At age 26, Sister Caroline Friess, SSND, came from Munich to Milwaukee in the middle of the 19th century. In due course, she changed the rules of her Order to conform to the needs of America, establishing schools throughout the country.

A century and a half later, Sister Jan Gregorcich, SSND, of the Milwaukee province, like Mother Caroline, responded to the needs of her time by looking for creative ways to bring people of the Americas together in building partnerships that foster potable water, food, and health in Latin America.

In late 2002, Sister Jan joined with others in the formation of GPRW, a non-profit, charitable corporation through which her work will continue and expand. As Mother Caroline had done in the mid-1800s, the GPRW partners are working to connect people who can develop a mutual relationship.