Fe brua r y 2 0 1 5
OCTOBER 2013
Family matters Bethesda Project announces new leadership changes The Bethesda Project Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Hentzi Elek as Chief Executive Officer effective Mar ch 16, 2015. Hentzi succeeds Fr. Domenic Rossi, who will be stepping down from the CEO role into a part-time position as Director of Mission Advancement at Bethesda Project. “We are very pleased to announce this appointment,” said Bill Cotter, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Hentzi will bring leadership and creativity to Bethesda Project as well as a deep sense of commitment to our mission. He has a breadth of experience working at all program, fundraising, executive and leadership levels, and will bring great perspective and enthusiasm to Bethesda Project.” As CEO of Bethesda Project, Hentzi will build internal and external relationships at all levels, lead and expand fundraising efforts, implement strategic initiatives and manage and oversee the assets of the organization.
Hentzi Elek
A graduate of Harvard and Yale Universities, Hentzi has a long history of commitment to the poor: he volunteered in Sudan during the famine in 1985; he worked in refugee camps in Thailand, and taught in Bogotá, Colombia. An Episcopalian priest, he is currently serving as Rector of a Delaware County parish where he encourages his parishioners to sponsor homeless families each year. Hentzi has also organized a number of community fundraising and service projects such as the Delaware County Hunger Walk.
“In talking with Hentzi, I am convinced that the mission of Bethesda Project is already built into his DNA,” said Fr. Domenic. “I am greatly relieved to know that the leadership of Bethesda Project is being passed on to his capable hands.”
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Leadership changes (continued from page 1) Fr. Domenic will assist Hentzi with the transition then move into a part-time role as Director of Mission Advancement. In this part-time role, Fr. Domenic will focus on building relationships with new and existing volunteers and donors, speaking on behalf of Bethesda Project and to underline the mission of the organization, “to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none.” Having been relieved of administrative responsibilities for Bethesda Project, Fr. Domenic will thus be able to give more attention to his new role as pastor of St. Gabriel Parish. “We are extremely grateful to Fr. Domenic, our founder, for all his years of service,” said Cotter. “We are pleased and fortunate to have him continue his work with Bethesda Project in his new role.” We wish them much success in their new roles! Fr. Domenic Rossi
New Board Members Appointed We’re proud to welcome Ann Watts and Judge Ken Powell to our Board of Directors! Ann joined Bethesda Project in 2011 as a volunteer reading tutor at Connelly House; she continues to enjoy biweekly meetings with one of the residents, whose literacy skills are steadily improving. She also chairs a new task force on market segmentation and is on the Marketing Communications Committee for Bethesda Project. Ann is a data integrity analyst in Development at the University of Pennsylvania. She looks at how Penn reaches out to its constituents and also how constituents connect with the University, with the goal of fostering growth by engaging passionate individuals. Previously, she worked in Development at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a master’s degree in French and Francophone Literature. Originally from Greensburg, Indiana, Ann travels to the Midwest frequently to visit her family and her favorite dog Tyson. Ann Watts
Kenneth Powell, Jr. is a judge in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, assigned to Major Crimes Unit, East Division. Having practiced law for more than 30 years, Judge Powell worked as a Municipal Court judge, as a lawyer representing plaintiffs and defendants in virtually every area of civil law, and as a mediator and arbitrator. Judge Powell received his undergraduate degree from LaSalle University and master’s and juris doctorate degrees from the Temple University School of Law. Judge Powell is a native Philadelphian and volunteers his time serving the community in various ways. He mentors inner city youth interested in pursuing legal careers, and served as Past President of the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, where he established the first community outreach program to bring the Gift of Song to those who cannot otherwise access it. Hon. Ken Powell
Ann and Judge Powell are serving their first three-year term. We welcome them to the Bethesda Project family!
Save the date for our 18th annual Gala & Auction! Join us on Wednesday, May 6 at the Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park for the 18th annual Gala & Auction benefiting Bethesda Project! Enjoy great food and drinks, fantastic silent and live auction items and live entertainment! Hosted by The Philadelphia Phillies, this is a party you won't want to miss! This year’s honorary chair is former Pennsylvania governor, The Honorable Ed Rendell. Join us as we honor outgoing CEO and founder of Bethesda Project, Fr. Domenic Rossi with the Distinguished Service Award. Tickets are now on sale. Call 215-985-1600 or visit http://bethesda-project.ticketleap.com/gala2015/details to reserve your ticket today! Become a sponsor and enjoy great benefits! Click here to download our sponsorship package! Have any questions? Call our office at 215-985-1600 and speak with a member of our development team, or email development@bethesdaproject.org.
Thank you, Whole Foods Market! A huge thank you to our partners at Whole Foods Market for a donation of 1,126 cases of non-perishable food for our residents and shelter guests! As part of their Feed 4 More program, the South Street and Callowhill stores donated nearly $20,000 worth of food! The donation included pasta, tomato sauce, rice, vegetable soup, beans, diced tomatoes, applesauce and beets. A big thank you to Tyler, program coordinator of community life, and the team of residents, shelter guests and staff members who arranged the pick up and distribution of these items!
