2023 Spring - Catholic Charities Connections Newsletter

Seeds for Success planting a brighter future

The impact of Norman Warminski’s estate gift to Catholic Charities continues to grow three years after it funded the Seeds for Success initiative for clients of St. Anthony Family Shelter.

Seeds for Success is an employment initiative that connects clients in need of jobs with local employer partners in need of workers. The goal is to help clients become self-sufficient and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families by identifying and removing barriers to employment.

Michelle Vishnefske, employment case manager, reports that more than 200 adults have been served through the initiative since it began in 2020. She says that while each person’s needs are unique, there are several common barriers for people to overcome.

“Many of the people we serve have misplaced or never had the identification documents that they need for employment, so that is often the first barrier to overcome,” Michelle says. “Many

struggle to find reliable transportation or childcare that allows them to consistently get to work.”

Funds from the estate gift, and additional grant dollars Catholic Charities has received, are used to help remove those barriers. In addition, funds are used to help clients with purchasing appropriate clothing for interviews and required items for the job sites, such as work boots.

Seeds for Success provides more than funds to remove barriers. Michelle says the program also helps clients build the soft skills needed to create resumes, perform well in interviews and be successful in the workplace. This happens through coaching on communication skills and conflict resolution, along with mock interviews and referrals to community partners for longterm employment and educational goals. Clients also participate in personal development small group activities and workshops.

The love of Jesus at the heart of all we do

By Traci Kennedy, Executive Director of Catholic Charities L

et me begin by thanking board members, staff and donors for the extremely warm welcome that I have received since joining Catholic Charities as executive director on Feb 1.

We all know that a transition from one leader to another can sometimes be awkward and challenging. That was certainly not the case at Catholic Charities where retiring executive director Wendy Glick supported me for 60 days. Wendy generously shared her knowledge and experience with me, creating an environment for me to ask a myriad of questions as I attempted to absorb all that she had to offer.

Continues inside. Continues inside.

Daphne, Seeds for Success client and Michelle Vishnefski, employment case manager

The love of Jesus at the heart of all we do

I appreciated the comprehensive onboarding plan that she developed for me, and the many introductions she made with key leaders and community partners. Even today, I know that Wendy is just a phone call or email away should I have a question. For that I am truly grateful.

During my first 90 days in this new role, I gained so much perspective and came to understand how truly blessed our community is to have Catholic Charities as one of its longest-serving, faith-based community impact organizations. I also realized that Catholic Charities is blessed with wonderful donors who support our organization in tremendous ways. It was my honor to meet many of them at our annual Night of Joy gratitude gala at the beginning of March, and to be able to personally thank them for gifts which allow us to serve those on the margins of our society.

I have been visiting the ministries of Catholic Charities, getting to know the staff and understand the work that they do to serve those most in need in our community. I also have been learning about the growing number of people reaching out for assistance. Overwhelming societal pressures and a cost of living that is skyrocketing is causing an ever-increasing need for services that we anticipate will only get worse with time.

Your continued gifts to Catholic Charities, no matter the size, will have an impact on our ability to continue to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and abused, and enrich the lives of the lonely, disabled, and so many others.

We are all called to be disciples of Christ and to love like Jesus. I pray God instills in us the ability to universally love as did His Son so that we may provide those in most need the comfort and peace of His presence.

Gratefully,

Planting a brighter future

Partnerships with local employers and the Wichita Workforce Center are essential to Seeds for Success, Michelle says.

“As we help our clients become employment ready, we look to our employer partners for available jobs,” Michelle says. “Because our clients have a variety of experiences and skill sets, it is ideal for us to have a wide variety of employer partners.”

Not only do employer partners have access to potential employees, they benefit from Seeds for Success through the case management and support that Michelle continues to provide her clients after they begin work. She assists with communications between the employee and employer, and continues to work with the client on developing the soft skills needed for long-term success.

Employer Partners Needed:

To learn more about becoming a Seeds for Success employer partner, call Michelle at 316-264-7233, ext. 4124, or email her at mvishnefske@ CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.

