A Look Inside: Program Updates Upcoming Events Volunteer Opportunities Winter Giving Back 2019 A Message from Father John Recreational Art As we begin the Pope Francis has said, “God will Therapy “Creating a new year, I am not ask us if we felt righteous reminded of all indignation, but whether we did New Image” we accomplished some good.” Catholic Charities is together last year, doing good, you are doing good. Long hospital stays can take a and am incredibly Together we are doing the work of toll on anyone, especially those hopeful for the the Gospel. As we embark on this suffering from mental illness. future. I have been new year, let us remember to be To help navigate this challenge, so inspired not only kind to one another and provide a individuals who have resided at by our clients who are faced with hand to those in need. Saint Elizabeths Hospital for six circumstances many of us could months or more are enrolled not even imagine, but also by the into our Integrated Community Catholic Charities staff and their Care Project (ICCP) following commitment to serving those in their release from hospitalization. need, and lastly, you inspire me. Msgr. John Enzler Our dedicated staff are always Your friendship and commitment President and CEO Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington looking for new ways to assist has allowed us to serve thousands their transition along their mental and thousands of our most health journey. vulnerable neighbors last year, and will allow us to continue that Our innovative service into the new year. You are approach to an inspiration. encourage and promote creativity For many of us, regardless of our place in life, the world can seem like and inspiration has a cold and dark place. But together been found through we can bring light. I am so blessed art therapy. It has for the light you bring into my life been found that and the light we can bring into the art can be used as a form of lives of our neighbors who are most rehabilitation, allowing individuals vulnerable. to explore their emotions, build Continued on pg. 3 $20 million + For every dollar $.86 7,025 people In pro bono services were Goes directly to helping Volunteered with provided directly to our clients. people in need. Catholic Charities last year. Around the Agency Thanksgiving with Pepco Our Spanish Catholic Center Denise Capaci, Once again this year we hosted our in DC distributed hundreds of LICSW, LCSW-C, annual Thanksgiving Dinner with gifts, thoughtfully donated by Adult and Pepco. Lines wrapped around the parishioners of Sacred Heart, to Children’s Clinical building as homeless guests waited our clients. This meant that even Services Executive to come in and enjoy a delicious more vulnerable children awoke on Director was Thanksgiving meal prepared by Christmas morning to something appointed to Catholic Charities Enterprises and under the tree. the Council on served by dozens of volunteers. The Accreditation Board of Trustees. 400 guests were given a new winter The international, independent, coat and toiletry package as they nonprofit, accrediting organization left. partners with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards. Denise was nominated for this The Catholic Charities Center in three-year appointment by Catholic Montgomery County distributed Charities USA. Catholic Charities more than 1,000 gifts to local has received this prestigious seal of families as part of the Montgomery approval for 10 years. Celebrating with County Holiday Giving Program. Those in Need Gifts went to clients of the Center, Reaching Domestic The week before Christmas, we as well as families within the zip Trafficking Victims welcomed some of the most code. The Trafficking Victim Assistance vulnerable members of the Program (TVAP), which connects community into our offices to share And finally, theSouthern Maryland trafficking survivors to appropriate a meal and celebrate the season. Food Bank was able to provide 174 transition services, including mental This year more than 250 people children who participate in their health counseling, medical clinics, joined us for a Christmas Dinner, local school Snack Sak program shelters, and refugee assistance is caroling was led by Deacon Jim Nalls with Christmas gifts thanks to now working with both domestic and students from St. Anselm’s, donations from G. Drew Conway, and international trafficking and of course everyone left with a Obsidian Global, LLC, and FGS, survivors. This new distinction special gift. Our staff decorated the LLC. will allow us to serve even more building and volunteers were at the individuals escaping trauma. ready to ensure all our guests felt Expanding our Expertise the spirit of the holidays. In December, Training Begins Housing and Our Green More than 250 people Homeless Services Construction, joined us for a Executive Director, Bank Teller, and Amanda Chesney KitchenWork Christmas feast LICSW, LCSW-C programs began was appointed to new classes in Gifts Under the Tree Ludoovick, One of our most popular volunteer the Washington Green Construction February. These events is our Angel