A message from our CEO

Dear Friends,

Blessed Frederic Ozanam, founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, famously wrote: “I would like to embrace the whole world in a network of charity.” I know that in our small corner of the world, Frederic’s vision becomes a reality each day, through people like you.

Thanks to you, St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati touches the lives of people from every walk of life and in nearly every neighborhood across Greater Cincinnati. Thanks to you, our generous donors, dedicated volunteers and Vincentians, loyal thrift store shoppers, and many supporters from businesses, schools, churches and other organizations across the community, we were able to offer material, emotional and spiritual aid to tens of thousands of families in the past year. Thank you for being a critical part of who we are –neighbors helping neighbors!

In the following pages, you will meet Tanesha, a mom of four, who found help and hope at St. Vincent de Paul as she worked to stabilize her family’s financial situation. You will read about Jordan, a young man aging out of the foster care system, who received furniture and basic home goods as he set out on his own for the very first time. You will meet Penny, one of our steadfast volunteers, who helped ensure our pantry shelves were stocked as a record number of neighbors turned to us for help with food in the last year.

The stories you will read are only a small representation of the many lives that were transformed this year through St. Vincent de Paul. We are tremendously grateful for our network of supporters, who find infinitely inventive ways to provide relief, comfort and care to neighbors facing difficult and often devastating circumstances.

I know there is still so much more work to do, and quite frankly I am both excited and humbled to be at the helm for this next chapter for St. Vincent de Paul. In 2023, we will complete the fifth and final year of our Upward Together strategic plan. As we continue to work on creating our next plan, I am grounded by our Society’s guiding principles, which call us to be “constantly striving to renew and adapt…to the changing conditions of the world.”

As 2023 presents a new set of obstacles for our neighbors already struggling to afford food, shelter, clothing and other necessities, I thank you for your continued support and trust in our mission. Together, may we bring faith alive through service to others, one neighbor at a time.

Sincerely,

Brad McMonigle

Chief Executive Officer