2015 ccs annual dinner recognizes service to others

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Catholic Charities of Steuben Recognizes Service to Others at Annual Dinner BATH, NY – Catholic Charities of Steuben (CCS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Annual Awards.

Each year CCS recognizes individuals or organizations in Steuben County for outstanding commitment to the agency, its mission, and the programs that combine to advance the mission, including Kinship Family and Youth, Substance Free Living, and Turning Point. Recipients were recognized at a dinner held Wednesday, October 21 at Bath Country Club’s May Street Restaurant with nearly 100 people in attendance, including Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-C-I) who presented official proclamations from both Senator Tom O’Mara (R) and himself to the award winners. Awards included the Friends of Catholic Charities Award, the William and Dorothy Belknap Award, the Barbara Fairbanks Award, the Works of Love Award, the Spirit of Turning Point Award, the Andy Mazzella Compassion Award, the Golden Shoe Award, and the Robert Turissini Award.

The highest community honor, the Friends of Catholic Charities Award, recognizes an individual or organization who has helped CCS achieve its mission to build communities that care for all people by strengthening and enriching the quality of life for individuals, families and children; working to reduce poverty; and advocating for social justice. This year the honor went to Thomas Jack of Cameron Mills, NY. Mr. Jack completed his St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry’s pastoral formation placement with CCS in 2013. During that period he helped to schedule speakers with local churches in order to educate the faith community on the work of Catholic Charities. He also became very involved with the Steuben County Bridges Out of Poverty Coalition, serving on their Getting Ahead work group, and he worked directly with Getting Ahead program graduates to help them obtain jobs, build resources, and make sure they had the necessary supports to move out of poverty. Very recently, he took over leadership of a local ministry called Joseph’s Hammer, which engages volunteers with construction and building experience in building ramps to make homes accessible for disabled elderly and lower income families. In presenting the award, CCS Executive Director Laura Opelt said, “Thomas is a very effective and compassionate volunteer. What he does and what he says comes from the heart. He lives his life as a ministry, using whatever gifts have been given him to serve God and the needs of other.”

The William and Dorothy Belknap Award was established to honor this couple who saw a need in the Bath community for youth services and activities and took the initiative to start the Bath Area Hope for Youth organization. The award recognizes an individual or organization who has, through their efforts and dedication, promoted providing Substance Free Living Prevention Services to youth, families, and communities. This year’s award went to the Addison Youth Center and Staff. The Addison Youth Center has collaborated for numerous years with Steuben Council on Addictions to enhance character education for students in grades K-12. Prevention Services Director Jim Bassage presented the award, stating, “It is an honor to work with Youth Center Director Emily Hofelich-Bowler, Coordinators Phyllis Grist, Michelle Madigan, Amanda Stuart, Lynn Grabowski, and Julie Clark, and the many talented staff members… They exemplify the idea of working with youth and encouraging growth and success in life in their dedication to the youth of the

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Addison community and school district and their ongoing support of the mission of Steuben Council on Addictions.”

The Barbara Fairbanks Award honors the memory of this woman who worked hard to enrich the lives of children through her service on the Kinship Board of Directors, the Kinship Advisory Board, and many other boards throughout the community. The award recognizes an individual or organization who exemplifies a strong commitment to advocating for the children of Steuben County through their support of one of the Kinship Family and Youth programs. This year’s recipient was Milly's Corner in Hornell, NY. Milly’s Corner is an initiative started several years ago by CCS’s own Kim RobardsSmith’s mother-in-law, Milly, who began knitting and crocheting hats and booties for families with young children participating in Kinship Family and Youth programs. Her talents not only filled a corner in the Kinship Administration Building, at 6251 County Route 64 in Hornell, but also a corner in the lives of the many families who received her gifts.

Since Milly’s passing, the whole Smith family has done their part to keep Milly’s Corner filled as a loving tribute to her memory. The items given have expanded to include stuffed animals with custom crocheted apparel, blankets, purses, backpacks filled with supplies, scarves, headbands, and special treats for the holidays. Kinship Family and Youth Director Lisa Galatio presented the award, saying “These donations are made with love, arrive by the box loads, and often include messages of faith. It is obvious in interactions with the Smith family that they keep the programs of Kinship in their hearts throughout the year and are very thoughtful as they choose their projects. They keep in mind what might comfort a small foster child on their first night in a new home, what things a teenage girl might need for her very own, or what a mother might need to keep her child warm.” In attendance to accept the award were Milly's son Mike Smith, along with his father, Brad Smith, and sister, Kathy Nerau.

The Works of Love Award recognizes the extraordinary effort of a member of the Steuben County faith community who collaborates with CCS to act on social justice issues and serve the most vulnerable in our community, advancing the mission of the organization through various works of love. This year’s award went to Kacey Blaney of Jasper, NY. In 2014, as a volunteer new to the area and new to CCS, she took on the responsibility of a leadership role in the agency’s largest fundraising event, the Steps to End Poverty Walk. This event supports CCS’ Turning Point programs, which, through its locations in Bath, Corning, and Hornell, focuses on lifting the most vulnerable in Steuben County out of poverty. Largely due to her efforts, the event was able to raise more than $10,500 for Turning Point programs in the Hornell area, exceeding both goals and expectations. CCS’ Fundraising/Communications Director Paula Smith presented the award saying, “Kacey’s efforts truly must have been a labor of love, for as a volunteer, no other motivation than love could have carried her through the months of hard work that is organizing a Steps to End Poverty Walk and made her as successful as she was. I’m glad to have this opportunity to toot Kacey’s horn as she would not dream of tooting it herself; it’s just not in her nature.”

