FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to Honor Distinguished Leaders at the 2024 Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner and Celebrate its 125th Anniversary
(Brooklyn, NY) – Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, a leader in the non-profit human services sector, celebrates the 2024 Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner on Thursday, September 26 at Cipriani Wall Street. This event commemorates the organization’s 125th Anniversary and serves as a vital fundraiser supporting over 160 community programs and services across Brooklyn and Queens.
The event, co-chaired by the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, serving the people of Brooklyn and Queens, will honor Thomas J. Grech, president and chief executive officer of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and Robert J. Pape, Jr., of The Paul L. Martin Charitable Trust, with the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award. Vincent D. LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media Group, will receive the Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award, and Francesca Yellico, executive director of Bridge to Life, will be recognized with the Ubi Caritas Award. Catholic Charities will also celebrate long-serving employees who have reached 30 years of service at the agency with the John J. Farrell Award. Joe Piscopo, comedian, actor, musician, writer and talk show host, will serve as the master of ceremonies and entertainment for the evening.
Since 1899, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has provided hope, healing and support, to vulnerable populations with essential aid and compassion to those who most need it. Last year alone, the organization assisted over 495,000 individuals through essential services including emergency aid, meal deliveries, case management, homeless prevention, educational programs, and mental health support.
In 2023 alone, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens assisted over 495,000 individuals, delivering essential services such as emergency aid, home-delivered meals, case management, homeless prevention, Head Start, and support for individuals dealing with mental health and substance use disorder. The organization also allocated more than $4 million in food assistance to 60 parish-based food pantries. Notably, an Asylum Seeker Program was established at five parish locations in each borough, providing aid to over 12,000 migrants with basic emergency needs and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training.
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens looks forward to welcoming supporters, honorees, and community members on September 26 as the agency celebrates 125 years of service and renews our commitment to fostering hope and resilience we throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Prospective sponsors are encouraged to contact Martin Golden, VP of Development, at 718-722-6024 or martin.golden@ccbq.org, or Lucy Garrido-Mota, SVP of Communications, at 718-722-6211 or lucy.gmota@ccbq.org, to make a pledge and secure their place as recognized sponsors within the event invitation.
The Bishop’s Humanitarian Award is presented annually to individuals who show personal commitment to the well-being of the residents of our diocese. The Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award is presented in memory of the Most Reverend Joseph Sullivan, an ardent advocate for social justice who dedicated more than 50 years to improving the lives of New Yorkers in need. The Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Service Award is given to honor others who have followed in his footsteps by devoting their lives to the people of Brooklyn and Queens. The Ubi Caritas Award is presented for distinguished, unselfish support of human services as a reminder that true charity is the response of the human heart to God’s love for all people.
To celebrate this milestone, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has scheduled a series of events and seminars throughout the remainder of the year. For more information about Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, the 2024 Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner and its 125 years of service activities, visit www.ccbq.org.
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For 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing social services to those in need. Catholic Charities offers 160+ programs for children, families, older adults, and those with mental illness. Since 1975, Catholic Charities has built over 4,567 affordable housing units. Last year, we provided $6.5 million in food assistance at 60 parish-based food pantries, pop-up events, older adult centers, and home-delivered meals for the homebound elderly. We serve more than 500,000 individuals with emergency assistance, older adult services, mental health counseling, affordable housing, family services, and early childhood programs.