MercyFirst Angel of Hope Journal - 2024

Angel of Hope Gala MISSION HONOREE

SISTER SEAN FOLEY, RSM C O R P O R AT E H O N O R E E

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 6:00pm RAINBOW ROOM ro c k e f e l l e r c e n t e r

CONGR ATU L ATIO N S 2024 ANGEL OF HOPE HONOREES FOR 130 YEARS, MercyFirst has been inspiring hope and promoting healing for children and families in need. Join us in recognition of this significant milestone as we celebrate our 2024 ANGEL OF HOPE HONOREES and renew our commitment to helping at-risk individuals overcome enormous obstacles and reimagine their futures!

MISSION HONOREE SISTER SEAN FOLEY, a Sister of Mercy for 65 years, has dedicated her life to improving the lives of families and vulnerable children. As a former CEO of MercyFirst (then known as St. Mary's Children and Family Services), Sister Sean helped transform the landscape of a small orphanage into a multi-service human services agency that met the needs of young people in changing social environments. Her leadership led to the creation of innovative programs, increased funding, and the expansion of facilities. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, she has left an indelible mark on service delivery to at-risk youth in New York City and on Long island.

CORPOR ATE HONOREE VANCORD is a New Englandbased Information Technology and Cyber Security company and valued partner to MercyFirst. Their ongoing generous financial support of the agency help funds our life-changing programs and services designed to help children, youth and families succeed and realize a brighter future. In addition to the firm’s vital donations to MercyFirst, Vancord collaborates with the agency to support its infrastructure and data security needs, ensuring security for optimal operations and our peace of mind. Learn more at www.vancord.com.

Dear Friends: Welcome to MercyFirst’s 2024 Angel of Hope Gala, a celebration of 130 merciful years of inspiring hope and promoting healing for children and families in need. This year, MercyFirst’s signature fundraiser will recognize this historic milestone and celebrate the commitment and partnerships of our esteemed honorees, Sister Sean Foley, RSM, and Vancord.

Sister Sean Foley, RSM, a passionate advocate for children and families in need, is this year’s 2024 Mission Honoree. Sr. Sean selflessly served MercyFirst, then known as St. Mary’s Children and Family Services, for 25 years in the capacities of child care worker, social worker and eventually rising to become its Executive Director, a position she held from 1978 until 1992. During her tenure at the agency’s helm, she partnered with the Sisters of Mercy and the Board to expand the agency into a holistic childrens’ center to better serve the evolving needs of children and their families in the New York metropolitan area.

Tonight, we honor Sr. Sean for dedicating her life to improving the lives of society’s most vulnerable, and for helping make St. Mary’s a landmark facility in the field of child care.

Vancord, MercyFirst’s IT and cybersecurity service provider and a staunch supporter of our mission, is our 2024 Corporate Honoree. As a devoted ally of our life-affirming work, we selected Vancord as our Corporate Honoree this year because of their enduring commitment to the children and families in our care.

Their corporate partnership and generous financial support enables MercyFirst to do what we do best – serve children and families facing enormous obstacles. We are forever grateful to the impact Vancord has had on our efforts to care for thousands of struggling individuals so that they can have a stronger foundation for a better tomorrow.

As always, tonight is also about honoring our dedicated MercyFirst Staff who carry out our mission each and every day. They are the reason our mission has lived on for 130 years. We are ever appreciative of and grateful for their immeasurable contributions to this agency and for helping those we serve reimagine their futures.

Finally, a special thanks to our many friends without whose support we would not be able to keep at-risk families together, and ensure children are safe and given a real chance to thrive in life. As a community, each year we provide over 3,000 children and families in New York City and across Long Island with safe opportunities for hope and healing.

Please enjoy your evening and thank you again for being here to celebrate our 130th Anniversary!

With appreciation and gratitude, Renée & Paul

Renée Skolaski President & CEO MercyFirst

Paul Travers Chair, MercyFirst Fundraising Committee Board Chair Emeritus

MERCYFIRST’S community of care was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894 on the St. Mary’s campus in Syosset, NY, and has been serving children and families across the New York metropolitan area for 130 years.

AFTER MERGING with Angel Guardian Home in 2004, the agency increased its range of programs and expanded its reach to individuals with unique and complex needs throughout New York City and across Long Island.

