Forced to leave Nazi Germany in 1937, members sought asylum in several European countries and South America before immigrating to the United States in 1954.

Today there are active communities in the United States, England, Germany, Australia, Austria, South Korea, and Paraguay.

The Bruderhof has two basic types of communities in which members live and worship. Larger communities are typically situated in rural areas and resemble small villages with residences clustered around a school, central dining hall, and a chapel or meeting hall. Daily life is simple, similar in some ways to life in a monastery.

Smaller “house communities” of ten to 30 people are located in urban areas. In each community, all aspects of daily life are lived as a proclamation that through Christ, a united and harmonious common life is possible.

A number of businesses generate income for the Bruderhof: Community Playthings (www.communityplaythings.com), Rifton Equipment (www.rifton.com), and Danthonia Signs (http://www.danthonia.com.au/).

The Bruderhof also sponsors Breaking the Cycle (www.breakingthecycle.com) (BTC), a program teaching non-violence and reconciliation. BTC has gained prominence as an effective anti-bullying, anti-violence, and anti-gang advocacy tool in schools in New York, Pennsylvania, and London.

The BTC program, started by NYPD Detective Steven McDonald and Bruderhof Pastor Johann Christoph Arnold, works with ex-gang members and has proven effective for law enforcement to have a positive impact on young people by educating them about conflict resolution through forgiveness.

The publishing branch, Plough Publishing (www.plough.com) has published more than 100 books for those interested in the Christian life, among them That Way and No Other about missionary life in India, and Bowery Mission.

The forthcoming Another Life is Possible offers a vivid overview of the first century of Bruderhof life in intentional community. The press also publishes a quarterly magazine of stories, ideas, and culture.

In addition to a significant commitment to working with and supporting the neighborhoods that surround each community, income saved by living simply is given to relief organizations, such as Save the Children, World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, and Catholic Charities. In response to the Venezuelan refugee crisis, the Bruderhof is currently sending labor and donations to the ongoing refugee-relief work in Cúcuta, Colombia.

Under Mr. Kelley’s leadership, Ellenville Regional Hospital has received numerous awards and recognitions on state and national levels that affirm their commitment to provide consistently outstanding quality care.

One of ERH’s guiding principles is to be a good neighbor, and as a Critical Access Hospital and regional provider, they have a primary mission to provide exceptional healthcare to their surrounding rural communities.

With innovative initiatives and collaboration with community and regional healthcare partners, ERH takes important steps to keep their neighbors healthier and strives to provide a warm and comforting experience for their patients and families. Their healthcare is delivered with compassion and respect based on a commitment to improving the health of the community through excellence, innovation, and state-of-the-art technologies Ellenville Regional Hospital provides essential, life-saving care, and compassionate support to its immediate community and patients within a 30-mile radius.

They link patients to state of the art services and facilities, help them access advanced diagnostic capability, and offer skilled specialist treatment by dedicated, friendly staff. ERH provides treatment in an emergency, helps with recovery after accident or surgery, and puts patients on the path to renewed health and wellness.

Catholic Charities has been fortunate to work with Ellenville Regional Hospital on its opioid reduction program, Project Rescue.

Through this program, post-overdose patients receive Medication-Assisted Treatment to curb withdrawal symptoms and treat addiction by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. Before leaving the hospital, patients are provided access to certified recovery peer advocates who use their lived experience with addiction to help patients transition to treatment and counseling.

Through these and other efforts, Ellenville Regional Hospital, has seen reductions in overdoses, opioid use, and emergency room visits, and an increase in the number of people asking about treatment options for themselves or a loved one.

The firm’s legal services include business transactions, contracts, and formation; estate and elder law planning; estate probate and administration; federal and state litigation, including issues connected to personal injury, insurance, real property and businesses; commercial and residential real estate and development; environmental law; local government; social security disability claims and appeals; and veterans’ benefits claims and appeals.

Retired partner Richard J. Drake and current Drake Loeb PLLC partners, James R. Loeb, Glen L. Heller, Marianna R. Kennedy, Gary J. Gogerty, Stephen J. Gaba, Adam L. Rodd, Dominic Cordisco, Ralph L. Puglielle Jr., and Nicholas A. Pascale, built the firm on three guiding principles. Those principles are the respect for the practice of law, aggressive representation and protection of clients, and servicing the varied needs of clients as a unified team.

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, a local business with a commercial litigation matter, a grandparent wanting to understand how to protect your assets for future generations, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company looking to build in Orange County, Drake Loeb PLLC’s partners, together with Managing Attorney Jennifer L. Schneider, associate attorneys, and staff, will take care to base your representation on these principles. Drake Loeb PLLC’s commitment to excellence in representing its clients goes hand-in-hand with an equally important commitment to the community it serves. Members of the firm provide leadership and support to many health, educational, religious, economic, and cultural organizations that comprise the infrastructure of the communities in which it practices. As a part of this commitment, Drake Loeb PLLC is proud to support Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster and its good works. Learn more about Drake Loeb PLLC at www.drakeloeb.com.

A native of Ulster County, Tom has long recognized the importance of activities in the lives of young people.

As a youngster, Tom was active in Little League, Boy Scouts, and the local drum and bugle corps. “These were some of my happiest childhood memories. The camaraderie and lessons learned have been a part of my entire life,” Tom remembers.

As an adult, Tom’s first career was as Vice President and Managing Partner of Utility Platers, Inc., in Kingston, where he worked for 30 years. While pursuing his career, he made time to be a constant presence in the lives of his own daughters, Bridget and Shannon, as well as many other children in the community, by volunteering with St. Mary’s CYO, Town of Esopus Little League, Port Ewen Athletic Association, Kingston Catholic School, and Coleman High School. As a Kingston Catholic School and John A. Coleman Catholic High School parent, Tom was instrumental in the Parent Teacher Organization and active with fundraisers, theater productions, coaching, and many other school events.

After many years of service as a community volunteer, Tom had the unique opportunity to pursue a second career with Catholic Charities – first as the Ulster County CYO Director and Director of Catholic Scouting for the Archdiocese of New York, and, later as the Regional Director for Catholic Charities in Ulster County. In his work with CYO, Tom was able to expand beyond CYO’s well-known competitive basketball leagues.

He introduced a summer cross-country running series, a golf league, soccer clinics, and a county-wide instructional basketball league. “It’s important that each young person find the activity or group where they feel a sense of belonging.

Through Ulster’s CYO programs we wanted to provide healthy experiences for all to participate in, not only the athletically gifted.” Tom noted. Tom is especially proud of the Ulster County Catholic Charities Community Center at 6 Adams Street which opened in 2013. He helped to build a full-service, client-choice food pantry which is still going strong. Last year, it provided the equivalent of nearly 91,000 meals to those in need. Additionally, the beautiful gymnasium hosts sporting events, art shows, and other community activities. Tom was never one for the spotlight; however, he always loved giving tours of the center! Tom and his wife, Kathy, are parishioners of Presentation Parish in Port Ewen.

While Tom retired from Catholic Charities in 2017, he and Kathy continue to maintain busy schedules. However, spending time with family is their most important priority. Daughters Bridget Lasecki and Shannon Kelly both live locally with their spouses and children, Thomas, Anna, Samuel, and Gustavo. Tom frequently can be found attending the grandchildren’s school or athletic activities.