Christ Child Society, DC Annual Report 2013-2014 the Christ Child Society 5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W
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Christ Child Society, DC Annual Report 2013-2014 The Christ Child Society 5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Suite 304 Washington, D.C. 20016 www.christchilddc.org 202-966-9250 About Us The Christ Child Society is a membership based non profit, serving the needs of children in the DC area. The foundation of our Society is our members, who not only set the direction for our programs, but lend their time, talent, and treasure to execute that vision. Members of the Christ Child Society come from across the DC met- ro area. Mostly women, our members range in age from early 20’s to early 90’s. The membership is organized into smaller groups called guilds. These guilds often share a common interest such as neighborhood, age, or history. The guild structure is a great way to make friends and network while supporting the work of The Society. Founded over 125 years ago by Mary Virginia Merrick, The Society retains much of the same mission and structure as it did in the beginning. The spirit of Mary Virginia Merrick is alive in our work with children. While steeped in tradition, we are committed to looking ahead and changing to meet the evolving needs of children in our area. Membership in this Society has only one requirement– a passion for our mission to meet the needs of children. Mary Virginia Merrick Our founder At an early age, Mary Virginia Merrick, the Christ Child Society’s founder, aspired to, “take care of all the little children who had no one to take care of them.” But a fall at age 14 left her partially para- lyzed, confined to a bed or wheelchair. Despite her disability, she devoted herself to taking care of children in need. At age 18, learning of a mother who had no clothing for her expected child, Mary gathered a group of friends to sew a lay- ette, a complete set of clothing and accessories for the newborn. A young boy’s request for a red wagon in a letter to the Christ Child – whom Mary described as “the Giver of all good things” – was the beginning of a tradition of Christmas gifts to families who other- wise would have nothing. In 1887, the group became the Christ Child Society. Mary Virginia Merrick’s enthusiasm and dedication inspired many individuals to join her in providing a number of programs for desti- tute children in the Nation’s Capital. They included a camp for children to enjoy a respite from city heat. The Merrick Boys Club was established in a remodeled stable near the US Capitol. A convalescent home for sick children and a resi- dential care facility for emotionally disturbed youngsters became part of the Society’s work. All of these pro- grams have changed and evolved over the years to meet contemporary demands. “Miss Mary,” as she was known to her friends and the thousands of children she helped during her lifetime, was honored by church and civic leaders for her dedication to serving the Christ Child by serving His children. On April 2, 2003, the Congregation for the Cause of Saints in Rome declared Mary Virginia Merrick a Servant of God. Miss Mary’s words, “Nothing is ever too much to do for a child,” continue to be brought to life today. The Christ Child Layette Program, begun by “Miss Mary” in 1884, continues to provide layettes to needy mothers and their babies. The School Counseling Program provides mental health services to inner-city Catholic school children and their families. Volunteer tutors help children learn to read and hundreds of children go to school in new uniforms provided by the DC Chapter. Proceeds from the sale of the camp were used to build a recrea- tion center in Southeast Washington. Named “The Mary Virginia Merrick Center,” its goal is to enhance the recreational and social experiences of the area’s at-risk youth through sports, art, music and other organized programs. The DC Chapter now runs programs for girls and their families at the Merrick Center. From the President Dear Members: The success continued in our 126th year of serving children in the Washington area. As you saw in our summer newsletter, our members have been very busy donating their time and talents for a number of worthy projects on behalf of the Christ Child Society. This edition of our Annual Report highlights you and your generous donations that enabled us to continue our programs during this past year (2013-2014). As we launch the 127th year, I thank you for your generosity and support. Warmest regards, Tricia Boland Jones From the Executive Director Dear Members and Friends, Thanks to your support, the Christ Child Society of Washington DC had a very successful 2013-2014 fiscal year. In this report you will find the names of those who supported us last year with their leadership, ideas, time and