TODAY, MercyFirst is a leading social service organization, providing a range of trauma-informed, family-focused and evidence- and strengths-based interventions to help struggling children and families build a foundation for a better tomorrow. Each year, MercyFirst provides more than 3,000 individuals across the communities we serve with opportunities for hope and healing.

· 130TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE·

Vancord is Proud to Support MercyFirst as the 2024 Corporate Honoree!

As a New England-based IT and cybersecurity provider, Vancord proudly supports MercyFirst's mission to bring hope and healing to children and families. Committed to giving back and securing a safer future, we prioritize your peace of mind through proactive protection.

Managed IT Services

Ransomware Protection

Learn more today at Vancord.com.

(855) 512-5817

Incident Response

· 130TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE ·

· 130TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREE·

Cybersecurity That Protects Your Business.

We are a New England-based IT and cybersecurity provider that works in collaboration with clients to support their infrastructure and data security needs for today and tomorrow. Our proactive approach prioritizes the security of your systems to provide peace of mind.

We are global defenders in a world where good wins.

Managed IT Services

Ransomware Protection

Learn more today at Vancord.com.

(855) 512-5817

Incident Response

· 130TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR ·

With great admiration and appreciation, we thank Sister Sean Foley and all the Sisters of Mercy along with the staff of MercyFirst for their passionate commitment to creating a life of hope for the most vulnerable children and families and we thank Vancord for their dedicated support of the

MercyFirst mission.

••• Photeine Anagnostopoulos and Jim Stynes

· 130TH ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR ·

· ANGEL GUARDIANS OF HOPE ·

Proudly Supports the

ANGEL

OF Hope GA L A

· ANGEL GUARDIANS OF HOPE ·

Smart decisions today.

Lasting value tomorrow. ™

Crowe proudly supports MercyFirst. crowe.com AUDIT / TAX / CONSULTING Visit www.crowe.com/disclosure for more information about Crowe LLP, its subsidiaries, and Crowe Global. © 2024 Crowe LLP. Audit2599-001R

· ANGEL GUARDIANS OF HOPE ·

CONGRATULATIONS! Ridgewood Savings Bank is proud to support Mercy First’s Angel of Hope Gala to benefit children and families in need.

With cutting-edge conveniences and a centurylong tradition of service, Ridgewood is the financial partner you can depend upon.

Experience the community banking difference.

ridgewoodbank.com © 2024 Ridgewood Savings Bank Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

· AMBASSADORS OF HOPE ·

Thank you to the staff of MercyFirst on your steadfast commitment to supporting youth and families in crisis! Your dedication and service make a significant difference!

Congratulations Sister Sean Foley & Vancord for your unwavering dedication and support of MercyFirst!

••• Mike and Liz Venuti

· AMBASSADORS OF HOPE ·

Jefferies is proud to support Mercy First’s Angel of Hope Gala

INVESTMENT BANKING / EQUITIES / FIXED INCOME ASSET MANAGEMENT / WEALTH MANAGEMENT © 2023 Jefferies LLC. Member SIPC.

· AMBASSADORS OF HOPE ·

Sisters of Mercy congratulates the 2024 Angel of Hope Honorees

Sister Sean Foley, RSM &

Vancord

· AMBASSADORS OF HOPE ·

MercyFirst — We’re proud to support you Bank of America is honored to support the Angel of Hope Gala that benefits children and families in need.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

©2022 Bank of America Corporation | MAP4117394 | ESG-297-AD

· SISTERS OF MERC Y SPONSORSHIP ·

Dedicated to Protecting Others USI proudly supports the MercyFirst Angel of Hope Gala and its mission to bring hope and healing to children and families in the community.

USI Insurance Services 333 Westchester Avenue | White Plains, NY 10604 914.459.6200 | www.usi.com Employee Benefits | Property & Casualty Personal Risk | Retirement Consulting ©2022 USI Insurance Services. All rights reserved.

· SISTERS OF MERC Y SPONSORSHIP ·

Congratulations and Many Thanks to Sr. Sean Foley and Vancord for their unwavering alliance and generous support to MercyFirst.

••• Richard Jay Warren P.C.

Compassion Respect Justice Excellence Hospitality Integrity “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”

- Catherine McAuley

On the 130th year of merciful service to children, women and families, we honor and celebrate the Sisters of Mercy and their unfailing commitment to Compassion, Excellence, Hospitality, Integrity, Justice and Respect.

