Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York is one of the largest charitable organizations in the New York metropolitan area. It is a federation made up of 90 social service agencies throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York - Bronx, Dutchess, New York, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. It is part of a nationwide network of local human service organizations that form Catholic Charities USA—the fourth-largest social service provider in the United States, according to Forbes, and the 10th largest fundraising organization in the United States, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Service areas

The charity delivers, coordinates and advocates for human services and programs dedicated to alleviating poverty, serving people of all religions and backgrounds, non-Catholics and Catholics alike.

It provides services for children and youth; families in crisis; the hungry, the homeless, and people who are in danger of becoming homeless; the physically and emotionally challenged; and immigrants and refugees.

Services to children and youth include day care, foster care, adoption services, after school / out of school time programs, summer camps, and community centers Services to the hungry and homeless include emergency meals, eviction prevention, emergency shelters, temporary and transitional residences, and permanent affordable housing Family services include information and referral, coordinating services, financial assistance, counseling, maternity services, and job readiness and placement. Services to the physically and emotionally challenged include supportive housing for the mentally challenged, residences for special needs, early intervention and special education Services for immigrants and refugees include reuniting families, preventing exploitation. obtaining work authorization and finding employment, legal services for immigrants, teaching English and civics, and representing those seeking asylum.

History

The Early Years: 1869 ~ 1917

The roots of Catholic Charities New York can be traced to the Catholic Benevolent League, the first major Catholic charitable endeavor in New York, which cared for children abandoned by the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Their orphanage on Prince Street, the predecessor of the New York Foundling Hospital, began operating in 1869, the oldest agency of the Catholic Charities New York federation.

The 1920s ~ 1940s

During this time, the organization became a provider of emergency meals, financial assistance and expanded programs for the elderly. After World War II, the organization began offering employment services and job programs to support returning veterans, and care was provided for war widows and wives.

The 1950s

During this decade, Catholic Charities New York opened the Kennedy Child Study Center for early intervention and special education of the intellectually disabled, teaching basic skills and built the foundation enabling children to lead independent lives. It opened a day camp for disabled children, the Catholic Guild for the Blind provided counseling services, and Astor Home for Children was established in Rhinebeck, NY (and later expanded to the Bronx), a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children.

The 1960s ~ 2000s

More than fifty new agencies developed within Catholic Charities New York from 1960 ~ 1980. In the 1980s, emergency homeless shelters opened, while advocacy efforts fought the loss of affordable housing stock.

Structure

The executive staff of Catholic Charities New York is headquartered at the New York Catholic Center in Midtown Manhattan. The agencies are located throughout the counties of the Archdiocese of New York—the Bronx, Dutchess, Manhattan, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Staten Island, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.

  • J. Antonio Fernandez serves as CEO.

Board of trustees

The Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities New York provides financial and governance support to the charity.

  • William D. Anderson, Jr. serves as chair of the board; he is a Senior Managing Director at Evercore.

Further reading

  • Poust, Mary Ann (May 18, 2011). . Catholic New York.
  • DosSantos, Juliann (June 15, 2011). . Catholic New York.
  • . New York Nonprofit Press. July 14, 2011. Archived from on 2012-04-21.
  • Fitzgerald, Jim (September 13, 2011). "Census says 16 percent of New Yorkers are below poverty line; charity workers not surprised". Associated Press Newswires. AP. Factiva (RF: 7; IPC: tagnydsn | selnyny- | catn; IPD: AP State Wires: New York | US State/Regional | NY Poverty Line NY | D9PNSVC82). Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of New York's Catholic Charities, said the figures -- and the reality on the street -- are discouraging. Available via: . Central NY News. syracuse.com (The Post-Standard). Advance Local Media LLC. AP. Sep 13, 2011. Fitzgerald, Jim (14 September 2011). "U.S. says 68,000 more New Yorkers below poverty line". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Vol. CXVIII, no. 217. p. 2. The NYS Historic Newspapers .
  • West, Melanie Grace (April 23, 2011). . Wall Street Journal.
  • . New York Nonprofit Press. June 10, 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  • . Yahoo News. August 10, 2011.
  • Woods, John (August 25, 2011). . Catholic New York.
  • . Catholic New York. August 26, 2011.
  • Amodeo, Joseph (October 7, 2011). . Huffington Post.
  • Sherry, Virginia M. (October 19, 2011). . Staten Island Advance.
  • Haskell, Kari (February 19, 2011). . New York Times.
  • Keh, Andrew (January 26, 2011). . New York Times.
  • Mascia, Jennifer (January 28, 2011). . New York Times.
  • Kenny, Steve (January 24, 2011). . New York Times.
  • Rueb, Emily S. (January 6, 2011). . New York Times.
  • Hughes, C. J. (November 24, 2010). . New York Times.
  • Koppel, Niko (November 16, 2010). . New York Times.
  • . New York Times. December 17, 2010.
  • Warren, Mathew R. (November 12, 2010). . The New York Times.
  • Bracken, Kassie (December 20, 2010). . New York Times.
  • Mascia, Jennifer (November 22, 2010). . New York Times.

External links

  • - official website