Catholic Charities employees recognized for service

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Catholic Charities employees recognized for service
Catholic Charities employees recognized for service


Compiled from reports

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, honored 59 employees for their dedicated service at a luncheon Dec. 7 in Hamilton.

“It is a great pleasure to recognize our employees and to express to them how much they are valued for all that they do with great compassion,” said Marlene Lao-Collins, CCDOT executive director. “Each employee honored marked a special milestone in their commitment to our mission of serving the poor and vulnerable. Each within their own specialty have contributed to the numerous consumer success stories of recovery from addiction, mental health stabilization, moving out of homelessness and out of poverty, feeling safe from domestic violence or other trauma, and immigrants learning to adapt to their new home. Congratulations to our honorees.”

The honorees, ranging in years of service from five to 40, were celebrated with a prayer, which read, “We acknowledge the diversity of those who have become and remain united in advancing the mission and ministry of this agency.”

Among those in attendance to voice their appreciation were Brenda Rascher, executive director of the diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services; John Tesoro, CCDOT board of trustees vice chairman, and former state Sen. Peter Inverso.

“In this time of year when gift-giving is the focus, I want to thank all employees of Catholic Charities for giving their gifts to their consumers every day, all year long. Some have been giving their gifts and talents for decades,” Rascher said.

One of those honored was Sandra Kolla, who was celebrating 40 years of service. Kolla, associate program director of the Partial Care Program at Delaware House, Burlington County, started as a case manager in Partial Care.

“Sandi had a real knack for working with mental health consumers,” said Drew Wisloski, interim Behavioral Health service area director. “Staff and consumers alike rely on her, with her always-open-door policy. Her capabilities and professionalism have been a contributing factor to the excellent reputation of Delaware House in the community and with New Jersey state funding sources.”

Maureen Fahey, celebrating 35 years, is program supervisor of Delaware House’s Supportive Housing. In one of her first positions at Catholic Charities, she was a housing specialist, tasked with locating affordable housing for families.

“Housing was a whole new world, with new funding streams, new acronyms, new partnerships and new regulations,” Wisloski said. “The major struggle then, that continues today, is that there is a lack of truly affordable housing and/or rental subsidies for those with extremely low incomes. This led to increased interest and determination to learn about creating housing opportunities for our consumers. Now, Maureen is often seen as the ‘go-to person’ for housing-related information, including funding streams, regulations, and availability of resources in the community. There have been many changes during her 35 years, but Maureen has remained a strong advocate for consumers and their housing needs.”

Other employees honored were:

• 30 years - George Bontcue, associate executive director of fiscal affairs; Amelia Gallagher, Natural Parent Support Program in Children and Family Services

• 25 years - Sandra Meredith, office manager, Delaware House

• 20 years - Sharon Blount, residential counselor, Delaware House; Jane Meyer, program director, Children and Family Services, Monmouth County; Rod Ramsey, vocational specialist on the PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment )team, Mercer County

• 15 years - Ronald Draft, Zorita Lyons, Linda Boyd, Daren Choy, Jean Furdella, Sonya M. Johnson, Carol Randall, Bertha Ramirez and Marlene Cunningham 

• 10 years - Crystal Smith, Heather Alexander, Peggy Crusoe, Daysha Lloyd, Olalekan Olaniyan, Shyann Williams, Nelda Williams,Precious Satiah, Shalla Velez, Vora Smith, Gary Caldrone, Geeta Bhanot, Sandra Carmichael, Lisha Loo-Morgan, Maria Nikolatos, Carmen Robles, Donna Basenko, Robert Gordon III, Kristin Petrocelli, Michele Thomas, Michele Fesler, Lisa Darling and Eugenie Galvin 

• 5 years - Annamarie McCabe, Karon Ross, David Bianco, Akua Cann, Oluwabunmi Browne, Jeffrey McDonald, Craig Cole, Donna Eckman, Ivy Jenkins-Davis, Amanda Fee, Florence Johnson, Stephanie Moise, Nicole Kries, Arnold Valentin Jr., Nancy Goldsmith, Yesenia Perez, Melanie Browndorf, Tiffany Rozelle, and Nancy Pacheco.

