© 2003 Catholic Charities of Onondaga County - 1654 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 - Phone: 315.424.1800 Fax: 315.424.8274
Board of Directors
Loretta Kilpatrick, Esq., President
Robert Doucette, Vice President
Juanita Perez Williams, Secretary
Miles McHale, Jr., Treasurer
  Kimberly Boynton   Reverend John D. Manno
  R. Michael Campbell   Thomas O’Hara
  James Connors   Jacqueline Place
  Julius Edwards   Joseph Slavik
  Linda Ervin   Noreen Shea, Esq.
  Deborah Freund Ph.D.   Patrick Taylor
  Dennis Gleason   Carl Thomas
  Rev. Gregg LeStrange   Rebecca Thompson
  Ginny Lostumbo  

Julio Urrutia
  Michael O’Connor, Esq.   Deb Welch
Emeriti  Board of Directors
  Miles Bottrill   Rev. James Lang
  William Chambers   Donald Nicolas
   Marty Cuddy   Eileen Oliva
   Ronald Dippold   W. Dennis Owen
   Sylvia Martinez-Daloia   John Sindoni
  Sr. Gloria DeCotis   Robert Stone
  James Grooms    
A Message from the Executive Director

MIke Malera Executive Director
Dear Friends,

I hope you will take a moment to read Catholic Charities of Onondaga County’s 2009 Impact Report, which can be found on our website at http://www.ccoc.us/newsletter.htmlImpact...It is a powerful word.  And it is one of the things that those of us at Catholic Charities hold ourselves accountable to – having an impact upon those whom we serve. 

We have a set of fundamental beliefs here at Catholic Charities - our organizational DNA, if you will.  These beliefs are simple and yet they comprise our agency’s genetic make-up:  We are devoted to the people we serve.  We believe that every person we encounter has infinite value and is worthy of dignity and respect.  We are committed to bringing hope, comfort and relief to those who are most vulnerable and in greatest need.  Finally, we strive to be an instrument of change in their lives – to have an impact - as they go forward.

In this report, we provide some details on how we have an impact on the people who count on us for help.  There is the data – the number of meals we serve to children and seniors, the number of refugees we resettled last year – and there are the stories, the stories about real people who have improved their lives by coming to us.  You will read about little Maggie, who needed help staying focused on school work, and Raymond, an older man who had to learn how to manage his budget in order to remain living independently in his own home.  Each one of these success stories will introduce you to the faces of Catholic Charities, and each one is an inspiration for all of us.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”  At Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, we believe that our feet are in the right place.  And this allows us to stand firm as we help make a difference for the Maggies and the Raymonds and all the others who need hope, comfort, relief, and change in their lives.

Thank you for helping us to stand firm and have an impact in our community.


God Bless,
Michael F. Melara
Executive Director


Catholic Charities of Onondaga County History



Catholic Charities of Onondaga County began in 1923 under the guidance of Bishop Daniel Curley, who dreamed of developing an organization that would allow people an opportunity to reach beyond their parish communities to assist individuals and families experiencing hardship. Bishop Curley envisioned an organization that would provide basic needs to the economically disadvantaged, serve as a catalyst for keeping families intact, help children to reach their full potential, and speak out for policies that remedied social injustices.

Today Catholic Charities of Onondaga County is an agency that has expanded to meet the needs of a larger population. What started as little more than an extension of neighborhood parishes is today a major provider of services for families and children in Onondaga County. It remains committed to providing for those in need, advocating on behalf of the disadvantaged, and assisting people to reach their fullest potential.

The organization is headquartered in the historic House of Providence at 1654 West Onondaga Street in Syracuse.The House of Providence has a history of service that stretches back nearly one hundred and fifty years. It was founded in 1867 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and was originally used as a home for senior citizens. It later became a residence for orphaned boys, operated under the care of the St. Vincent dePaul Society in conjunction with the Sisters of Mercy.

A fire in 1907 destroyed much of the original structure located on Split Rock Road. Construction on the current House of Providence began a year later, cornerstone on October 4, 1908.Whether administering care to a youth in a group home, counseling a pregnant adolescent, or introducing a child to a more positive way of life, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County proudly continues the important work begun at the House of Providence.
Our Mission

The mission of Catholic Charities is to reflect the teachings
of Christ through advocacy, service to people and by convening people around social issues to develop just responses. We do this to demonstrate Christ's compassion and respect for the dignity of everyone, and to challenge all to live their vocations
by being models of service.

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