Tree. The DC Interagency Council on Graduate programs have program ensures that hundreds Homelessness (ICH). This group of helped dozens of individuals gain of kids wake up to something cabinet-level leaders inform and the skills they need for the future, special under the tree on Christmas guide the District’s strategies and offering the opportunity for a morning. This year 453 families policies for meeting the needs of career rather than just a job. This volunteered to collect and distribute individuals and families who are builds confidence and longer-term nearly 1,000 gifts to children across experiencing or at imminent risk financial stability. the agency. In addition to the gifts, of experiencing homelessness. KPMG generously donated books to Amanda also serves on the all of the children. Montgomery County ICH. 2 www.catholiccharitiesdc.org Little Libraries Come to the Neighborhood Recreational Art Therapy “Creating a New Image” In December, students in Catholic Charities’ Green Construction program self-esteem, relieve stress, anxiety constructed and opened the first two and depression and cope with the “little libraries” in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. These libraries were built physical illness or disability, and as part of their curriculum, but also as assists and the healing process. a way to contribute a valuable resource to the community. The In 2015, the ICCP Green Construction program, with classes in English and Spanish, Recreational is taught at the Spanish Catholic Center in DC and empowers Group began immigrants and other students who are overcoming challenges hosting an art by preparing them for careers in construction. Students learn group that is the latest in green building technology and graduates receive a facilitated by nationally accredited certificate in green construction. local artist Leslie Holt. Dr. Judith The little libraries hold books for all ages in English and Spanish, which Rose-Wilson, the program’s Clinical are available for anyone in the community to borrow for free. They can Manager, says “The ICCP art group be found in front of the Sacred Heart School, and in front of the Spanish has provided our consumers who Catholic Center in DC. Students will build more little libraries in the have histories of severe mental future and place them in areas of the city where they are needed most. illnesses and frequent inpatient hospitalizations, a forum to express For more information about the Green Construction Program, visit: themselves in ways that many www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/greenconstruction have previously not been afforded such opportunities.” Rose-Wilson continued “As such, the amazing Catholic Charities Welcomes New Board artwork that has emerged from ICCP group participants has highlighted Chair and Four New Board Members the importance of providing our consumers with experiences that We are pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Trone as showcase their strength instead of our new Chairman of the Board. Mr. Trone, co-founder of Total Wine focusing on barriers and deficits & More, succeeds R. Scott Pastrick. Mr. Pastrick will now serve as a typically related to their mental member of the Catholic Charities Foundation Board. illnesses. We are proud of the enthusiasm and commitment group In addition to Mr. Trone, the Catholic Charities Board welcomes Cecilia participants have shown.” Bergoglio, The Honorable Michael Steele, John Veihmeyer, and John Whalen. These four will join the distinguished group of community At any given time, the art group leaders who make up our Board of Directors, and will each serve a ranges between 9-13 participants. three-year term. The environment fosters exploring new and unknown talent in a supportive network and the program hopes to continue to make successful transitions for consumers from long-term inpatient hospitalizations into the community. MAR Catholic Charities President’s Circle Reception Capital One Arena 601 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20004 Members of the President’s Circle will join Fr. John at a private reception to cheer on the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena. This event serves as a special thank you to our generous donors for their contributions in this fiscal year. 13 Inspiring Hope. BuildingPlease Futures. visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/givingsocieties 3 to learn more about our Giving Societies and their benefits. Helping Domestic Violence Victims Rebuild Their Lives Open 24 hours a day, seven days community partners to assist them a week, the building was designed on their path to self-sufficiency. to create a more home-like The new facility is a culmination environment for families including of more than a year of planning, private bedrooms and bathrooms. construction, and coordination with local and state partners. After an With a 50% capacity initial groundbreaking in October 2017, dozens of residents and their increase Angel’s Watch children moved into the new facility This October, we opened our will be able to serve this past fall.