You shop, Bethesda Project benefits! From February 26 through February 28, Bethesda pr oject will r eceive 10% of all your sales at Chico’s in Paoli, when “Bethesda Project” is mentioned! Here are three ways to shop: visit the Paoli store (hours and location are listed below); view items online at chicos.com and phone in your order to the Paoli store; or visit any other location to try on your items but place your order directly with the Paoli store. Shipping is always free! Remember, you must mention Bethesda Project. Valid only at Chico’s Paoli: 20 Paoli I Shopping Center, Paoli, PA 19301. Phone: 610-407-4074 Store Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 8pm Questions? Sat: 10am - 8pm Contact volunteer Linda VanOcker at ScubaVan@comcast.net Sun: 11am - 5pm
Thank you to all the MLK Day of Service volunteers ! La Salle University’s Campus Ministry students came to Bethesda Spruce on January 19 – MLK Day – to help sweep the garden and front pavement, scour the bathrooms and clean the stairs and hallways. Thank you so much for helping out the residents and staff over at Bethesda Spruce!
La Salle University Campus Ministry at Bethesda Spruce
At Bethesda North Broad, we were excited to welcome Upper Merion Township residents who prepared and served brunch to the residents. They also brought copies of MLK’s book, Why We Can’t Wait, and took turns reading Dr. King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” It was a fun day filled with music and inspirational words! Upper Marion Twp. residents at Bethesda North Broad
Big thanks to St. John Chrysostom Parish in Wallingford for bringing lunch for our residents at Bethesda Bainbridge; and to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for bringing lunch to our guests at Our Brothers’ Place and Church Shelters! A very big thank you to the parents, students and teachers from Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood! They collected bar soap for our guests at Our Brothers’ Place, and made 450 bagged lunches that were distributed on MLK Day at Our Brothers’ Place shelter, My Brother’s House, Bethesda North Broad, Bethesda Sanctuary, Domenic and Mary Houses and at our Church Shelters.
Friends’ Central School parents, students and teachers packed lunches for our shelter guests
Being family with those who have none.
Volunteer Spotlight: Linda VanOcker By Angela Thomas For longtime volunteer Linda VanOcker, Bethesda Project is more than just an organization—it’s a saving grace. VanOcker has been a volunteer with Bethesda Project since May 2005 and learned about the organization through another dedicated volunteer, Mary Ann Flynn. Flynn invited VanOcker to Bethesda North Broad to play BINGO and have lunch with the residents. “I went and I was hooked,” she said. VanOcker can be found lending a helping hand wherever she is needed at Bethesda Project. Whether it’s underwear, socks, jackets, blankets or even chocolate, VanOcker is ready to provide. “When Bethesda Project needs something, I help get it,” she said. VanOcker said Bethesda Project is an organization that recognizes and provides family for individuals who are often ignored in society. VanOcker learned to knit with the help of a shelter guest
“The dignity and respect that each and every guest and resident receives is what resonates most with me,” she said. “These are valuable, caring and loving people that are generally judged, avoided and swept under the carpet.”
When she isn’t volunteering, VanOcker is busy being a part-time lifeguard at the Upper Main Line YMCA and training for triathlons. She also enjoys watching and supporting the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers “no matter what their record is like.” VanOcker considers Bethesda Project staff and fellow volunteers to be her mentors and said Bethesda Project is all about how to love unconditionally. “[It’s] the real deal of loving the abandoned poor of Philadelphia—the people no one else wants,” she said. “They are not just talk—Bethesda Project is action.” As an avid volunteer herself, VanOcker encourages others to volunteer for the organization. “We all have gifts and talents to use for the benefit of others. We can’t do everything but we can all do something,” she said.
VanOcker at a Half Ironman event
VanOcker said things like knitting scarves, cooking casseroles, donating needed items or even financial assistance can all provide help to Bethesda Project. “Everything matters when you help make another life better,” she said. However, for VanOcker, Bethesda Project helped make her life better. “When I first came to Bethesda Project, I was struggling with the circumstances of life. I had little serenity or joy,” she said. “When I look back now, almost 10 years later, I truly believe that it was the guests, residents, and staff of Bethesda Project that taught me how to be the woman God intended me to be.”
FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIFE Thank you once again to the students, staff and parents at Malvern Prep for supporting Bethesda Project through their Empty Bowls program! The students, with some help from Bethesda Project residents, spend months handcrafting beautiful bowls which -- being empty -- become the metaphor for people who are literally hungry. These bowls are the centerpiece for this event. A simple meal of homemade soups and bread is provided.
This year, we were lucky to be able to attend this wonderful event with some of our shelter guests. Thank you to all who made this possible!
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1630 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 Tel: (215) 985-1600 Fax: (215) 732-8214 www.bethesdaproject.org