Honor Catholic Charities Centennial

Assembly Resolution No. 91 BY: M. of A. Sepulveda COMMENDING Catholic Charities upon the occasion of celebrating their 100th Anniversary WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organizations and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Catholic Charities upon the occasion of celebrating their 100th Anniversary; and WHEREAS, A vital presence in the State of New York for 100 years, Catholic Charities has continually strived to offer a variety of services to fulfill the needs of orphans, immigrants, mentally and physically ill, as well as homeless individuals and families in crisis; and WHEREAS, In 1917, the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York was incorporated by a special act of the New York State Legislature; today, this vital organization represents a federation of more than 90 agencies; and WHEREAS, Throughout its storied history, Catholic Charities has provided help and hope for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, non-Catholics and Catholics alike by offering numerous services including mental health, special education, job and employment assistance, and help for the homeless; and WHEREAS, During the Great Depression, Casita Maria was founded to help the unemployed find housing and jobs, and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) offered children a break through fresh-air camps, sports and after-school activities; job programs, employment and social services bolstered returning veterans, widows and wives; and WHEREAS, When the Cold War struck, Catholic Charities broadened its mental health services, and a small group of nuns opened Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services in East Harlem, and Astor Home for Children began a residential treatment center for children with serious emotional disturbances; and WHEREAS, Catholic Charities also offers special education services with the Kennedy Child Study Center, one of the first organizations to provide special education services; in addition, the Guidance Institute, established the first day camp for children with disabilities; and WHEREAS, In the 1960s, the Catholic Church become more involved in world affairs; religious communities and clergy built links between people and neighborhoods to support the War on Poverty; and WHEREAS, During the next three decades, more than 50 new Catholic Charities affiliated agencies developed to address growing needs; and WHEREAS, In the 1980s, Catholic Charities agencies mobilized to provide more than 40 percent of all group homes in New York City along with foster care, adoption and preventative services; and WHEREAS, Nazareth Housing, Incarnation Children's Center, St. Francis Residences and Beacon of Hope House were established to serve the most vulnerable populations including babies abandoned in hospitals with HIV/AIDS, and New Hope Manor, Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County and fellow affiliated agencies offered a fresh start for the chemically dependent; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Catholic Charities continued as the first stop for immigrants fleeing poverty and oppression; Tolentine-Zeiser assisted the influx of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees, Mercy Center began offering English as a Second Language and after-school programs for Spanish-speaking new arrivals, and Project Irish Outreach formed after the first national legalization for undocumented immigrants in

1986; and WHEREAS, Today, Catholic Charities continues its leadership role, working with government agencies, service providers and individuals to make sure immigrants receive counsel and services they need; its continual evolution provides Catholic Charities with flexibility to respond quickly when crises strike; and WHEREAS, When terrorists attacked on 9/11, Catholic Charities helped establish an integrated system of services; when back-to-back hurricanes Rita and Katrina hit in 2005, Catholic Charities helped hundreds of displaced Gulf-region residents rebuild their lives, and when Hurricane Sandy pounded New York in 2012, the organization helped mobilize comprehensive disaster relief; and WHEREAS, Catholic Charities agencies serve more than 1 million clients annually, with programs in all 62 counties of the State, providing more than $1.3 billion in services; its programs extend to men, women, and children of every faith, or no faith at all; and WHEREAS, In addition to its 17,000-strong professional staff, the backbone of the organization is its network of 9,500 volunteers and Board members from all across the State; and WHEREAS, Now, as Catholic Charities celebrates its Centennial Anniversary, it draws on its history of innovation and service to continue to evolve and touch almost every human need; and WHEREAS, The success of Catholic Charities is in direct correlation to the efforts of its management and staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of this organization and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Catholic Charities upon the occasion of celebrating their 100th Anniversary; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Catholic Charities of New York, and its affiliate organizations.