 

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Compiled from reports

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, honored 59 employees for their dedicated service at a luncheon Dec. 7 in Hamilton.

“It is a great pleasure to recognize our employees and to express to them how much they are valued for all that they do with great compassion,” said Marlene Lao-Collins, CCDOT executive director. “Each employee honored marked a special milestone in their commitment to our mission of serving the poor and vulnerable. Each within their own specialty have contributed to the numerous consumer success stories of recovery from addiction, mental health stabilization, moving out of homelessness and out of poverty, feeling safe from domestic violence or other trauma, and immigrants learning to adapt to their new home. Congratulations to our honorees.”

The honorees, ranging in years of service from five to 40, were celebrated with a prayer, which read, “We acknowledge the diversity of those who have become and remain united in advancing the mission and ministry of this agency.”

Among those in attendance to voice their appreciation were Brenda Rascher, executive director of the diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services; John Tesoro, CCDOT board of trustees vice chairman, and former state Sen. Peter Inverso.

“In this time of year when gift-giving is the focus, I want to thank all employees of Catholic Charities for giving their gifts to their consumers every day, all year long. Some have been giving their gifts and talents for decades,” Rascher said.

One of those honored was Sandra Kolla, who was celebrating 40 years of service. Kolla, associate program director of the Partial Care Program at Delaware House, Burlington County, started as a case manager in Partial Care.

“Sandi had a real knack for working with mental health consumers,” said Drew Wisloski, interim Behavioral Health service area director. “Staff and consumers alike rely on her, with her always-open-door policy. Her capabilities and professionalism have been a contributing factor to the excellent reputation of Delaware House in the community and with New Jersey state funding sources.”

Maureen Fahey, celebrating 35 years, is program supervisor of Delaware House’s Supportive Housing. In one of her first positions at Catholic Charities, she was a housing specialist, tasked with locating affordable housing for families.

“Housing was a whole new world, with new funding streams, new acronyms, new partnerships and new regulations,” Wisloski said. “The major struggle then, that continues today, is that there is a lack of truly affordable housing and/or rental subsidies for those with extremely low incomes. This led to increased interest and determination to learn about creating housing opportunities for our consumers. Now, Maureen is often seen as the ‘go-to person’ for housing-related information, including funding streams, regulations, and availability of resources in the community. There have been many changes during her 35 years, but Maureen has remained a strong advocate for consumers and their housing needs.”

Other employees honored were:

• 30 years - George Bontcue, associate executive director of fiscal affairs; Amelia Gallagher, Natural Parent Support Program in Children and Family Services

• 25 years - Sandra Meredith, office manager, Delaware House

• 20 years - Sharon Blount, residential counselor, Delaware House; Jane Meyer, program director, Children and Family Services, Monmouth County; Rod Ramsey, vocational specialist on the PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment )team, Mercer County

• 15 years - Ronald Draft, Zorita Lyons, Linda Boyd, Daren Choy, Jean Furdella, Sonya M. Johnson, Carol Randall, Bertha Ramirez and Marlene Cunningham 

• 10 years - Crystal Smith, Heather Alexander, Peggy Crusoe, Daysha Lloyd, Olalekan Olaniyan, Shyann Williams, Nelda Williams,Precious Satiah, Shalla Velez, Vora Smith, Gary Caldrone, Geeta Bhanot, Sandra Carmichael, Lisha Loo-Morgan, Maria Nikolatos, Carmen Robles, Donna Basenko, Robert Gordon III, Kristin Petrocelli, Michele Thomas, Michele Fesler, Lisa Darling and Eugenie Galvin 

• 5 years - Annamarie McCabe, Karon Ross, David Bianco, Akua Cann, Oluwabunmi Browne, Jeffrey McDonald, Craig Cole, Donna Eckman, Ivy Jenkins-Davis, Amanda Fee, Florence Johnson, Stephanie Moise, Nicole Kries, Arnold Valentin Jr., Nancy Goldsmith, Yesenia Perez, Melanie Browndorf, Tiffany Rozelle, and Nancy Pacheco.

 

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