Casanova helping connect families with select services

As Catholic Charities’ new marketing manager for outreach, Chryseis Casanova is helping to raise awareness of and connect individuals, families and referral sources to Adult Day Services, Cana Counseling, Immigration Services and the Foster Grandparent Program.

Chryseis joined Catholic Charities in late January, bringing more than eight years of marketing experience at senior living communities.

“I was intrigued by the opportunity of representing Catholic Charities’ ministries in the community and the mission-driven meaning behind the organization,” says Chryseis, who also is managing the organization’s social media channels.

Chryseis is the single point of contact for families and guardians interested in learning more about Adult Day Services, which offers quality day programs for both adults 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and seniors age 55 and older who are experiencing dementia or Alzhemier’s.

She is available to give tours, visit one-on-one with case managers and families, and represent Adult Day Services and Catholic Charities at a variety of community events.

Connect with Chryseis at 316-264-8344, ext. 1215.

Most needed items:

Canned chicken, tuna, seafood and SPAM

Canned mixed fruit

Canned peas, carrots, spinach and mixed veggies

Soup, noodles and cereal

Summer food drives benefit Our Daily Bread Food Pantry

Soon children will be out of school for the summer, meaning Our Daily Bread Food Pantry will see an increase in the number of adults coming to the pantry for food to feed their families.

This occurs every summer, and at the same time Catholic Charities’ fiscal year is coming to a close and dollars are tight. The budget for Our Daily Bread, which can purchase deeply discounted items from the Kansas Food Bank, has been stretched thin this fiscal year as even the cost for discounted food items has increased due to inflation.

Friends create $100,000 matching fund to honor Glick's Legacy of Love

or 25 years, the Diocese of Wichita has been truly blessed to have Wendy Glick at the forefront of our collective efforts to care for the most vulnerable among us. This spring, close friends of Catholic Charities have pledged $100,000 in matching funds for a special appeal they hope will inspire others to recognize Wendy as she retires and further the work of Catholic Charities.

For 15 years, Wendy embodied the mission of Catholic Charities, leading staff and volunteers to share God’s love by caring for thousands of children and adults. She has truly left a legacy of love for all to emulate as Catholic Charities staff, donors and volunteers continue the important work to serve the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.

With her blessing, we are honoring Wendy’s leadership at Catholic Charities by establishing a special appeal to commemorate her retirement. The Legacy of Love appeal allows the community to say “thank you” to Wendy for her years of service in a way that will directly impact the clients who Catholic Charities will serve in the coming months.

Gifts made to the Legacy of Love appeal will benefit our Faithful Servant Fund, allowing us to focus on the most urgent needs within our ministries and the community in the areas of hunger and homelessness, domestic violence and enrichment services.

Your gift today will have double the impact as it will be matched thanks to the generosity of our lead donors. No matter the size of your gift, its impact will be doubled.

Please help us receive the entire $100,000 in matching funds. There are two ways to give:

Summer food drives are essential in helping Our Daily Bread keep its shelves stocked with most needed items.

If you are interested in hosting a non-perishable food drive at your church or workplace, with family or friends, or in your neighborhood, connect with Kenna Bell, development manager, at kbell@CatholicCharitiesWichita.org or by calling 316-264-8344, ext. 1262 She can provide a toolkit which will help you host a successful drive.

1. Send a check in the enclosed envelope, please note "Legacy of Love" in the memo

2. Make an online gift by visiting CCWLegacy.causevox.com.

Legacy Love of

“It is not how much you do. But how much you put into what you do that counts.”

HONORING WENDY GLICK’S LEADERSHIP OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Thirty years of leadership, Traci Kennedy, Melissa Grelinger, Janet Valente Pape, Mike Burrus and Wendy Glick.

of Night Joy T

A Gratitude Gala by Catholic Charities

Honorees set example by sharing time, treasure

he six individuals who were honored during the 2023 Night of Joy, A Gratitude Gala by Catholic Charities, share a common attribute: all believe in setting an example of giving to their children and grandchildren. They were honored as part of a Catholic Charities recognition program created to inspire both current and future donors alike to give of their time and treasure.

