Catholic Charities’ 19th Annual Celebration of Charity Raised $145,000 to Provide Help for Neighbors in Need
Caritas Awards Presented to Community Partners
GOSHEN – It was an evening of fun and festivities when guests gathered in The Epicenter at Resorts Worlds Catskills in Monticello for Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster’s 19th annual Celebration of Charity and Caritas Awards Dinner. The not-for-profit agency’s largest fundraising event of the year was attended by 350 guests who helped raise $145,000 in support of the agency’s social safety net programs. The funds will stay local to assist marginalized and vulnerable neighbors with food, shelter, and other basic human needs. Catholic Charities provides help regardless of a person’s religion.
The highlight of the Celebration each year is the Caritas Awards presentation to individuals and organizations whose work embraces Catholic Charities’ mission to provide help and create hope for our neighbors in need. This year’s Caritas Award recipients were Fr. George Hafemann (Pastor, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Goshen), Mike Oates (CEO, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation), Kathy Sheehan, RN (Vice President of Patient Care Services & Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital), and Stewart’s Shops, represented by Regional Manager, Erik Kaehler.
There was an enthusiastic buzz in the air as guests networked during the social hour and enjoyed friendly competition bidding on an array of beautiful silent auction items donated by local artisans, shops, restaurants, and others. The evening’s program began with the invocation provided by Fr. Thomas Colucci of Most Precious Blood Parish in Walden and a song of celebration was performed by lifelong Goshen resident Mark Gargiulo.
Taking the stage as Master of Ceremonies for the first time was Catholic Charities’ Director of Human Resources, Rosetta McNeal. Ms. McNeal welcomed a packed house to the evening’s Celebration. “On behalf of my colleagues at Catholic Charities, I want to thank everyone here for being a part of our 19th annual Celebration of Charity. The generous support from each of you, as well as the honorees, sponsors, advertisers, volunteers, staff, and others who made tonight a success, are making it possible for Catholic Charities to fulfill its mission to provide help and create hope for our neighbors in need.”
Shannon Kelly, CEO, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster, provided highlights of the agency’s spectrum of programs and services that are available to the marginalized and vulnerable members of the community, regardless of a person’s religion.
“Each year, thanks to the dedication of our hard-working employees, Catholic Charities helps thousands in our community who are struggling through difficult times,” said Ms. Kelly. “We address basic human needs to ensure people have a roof over their head, food on their table, help paying utility bills, and assistance with other financial hardships – and we’re able to do this work, and so much more, thanks to generous donors who want to make a difference.”
Ms. Kelly offered a call to action to Celebration attendees interested in learning, or doing, more to help Catholic Charities and the people it serves. “I invite you to get involved,” said Ms. Kelly. “Volunteer at a food pantry, host a collection drive, have us speak to your parish or community group. Together, we’re making a difference, and we’re very excited about what our future holds.”
Catholic Charities board chair, Thomas Strahle, praised the agency’s employees for their caring commitment. “When you get to know the Catholic Charities team, you’ll find that their enthusiasm and passion for helping others is not the exception, but the norm. It’s what they do, each and every day,” said Mr. Strahle.
Event sponsors and advertisers in the commemorative journal helped Catholic Charities raise more than $145,000 that will stay local to help people in Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties. Premier Platinum sponsors were Armistead Mechanical, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp, and Mediacom Communications. Community Manufacturing Solutions, Schweppes, and Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital were Gold sponsors. Skip & Susan Tetz, Resorts World, and Ulster Savings Bank were Social Hour sponsors, and Pepsi of the Hudson Valley was a Silver sponsor. There were also many Bronze sponsors and journal advertisers who added to the Celebration’s financial success.
The next Catholic Charities event – Golf for Charity – will be held Monday, September 15, at West Hills Country Club in Middletown. Sponsorship and foursome opportunities are available. To learn more, contact Kristin Jensen at kristin.jensen@cccsos.org or 845.294.5124, x1005.
Caption: Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster hosted its 19th annual Celebration of Charity and Caritas Awards Dinner at The Epicenter at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello. The Caritas Award is presented to community partners who embody the not-for-profit agency’s mission to provide help and create hope. Pictured (l-r) are Catholic Charities CEO Shannon Kelly; honorees Mike Oates, CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation; Kathy Sheehan, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services & Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital; Erik Kaehler, Regional Manager for Stewart’s Shops; Fr. George Hafemann, Pastor, The Church of St. John the Evangelist, Goshen; and Catholic Charities Board Chair, Thomas Strahle.
Photo credit – Everett Collie, EC Media Group
