Newman Guide recognition to include elementary and secondary schools, Mr. Guiffre spread the word far and wide and invited several schools to apply and successfully achieve Newman Guide Recommendations.
Mr. Guiffre has also contributed his experience and insight to many Catholic and community organizations. He helped found and chaired the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Arlington, having an enormous impact on the parishes and Catholic education across the diocese. He has served his parish in many capacities, including as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. He served as an appointed member of several state and local boards and commissions, including the Virginia Department of Highways Commission, Virginia Solid Waste Commission, Alexandria Economic Development Authority, Alexandrians for a Better Community, Alexandria Operation Bailout flood relief program, and Alexandria Zero Litter program. He has chaired and served on the boards of organizations including the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club, Optimist Club of Alexandria Foundation, Alexandria Center for Employment, the American Cancer Society’s “buckboard” fundraising effort, National Beer Wholesaler’s Association, and Virginia Beer Wholesaler’s Association.
Mr. Guiffre is well-known to many in Northern Virginia and was named a “Living Legend of Alexandria” by the organization of the same name in 2013. His many honors suggest the extent of his service: Last year, in recognition of Mr. Guiffre’s volunteer and charitable service to the Church, Pope Leo XIV awarded him the Benemerenti Medal. Other honors include the St. Mary’s Grammar School Distinguished Alumni Award, Brent Society recognition for Catholic Schools Activities, James J. Matthews Legacy Award from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Jaycees Alexandrian of the Year, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce George Washington Leadership Medal, two beautification awards from the City of Alexandria, United Indians of America Outstanding Citizen Award (for his efforts to restore Jim Thorpe’s gold medals), Boys Club Medal for Service, Generations of Giving Award from ACT for Alexandria, and Alexandria Optimist of the Year.
