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October 2026

Y e a r s o f S e rv i c e

We’re so glad to be providing you updates on all the wonderful things happening at St. Catherine’s Center for Children – all of which are made possible through “Friends of St. Catherine’s” – like you! Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy our newsletter!

Kids’ Corner R & E May School We would like to extend a very special thank you to Virginia Touhey and Kathy Simmonds for their generous donation that paid for the transformative paint job throughout the entire building of our R & E May School! Our hallways and classrooms have been painted, we have new wall art, a brand new mural is nearing completion in our cafeteria, and our staff has a new faculty lounge! Thanks to their genorosity, students and teachers can step into a refreshed space that inspires learning.

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Event Recap 8th Annual Dr. Arthur J. Wallingford Memorial Golf Tournament A huge thank you to all of our golfers, volunteers, and sponsors who helped make the 8th Annual Dr. Arthur J. Wallingford Memorial Golf Tournament a success! We had an incredible day filled with beautiful weather, fun games, great company, and plenty of time on the green. Coming in first place (gross score) was Chris Farrell, JT Gebhardt, Andrew Kemp, and Molly Russell, and (net score) David Schrepper, Scott McLaughlin, Asaf Elkayam, and Wayne Jones. Jane Balander and Randy Moore III won Longest Drive, and Jane Balander and Andrew Kemp won Closest to the Pin. Participation in fundraisers such as these support 20+ programs which provide critical services to children, families and adults throughout the Captial Region and beyond. A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Sirco Family Foundation, for their incredible support and for helping make this day possible.

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Volunteer Spotlight Back to School Drive Our annual Back to School Drive was a huge success this year! Thanks to community partners who donated and volunteered their time, we were able to distribute a total of 525 filled backpacks! We extend our gratitude to Community Based Services, The Bonadio Group, and Capital Region Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network for their help organizing school supplies and filling hundreds of backpacks for children in need throughout our programs. We would also like to thank our generous donors, including: Capital District YMCA Guilderland Branch, Kelli Arnold, Chuck & Michele O’Hare, David Sersen, Fred Scarano, Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, NYS Troopers - Troop G - Traffic Services Division, and R. James & Marianne Hicks.

Pursuit Volunteers at Marillac Thank you to our friends from Pursuit for partnering with St. Catherine’s again for their annual Day of Service! Volunteers spent the day weeding, raking, and planting mums in front of our Marillac Family Shelter. Thanks to our volunteers, families who live in our emergency shelter came back to a place that not only provides housing, but beauty too. To learn more about how you can get involved, click below!

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Upcoming Events SAVE-THE-DATE! ELVIS AND BUDDY: WHEN LEGENDS MEET

NOV. 21 THE EGG ALBANY Tickets and sponsorships available now!

Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet It has never been easier to make a difference in the lives of children, families, and adults in our community who are in need. These individuals suffer from the lasting effects of abuse, neglect, family instability, homelessness, and other traumas. You can help by attending our fundraiser, “Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet” happening at The Egg, November 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet features Buffalo native Nathan Pittorf as Buddy Holly. Performing the memorable songs that rocketed Holly to fame before his untimely death at the age of 21, Nathan brings a decade of stage experience to his high-energy tribute to Holly. Dan Fontaine — New England’s premier Elvis tribute artist — will follow with his award-winning tribute to the King, performing some of Elvis’s most popular hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s. With a vocal range that covers three octaves, Dan is recognized as one of the best vocalists in the world of Elvis entertainers. Backed by The Memphis Sun Mafia — gifted musicians who faithfully recreate the King’s extensive catalog of hits — Dan’s show will entertain and delight audiences young and old. Albany native and special guest Luke Barnhart will open the show with some of the early songs that helped Elvis launch the Rock & Roll revolution. Elvis and Buddy will not only entertain you, but will also remind you why these two groundbreaking artists were inaugural members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All proceeds from this event directly benefit the programs and services provided by the agency, serving 10 regions, 37 counties and 54 school districts across New York state. Tickets are available to purchase! Scan the QR Code or click the button below!