Presented to an outstanding volunteer or volunteers who embody what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the people that Catholic Charities serves.

Diane and Alan are two of the most familiar volunteer faces at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. Diane first began volunteering at the pantry in 2007. When Alan retired from The Coleman Company in 2012, Diane recruited him to help her run the commodities food distribution program.

Eleven years later, the couple is still responsible for organizing the twice monthly commodities day. Since 2013, Diane has logged more than 2,450 hours, including 318 hours in 2022. Combined with Alan’s 242 hours, the Bucks have a remarkable 560 hours of service, or about 11 hours a week, during 2022.

“At this stage in our lives our grandchildren and great-grandchildren are who we would like to inspire the most,” Diane shares. “We would like to instill in them the importance to treat all people the same and to give of their time to assist those in need.”

Alan, who missed Night of Joy due to illness, and Diane have been married 32 years. Their blended family includes four children, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They attend East Heights and West Heights United Methodist churches.

Allen and Colleen Harvey Servants of Hope Outstanding Philanthropists Award

Presented to outstanding donors who faithfully support the mission of Catholic Charities through their consistent giving.

Allen and Colleen Harvey are transplants to Kansas, having moved here from their native Tennessee in the mid-1990s. Although they did not grow up around Catholic Charities Wichita, Colleen’s mother set a powerful example by being involved with the Catholic Charities in Nashville for 60 years.

In 2013, the couple decided to begin making a monthly gift to Catholic Charities Wichita. Ten years and more than 120 gifts later, they are still supporting the work of Catholic Charities each month. Regular, recurring gifts help create a steady stream of revenue for the organization.

Colleen says it was important for them to get involved with the local Catholic Charities when they moved to Kansas.

“We like that our donations stay in Wichita to help people directly in our community, maybe even neighbors we don’t know need help,” she says. “We hope that through our own lives, we can inspire our children and grandchildren to continue generations of stewardship and a commitment to giving back to those in need.”

Allen and Coleen are long-time members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Haysville. Allen is a retired truck driver and Colleen a retired teacher.

Alan and Diane Buck Spirit of Joy Volunteer Award

Bart and Melissa Grelinger

Caritas Outstanding Philanthropists Award

Presented to outstanding donors who exemplify charity and Christian love of humankind demonstrated by giving to Catholic Charities for 20 or more years.

Bart and Melissa Grelinger are long-time members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church who have embraced the stewardship way of life. The couple returned to Wichita in 1992, and Bart founded his neurology practice and Melissa split her time between being a stay-at-home mom and a professional volunteer.

With her previous experience in finance and management, Catholic Charities has been fortunate to have Melissa serve in many capacities over the years, including volunteer, board member and even interim executive director. Most recently, she served as co-chair for the Blessing Families, Enriching Lives capital campaign for Adult Day Services and Catholic Charities.

The couple consider Melissa’s time on the board a life-changing experience as they learned so much about the great need for services within the community and all the ways the many ministries of Catholic Charities help address those needs.

“Our Catholic faith is very important to us and guides most of our decisions,” Melissa says. “The footprint of Catholic Charities is far-reaching in our community and shares many of our goals. We have been particularly moved by the children whose lives are enriched by Catholic Charities.

“As individuals, we cannot have the impact Catholic Charities does as an organization,” she continues. “We truly believe that everything we have is the result of God’s blessings and we try not to take that for granted. Now, we hope to inspire our children and grandchildren to live a life that includes serving others and doing it with joy.”

What is Night of Joy?

Night of Joy is Catholic Charities’ new gratitude gala and serves as a culmination event to recognize those who donated the previous year. In just its second year in 2023, Night of Joy is quickly becoming one of the “must attend” annual galas in the Wichita community. More than 300 people gathered at Prairie Hill Vineyard in Colwich March 4 for an evening of food, entertainment, fellowship and giving.

Guests enjoyed a plated dinner with wine pairings, bourbon crawl, entertainment by local artists and musicians, and a ceremonial transition of leadership from Wendy Glick to new executive director Traci Kennedy.