The Spirit of Turning Point Award recognizes a volunteer whose contribution helps to advance the work of Turning Point, either through advocacy, education, building relationships, developing resources, or increasing capacity. This year, CCS chose to honor Chloe Makarick of Hammondsport, NY. CCS Turning Point Bath Site Coordinator Tess McKinley presented

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the award saying, “Chloe has made a significant impact on Turning Point through her creativity, positive attitude, many talents and hard work. She first came to Turning Point as an AmeriCorps member and right away, we knew we had a gifted and dedicated person in our midst. She has left her mark on our office in the information, art, and displays that we see every day at Turning Point. She also left a warm feeling in our hearts with her positive attitude, kind personality, and her willingness to always help out the team. While we have a “Chloe size hole” on our team, we were so fortunate to have her for the time we did.”

The Andy Mazzella Compassion Award was established in honor of Andy Mazzella, who has dedicated many years of service to Catholic Charities as both a volunteer and a paid staff member, working with deeply felt compassion to assist low income families in our community who are struggling. This award is intended to give special recognition to those individuals in CCS or in the Steuben County community who have given selflessly of themselves to improve the human condition of others. This year, the award went to Turning Point’s Nutritional Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) Coordinator Michelle Schaffer of Bath, NY. Through NOEP, Schaffer helps Turning Point clients access the federal SNAP program benefits formerly known as Food Stamps. CCS Executive Director Laura Opelt presented the award saying, “Michelle is effective at what she does because she helps people see a better future for themselves. She finds the positives that are going on in a person’s life and she gives examples and supports to build their self-confidence and a sense of hope. She goes beyond her own job and makes sure that her clients are connected with others in the community who can help. Michelle is an inspiration to those she serves as well as those she works with, and is most deserving of the Andy Mazzella Compassion Award.”

The Golden Shoe Award recognizes the walker who raised the most funds for our annual Steps to End Poverty Walk. The walk takes place in May in Bath, Corning, and Hornell. This year, walkers were able to raise $33,000 to assist families in need. Just as importantly, the event also helps to raise awareness in our community about poverty in Steuben County. This year’s Golden Shoe Award recipient was Betty Hess of Hornell, NY, who single-handedly raised nearly $2,000. CCS Executive Director Laura Opelt presented the award saying, “Those of you who know Betty understand that she has great passion for helping people in need, in her community. For the six years that we have given this award, Betty has raised the most three times, the second highest amount twice, and the third highest amount once. In total, Betty has raised more than $10,300 to help fight poverty. We are truly blessed to have Betty’s help and support of the important work we do!”

The Robert Turissini Award for Extraordinary Service was established by the CCS Board of Directors as a special way to honor outstanding employees. Bob Turissini was instrumental in establishing Catholic Charities of Steuben. His dedicated service and leadership as the first Chairman of CCS’s Board of Directors guided the agency from its creation in 1997 and brought it to its respected level today. This year’s recipient was Quay Wells of Corning, NY. Wells has worked for CCS’ Healthy Families Steuben program for nine years, offering support and education to new parents on healthy habits, child development, breast feeding, and positive parenting techniques. As a testament to her extraordinary service, this year she helped coordinate the making and distribution of 200 cupcakes to community partners throughout the county as part of

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Healthy Families Steuben’s 20th Anniversary celebration. She also created the invitations for the picnic which was held for families of the program this July. She is also very connected within her community and gives her time and talent in many ways. She is a member of the Steuben County Breastfeeding Coalition and was instrumental in initiating a Baby Café in the Bath area. This Café serves as a weekly support group for nursing mothers and their families. In addition, she gives her time to the Addison Food Pantry, has served as a fundraising committee member for the Addison Youth Center, has been a “running buddy” for participants of Girls on the Run of the Southern Tier, and is involved in the Innovative Approaches to Literacy initiative, helping to coordinate, plan, and implement activities for families in the Addison area. In presenting the award, CCS Executive Director Laura Opelt said, “Quay is described by colleagues as a valuable, dependable, dedicated team member who is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure quality services are provided to program participants. She provides service in a caring, confident, gentle, reassuring, and supportive manner. As an active team member, she shares her skills, knowledge, and passion for the program with other staff, and she sets an example of collaboration and cooperation in her work with community partners. She serves the program and agency with compassion, grace, integrity and with an unfaltering commitment to positively enhance the lives of those with whom she comes into contact.”

CCS’ mission is to build communities that care for all people by strengthening and enriching the quality of life for individuals, families, and children; working to reduce poverty; and advocating for social justice. For more information, please contact CCS Fundraising/Communications Director Paula Smith at 607-776-8085 x2218 or paulasmith@dor.org.