Renée Skolaski and the MercyFirst Staff

Thank you to the staff at MercyFirst for their devotion to the Mission of MercyFirst!

••• Margaret and Paul Travers

Congratulations to my dear friend Sr. Sean Foley for her outstanding leadership of MercyFirst during her extraordinary tenure as CEO I also celebrate the memory of Jackie McKelvey, Chief Program Officer, who for over 40 years worked tirelessly to carry out the mission of MercyFirst for our children and families

••• Jerry McCaffery MercyFirst CEO 2006-2021

Thank you to the Sisters of Mercy and the staff of MercyFirst for your continued commitment to children and families in need.

•••

The May Family William, Emily, Molly, Liam, & David

Sycamore Tree Capital Partners is proud to sponsor

Angel OF HOPE Gala

And MercyFirst’s commitment to providing children and families a foundation for a better tomorrow.

Sycamore Tree Capital Partners is an asset management boutique specializing in alternative credit.

Sycamore Tree’s expertise includes bank loans, high yield bonds, structured credit and special situations. www.sycamorelp.com

Congratulations to 2024 Angel of Hope Mission Honoree

SR. SEAN FOLEY, RSM ••• From the Children, Families, Staff and Board of MercyFirst

Congratulations to 2024 Angel of Hope Corporate Honoree

••• From the Children, Families, Staff and Board of MercyFirst

Blessings and Congratulations, Sr. Sean, for your gifts of love, mercy, competence and compassion showered on the mercyfirst family for so many years!

We have all been blessed by your presence in our lives….

•••

With love, your friends and Sisters in Mercy: Mariette Schmidt, Betty Scanlon, Pat Hartigan & Mary McGrory

We proudly support the

MercyFirst Angel of Hope Gala and its mission to inspire hope and promote healing for the most vulnerable children and families in New York and across Long Island.

Focused on labor and employment law since 1958, our 1,000+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business.

©2024 Jackson Lewis P.C. Attorney Advertising • jacksonlewis.com

Well Wishers

••• David Bernstein Theodore Russell Blessings from the Sisters of Mercy, Bohemia, NY

are you a young professional looking to gain experience and give back?

Introducing MercyFirst’s Young Professionals Board.

Members of our “junior board” would have the opportunity to create, plan and participate in a variety of volunteer and awareness-raising activities, as well as plan and host fundraising events that support MercyFirst’s efforts to give struggling New Yorkers a chance at a brighter tomorrow.

Securing the next generation of volunteers is so very important and ensures that MercyFirst can continue to advance its mission for another 130 years (and beyond) and we hope you will consider joining us!

GIVE BACK.

GAIN

EXPERIENCE.

MAKE AN IMPACT.

Scan the QR Code to Learn More!

Silent Auction Sponsors

••• Sr. Margaret Dempsey, RSM Brian and Jill Hecker Paul & Margaret Travers Elizabeth & Michael Venuti Brookville Country Club GiftBaskets.com John W Engeman Theater At Northport Kendra Scott Let’s Roam NY Giants NY Jets NY Mets Tilles Center for the Performing Arts Top Golf Total Wine & More Rainbow Room

What is Planned Giving?

Creating your legacy through gift planning with MercyFirst will generate the financial resources necessary to support our agency as we address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in New York City (Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions.

Gift Planning offers you the opportunity to use financial, estate, investment, and philanthropic options to help meet your current philanthropic goals and extend your generosity well into the future.

Join the ranks of MercyFirst supporters who have committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our mission.

Ways to Make a Planned Gift GIFTS THROUGH YOUR ESTATE The most practical way to make significant gifts may be through your estate plan, by means of a will, living trust or a beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy or retirement account. Such gifts are wholly revocable while you are alive and may save significant taxes for your estate.

Please contact Kerri Sneden at 516.921.0808 x 1114 to learn more about the ways you can include MercyFirst in your estate plans.

FUNDR AISING COMMIT TEE Paul Travers, Chair Darcy Belyea Sr. Margaret Dempsey, RSM Keith Little Ken Male Kevin Shine

ABOUT MERCYFIRST: Rooted in a legacy of mercy spanning more than a century, MercyFirst inspires hope and promotes healing for the most vulnerable children and families in New York City and across Long Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894, today MercyFirst offers a range of innovative programs and service that provide stability and support and help individuals and communities thrive.

TO LEARN MORE, visit us at www.mercyfirst.org