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PURCHASE TICKETS

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Ways to Give Y e a r s o f S erv i c e

Thanksgiving Food Drive hELP THOSE IN NEED THIS SEASON

Hope for the Holidays As the holidays approach, we are frequently reminded how a simple act of kindness can change a family’s life. One year, a young man and his family were experiencing homelessness and living in a hotel. The holidays brought added worries to how they would provide a Thanksgiving meal or create a special Christmas for their children. Because of the generosity of our donors and community partners, we were able to provide the family with a complete Thanksgiving meal, and at Christmas, a tree, gifts for the children, and food for the family. What may seem like a simple donation meant so much more to this family. It gave them the opportunity to sit down together for a holiday meal, experience the excitement of Christmas and, for a little while, set aside some of the challenges they were facing. For this family, knowing that people in his community cared about them provided hope during an extraordinarily difficult time. Last year St. Catherine’s was able to help nearly 600 individuals through our Thanksgiving Food Drive and over 3,000 children and adults through the Hope for the Holidays program. While these numbers are impressive, behind each one of them is a real life that was changed for the better. Hope for the Holidays is a chance to give back to those who need it the most. For more information about how you can help through donating or volunteering your time, e-mail doneal@st-cath.org or mpuleoohare@st-cath.org.

ITEMS NEEDED:

PLEASE DROP OFF ITEMS BY NOV. 16TH AT: 40 N. Main Ave. Albany, NY 12203

TO SCHEDULE A DROP OFF: E-mail doneal@st-cath.org or mpuleoohare@st-cath.org

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Program Spotlight Copson House Mural Thanks in part to a $2,040 grant from the Panichi Family Charitable Foundation, Muralist Ramiro Davaro-Comas and Ali Howard Roland, MSEd, worked with children and staff to create wall murals in the entrance of Copson House, a group residence within our Residential Program. Through this special arts and wellness project, the two artists collaborated with children to bring their sketches to life. The process began with children drawing their favorite animals and foods. Their drawings were then scanned, enlarged, and traced onto the wall. Not only did children at Copson House play a pivotal role in designing the mural, they also helped paint it over the course of two days. The bright new entrance way serves as a reminder to all who come through the doors that the home is a place of joy, belonging, and community. Creative outlets such as these provide children with paths for trauma recovery, develop calming techniques, and nurture essential healthy coping skills. St. Catherine’s Center for Children’s Residential Program serves children, ages five to 13, who have been removed from the care of their parents or legal guardians and require 24-hour supervised care in a therapeutic environment.

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Donate to a holiday tree starting Nov. 17 Contact our Foundation Office at (518) 414-0454 | doneal@st-cath.org or (518) 410-5941 | mpuleoohare@st-cath.org

• Clothing

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• Food • Toys • Household Items • Essentials

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Donations SCCC Care-a-Van Wrap Virginia Touhey and Kathy Simmonds generously donated funds for our Care-AVan to get a fresh new wrap! The mobile unit sets up on the streets, in parking lots, and wherever needed to reach vulnerable individuals, homeless populations, and families who might not seek out traditional healthcare or social services. Through street outreach, staff use the van to distribute water, food, hygiene supplies, and basic clothing to those in need. Staff also help connect individuals with primary care doctors, health resources, and provide transportation to medical appointments. To learn more about how you can support us, click the button below!

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Board of Directors & Administration We would like to thank the Board of Directors at St. Catherine’s. With a shared dedication to our mission, they drive us towards excellence and innovation.

Officers

Members-at-Large

Most Reverend Mark O’Connell Chairman Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

George Borum, Ph.D Schenectady Scholars Charter School

Very Reverend Robert P. Longobucco Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

Jim Carr Hinman Straub

Stephanie Piel, Esq. Hinman Straub

Julie Chasney Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Sarah Savago Healthy Alliance

Jill M Czerniak Saratoga County

Sister J. Elizabeth Van Deusen, CSJ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany

Gigi Felch, PMP, MBA Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York

Administration

Amy Kramer President New York Credit Union Association Richard Y. Chasney, Esq. Vice President Hinman Straub Attorneys at Law David S. Ensminger Treasurer NBT Bank Mark Vinciguerra Secretary Capital Region Independent Media

Thomas Gatto Ostroff Associates

Kevin Doherty Executive Director, Agency Michele Puleo O’Hare Executive Director, Foundation