Catholic Charities created Night of Joy as a culmination event of a yearly giving cycle, allowing us to show gratitude to those who made significant contributions of treasure and time during that cycle. The evening also offers attendees an opportunity to renew their support for the organization. Night of Joy is not an event for which people can purchase tickets to attend; rather, attendance at Night of Joy is by invitation only.

To learn more about Night of Joy in 2024, contact Lindsi Bachman (ext. 1222) or Kenna Bell (ext. 1262) at 316-264-8344.

SAVE

2024

April 13, 2024

Prairie Hill Vineyard, Colwich

Rogan takes citizenship oath after decades-long wait A

fter 56 years of keeping up with her immigration paperwork and with the encouragement of her Catholic Charities case worker, Gabriele Rogan decided it was time to become a United States citizen.

Once that decision was made, the process involved many sessions with Carmen Velazquez of Immigration Services at Catholic Charities, and a transportation plan executed with military precision and the help of a Knight.

Gabriele was born in Germany; her mother was German and her father was an American military service member stationed there. Sadly, her biological father did not stay in her life for long. It was her “fantastic” stepfather, who also was a U.S. service man, who brought Gabriele and her mother to the United States when she was 12 years old.

The family first settled in Detroit, leaving Michigan when they were transferred to Fort Riley. When her stepfather was deployed to Vietnam, she and her mother returned to Detroit. When he came home from Vietnam, his future tours bounced the family back and forth between Fort Riley and Germany.

Gabriele started her own family at the young age of 18, having a son and daughter with her own soldier. The family settled in Texas, and she began a life-long career as a cook.

In 2001, her son moved from Texas to Salina. Her daughter soon followed, then Gabriele’s mother joined her grandchildren in Salina. Left all alone in Texas, Gabriele said she did not have much of a choice: if she wanted to see her family, she needed to relocate to Salina, too. So she did.

When she reached out to Immigration Services at Catholic Charities to assist with renewing her green card, Carmen suggested that Gabrielle could eliminate the need for

Did you know?

1960s-1970s

future green cards by applying for U.S. citizenship.

“Carmen was wonderful, and was very helpful,” Gabriele says of the process that took a couple of years. “I answered more questions on the test than I thought I would.”

With the day of her swearing in ceremony fast approaching, a transportation issue arose. No one in Gabriele’s family was available to drive her from Salina to Wichita. Carmen jumped into action and sought help from the Catholic Charities volunteer coordinator, Tiffany Oltjenbruns.

A few members of the Knights of Columbus had recently formed a pool of volunteer drivers to help with ongoing transportation needs of veterans served through Supportive Services for Veteran Families at Catholic Charities. Tiffany contacted Pat Winter to see if he would be willing to help get Gabriele to Wichita. His answer was “yes.”

Before dawn on March 24, Pat stopped at one of Catholic Charities’ shelters to pick up an agency vehicle, drove to Salina to pick up Gabriele, and had her at WSU’s Hughes Metroplex as the doors opened at 9 a.m. for the future citizens to check in.

“We had a nice ride; good conversation,” Gabriele says. “He was very likeable; I enjoyed riding with him.” Before the ceremony, Gabriele shares “I have butterflies in my stomach. I haven’t had those in a long time."

After joining Gabriele for the ceremony, Carmen drove the newest U.S. citizen back to her home in Salina.

In 1960, the agency received $43,704 from the United Fund of Wichita and Sedgwick County.

The Downtown Center for Older Adults, known today as Adult Day Services, opened in 1975 in the old Cathedral High School Building, which is now the St. Joseph Pastoral Center. It opened with 18 clients. Two years later, in 1977, a second location with 26 clients opened at the Claver Community Center.

Gabriele Rogan, Immigration Services client, and Pat Winter, Catholic Charities volunteer.

Easy ways to support Catholic Charities

Shop at Dillons to help Our Daily Bread

Register your Dillons reward card in the grocer’s Community Rewards Program and designate Catholic Charities, Inc., Wichita (Code XT082) to receive a rebate based on your purchase.