generous donations. We could not continue to meet our mission of providing for the material, emotional and educational needs of children with- out you. Thank you. Also, in this Annual Report you will be introduced to our newly restructured programs. The Society has refocused programmatically in three areas (the Big Three): The Beloved Babies Layette Program; The Girls on the Rise Empowerment Program (at the Merrick Center); and the Student Success Program (which includes School Counseling, Tutoring and Adopt a School). You will read about the over 5,000 children and families whose lives you have touched through your volunteerism and financial support of these programs. We thank you for your commitment to the children and families and to the vision of Mary Virginia Merrick who began this organization more than 125 years ago. Her words "Personal contact with the poor is the element of true charity,” inspire us today. Thank you for playing a part in that ser- vice. Kathleen Curtin Board of Directors 2013-2014 Executive Committee: Directors: Tricia Boland Jones, President Rachel Burke Kathy Norton Warren, First Vice President Mary Denger Kim Kirchgessner, Second Vice President Michele Dombo Steve Mooney, Treasurer Lulu Gonella Melanie Mbuyi, Immediate Past President Christy Mooney Caitlin Myler Meghan Quinn, School Programs Committee Kathy Neumann Marilou MacDonnell, Layette Committee Belle O’Brien Ann Marie Lynch, Opportunity Shop Committee Billy Peel Michael Caruso, Merrick Center Committee Jill Casasola, Guild Council Representative Lila Sullivan Advisory Committee Rev. Msgr. John Enzler, Spiritual Advisor George W. Murphy, Jr., General Counsel Kathleen Curtin, Executive Director Guild Chairs 2013-2014 Abell: Alicia Quick & Ceil Malphrus Kennedy: Jill Casasola & Jane Tingley Altemus: Doris Delgado & Knobloch: Ann Marie Lynott Mary Catherine McLaughlin Mary V. Merrick: Mollie Buckey Boyle: Nancy Ridgway, Terri Smith & Christy Mooney Neill: Dorothy Egan and Joan Murphy Conway Witts: Ann Fowler & Stephanie McGill Posey: Katie Ryan Delarue: Shannon Burkhart, Abby Huke, Tumulty: Lois Boylan, Marguerite Nealon & Katie Breslin, & Egan Cannon Pat Delany Kavanagh: Claire Carlin & Michele Rafferty Volunteer Leaders 2013-2014 Willy Wonka Gala: Meghan Quinn Development Committee: Lulu Gonella Coat Drive: Kathy Pascale Governance Committee: Mary Denger Blanket Liaisons: Jane Anne Gavaghan, Jeanne Vass, Kate Program Review: Mike Caruso Hennessy, Dori Leeper, Nancy Greene, & Lisa Greenberg Layette Committee: Marilou MacDonnell & Layette Educational Materials: Teresa Gardiner & Laura Menendez Mary Louise Bishop Red Wagon Luncheon: Janice Smeallie Layette Unpacking/Medaling: Ann O’Connell Membership Committee : Melanie Mbuyi Membership 2013-2014 Thanks to our wonderful members who paid dues in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Patricia Abell Anne Cantrel Julie Devol Rosemary Hartley Nancy Elbin Abell Madeleine Cantrel Rose Diaz Victoria Hartley Crissie Agnew Rose-Marie Caponio Sharon Dollahite Deborah Hathway Catherine Albornoz Kelly Capron Jean Donohoe Jamie Hayes Marisol Albornoz Rita Cardillo Mary Donovan Kathleen Hayes Judith Antonelli Claire Carlin Nancy Dorn Sarah Hayes Nancy Armstrong Maureen Carlin Catherine Dott Margaret Headley Jane Asbill Joanne Carroccio Ann Doyle Patricia Heffernan Margaret Auger Carolyn Carroccio Carol Dyer Susan Herbert Paula Avon Jill Casasola Anne Easby-Smith Isabelle Hessick Tonimaria Ayers Susan Cassidy Anne Seton Easby-Smith Karen Hibey Dena Baker Maria Castle Ann Effer Katie Hibey Olivia Baker Mariann Cawley Dorothy Egan Helen Schrider Higgins Vincent Barbera Anne Miskovsky Cekuta Katherine Everngam Johanna Howe Fulvia Battiata Claire Chadwick Stephanie Farrell Abby Huke Cindy Beauregard Evelyn Childs Sydney Ferzacca Shannon Hynds Laura Beh Nancy Cholis M. Teresa Finney Susan Inzeo Patricia Behrens Mary Bee Ciminelli Maria Elena Fisher Maureen Irani Michaele Anne Belford Nancy Ripp Clark Margaret Mary Fleury Nancy Itteilag Jane Belford Helen Clarke Kathryn Foote Donald Ivers Elayne Bennett Gerry Coakley Mary Ford Claudia James Patricia Betts Kathleen Colbert Mary Forquer Adrienne Johannes Teresa Beyer Mildred Colligan Ann Fowler Maria Johnson Vivian Birney Carin Collins Patricia Franco Barbara Jones Mary Louise Bishop Dolores Conger Sandra Frattali Colleen Conway Jones Blair Bjellos Patricia Conley Jennifer Fritz Maria Jones Diane Blomquist Joan Conley Kathy Gaenzler Tricia Boland Jones Elizabeth Boland Margaret Conley Jennifer Gagnon Ann Jones-Simpson Jennifer Boland Jean Connell Tara Gans Mary Jo Joyce Leanne Boland Geraldine Connolly Anne Garagusi Geraldine Kane Anne Patricia Boler Vivian Coogan Adrienne Gardiner Jackie Kane Lois Boylan Maureen Cook Kerri Gardiner Maura Kane Janet Brady Mary Anne Corr Teresa Gardiner Margo Keegan Pamela Brancaccio Kathy Cortese Mary Garrett Margaret Kelley