The monies received through this program help Our Daily Bread Food Pantry purchase needed food items. Currently, about 100 people have registered their cards in support of Catholic Charities, so there is room to grow. Visit Dillons.com to get started.

Know the benefits of giving through a Qualified Charitable Distribution

By Lindsi Bachman, Director of Development

s we were processing year-end gifts, I was thrilled to see that so many people had chosen Catholic Charities Wichita as a beneficiary of their qualified charitable distribution from their individual retirement accounts.

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) through one’s individual retirement account (IRA) is a beneficial way for those who are 70-and-one-half years or older to give to Catholic Charities.

What is an IRA QCD?

An IRA QCD is a distribution from your individual retirement account to a qualified charity, such as Catholic Charities. You must be at least 70-and-one-half years or older to make such a distribution. There are a few added bonuses for giving in this way:

You are normally required to pay taxes on distributions you receive through your IRA, whereas, these distributions are tax-free if given to an eligible charitable organization, such as, Catholic Charities.

For those over the age of 72, QCDs count toward one’s required minimum distributions for the respective year.

How do I make a qualified charitable distribution from my IRA for 2023?

To make a QCD for 2023, consult your tax advisor and contact your IRA custodian. Together, they will work with you to determine what distribution is best for you, and how to complete the transaction.

If this is an option for you, we hope you will consider designating your charitable distribution to the Faithful Servant Fund at Catholic Charities. The Faithful Servant Fund allows us the greatest flexibility to meet the most urgent needs within our ministries and the community in the priority areas of hunger & homelessness, domestic violence and enrichment services. You also can specify that your dollars go toward a specific Catholic Charities’ ministry. Either way your gift will go far in helping us serve the most vulnerable in our community.

If you would like to discuss how Catholic Charities can work with you to help meet your philanthropic goals for the year, please contact me, Lindsi Bachman, at 316-264-8344, ext. 1222.

How Qualified Charitable Distribution Works

TRACI KENNEDY

Executive Director

LINDSI BACHMAN

Director of Development

MARY BETH CHAMBERS

Marketing and Communications Director

CatholicCharitiesWichita.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christopher J. Goebel, Chair Star Lumber & Supply Co., Inc.

Andy Buessing, Vice Chair Hutton

Rev. Daryl Befort Diocese of Wichita, St. Joseph Parish, Andale

Scott Bergkamp Bergkamp Construction

Monte Cook Commerce Bank

Deborah Gladney WorkTorch

Julian Guerra Aerospace Consultant/Advisor

Missy Hampel Ascension Via Christi Hospitals

Stephen Hayes 5Point Ventures, LLC

Mary Alice Johnson Community Volunteer

Brian Kaiser Flint Hills Resources

Most Rev. Carl A. Kemme, D.D. Bishop of Wichita

Rev. David Lies

Diocese of Wichita, Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia

Chuck Marshall Community Volunteer

Kevin Mitchelson

Wheeler & Mitchelson, Chartered

Marcos Montemayor AM Law, LLC

Kevin Mullen Ritchie Associates, Inc.

Stacie Myers

Wichita Business Journal

Louis J. Antonelli was the first official director of the agecny, and served throughout all of the 1960s and 1970s. Matter of fact, his leadership with Catholic Charities began in 1951 and concluded 37 years later in 1988.

Buddy Shannon Tree Top Nursery

Carol Streckfus

Cohlmia Marketing

Sr. Marsha Wilson, ASC

Adorers of the Blood of Christ

ST. JOSEPH PASTORAL CENTER

437 N. Topeka Street Wichita, KS 67202-2413

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

CatholicCharitiesWichita.org

(316) 264-8344

Catholic Charities infuses faith into our community through the care it shows all people

happening in the Catholic Charities ministries! 80

Ministry Corner

Here

The St. Anthony Family Shelter team enjoys some baby goat therapy, a great stress reliever for our hard-working staff who spend their days helping homeless families overcome barriers to sustainable housing.

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) team is going to get noticed wherever they go. They are now more visible as they travel throughout the Diocese's 25 counties serving homeless veteran families.

Adult Day Services celebrates disabilities awareness in their unique way.