Our journey with our neighbors includes you. See how far we’ve come together in our annual report video.
Videos
The Msgr. Arthur F. Valenzano Joyful Servant Award: Meet Fr. Ray Chase
Fr. Ray Chase’s faithful labor of love has made his parish a beacon of working for justice. Commissioned to recognize a joyful life and spirit in service, the award honors the spirit of the late rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who served on the Catholic Charities Board of Trustees until his passing in 2015.
The Distinguished Service Award: Meet Geri Olsen
Geri Olsen is a Baltimore County grandmother who has dedicated 27 years to serving children with significant emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. She is honored for her decades of volunteer services to the residents and staff of St. Vincent’s Villa. The program in Timonium provides comprehensive residential treatment for children throughout the state of Maryland, ages 5-14, whose behavioral and emotional needs have not responded to community-based interventions and services.
The Anne Lindsey Otenasek Youth Service Award: Meet Karen Sun
2020 Johns Hopkins University public health studies graduate Karen Sun has shown commitment to women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty in Baltimore. From the start of the pandemic, Sun devoted her time to coordinating partnerships with other local agencies to provide clients with as many resources as possible, including legal support from several organizations.
Finding the divine within a person is one thing. Helping them see it within themselves is something else. Meet Erin.
Training people to understand trauma and the impacts it has on others can be pretty challenging. But for this colleague, there’s nothing better. Meet Steve.
Love has many forms, and when it comes to walking with older adults, it takes a special touch. Meet Patti.
We bring the gifts and talents we have to the work we do. Sometimes they key to home maintenance for more than 2,000 older adults is building relationships. Meet Michael.
Society tends to forget older adults. Being on a team that centers them and their needs is powerful. Meet Jill.
When it comes to caring for individuals in crisis, there’s no such thing as “just an office manager.” Meet Bonnie.
- After 37 years in the same apartment, he found himself on the street, and became too sick to keep working. Then two miracles happened. Meet Paul.
- Many of our new neighbors come to this country because they’re running away from inhumane conditions. What they can do when we welcome them is extraordinary. Meet Williams.
- What does it take to heal from trauma? For a young girl and her new-found family, faith and determination blossomed into a beautiful bond. Meet Jalene, Jonyana and Shirlene.
- To help individuals prepare for meaningful work after a challenge like incarceration, the first step is seeing their promise. Meet Wayne.
Honorees
The Msgr. Arthur F. Valenzano Joyful Servant Award is in memory of the late rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was a member of our Board of Trustees until his passing in September 2015. The recipient embodies the joyful life and spirit of Msgr. Valenzano and his ability to touch the lives of thousands of Marylanders.
This year’s honoree is Fr. Ray Chase.
Fr. Ray Chase’s faithful labor of love has made his parish a beacon of working for justice.
The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual or group that exemplifies or significantly supports compassionate caregiving and service, has a personal commitment to our work, cherishes the Divine within those we serve.
This year, we are pleased to recognize Geri Olsen.
Geri Olsen is a Baltimore County grandmother who has dedicated 27 years to serving children with significant emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. She is honored for her decades of volunteer services to the residents and staff of St. Vincent’s Villa. The program in Timonium provides comprehensive residential treatment for children throughout the state of Maryland, ages 5-14, whose behavioral and emotional needs have not responded to community-based interventions and services.
Ezra Buchdahl and Geri Olsen
The Anne Lindsey Otenasek Youth Service Award goes to a high school or college student or group, in recognition of outstanding volunteer service with Catholic Charities. It is given in memory of Anne Lindsey Otenasek, a passenger lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. The award honors and perpetuates her spirit, which was the hallmark of her volunteer work at Gallagher Services.
This year, we honor Karen Sun.
2020 Johns Hopkins University public health studies graduate Karen Sun has shown commitment to women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty in Baltimore. From the start of the pandemic, Sun devoted her time to coordinating partnerships with other local agencies to provide clients with as many resources as possible, including legal support from several organizations.
Our Mission in Action Award goes to individuals who model our Catholic Charities Commitments in their encounters with others.
They consistently…
…honor and respect the DIGNITY of every person
…encounter each person with COMPASSION
…act with HUMILITY
…reach out to others in a spirit of COLLABORATION
…serve with EXCELLENCE
…act with INTEGRITY
We are grateful for the way that each of our Mission in Action award winners lives out our mission to love, serve, and teach!
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Steve Branson – Director of Case Management Services, Community Services Division
Training people to understand trauma and the impacts it has on others can be pretty challenging. But for this colleague, there’s nothing better. Meet Steve.
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Patti Bulger – Resident Associate – Congregate Housing, Senior Services Division
Love has many forms, and when it comes to walking with older adults, it takes a special touch. Meet Patti.
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Michael Jolley – Facilities Project Management – Property Management, Senior Services Division
We bring the gifts and talents we have to the work we do. Sometimes the key to home maintenance for more than 2,000 older adults is building relationships. Meet Michael.
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Jill Kratz – Manager of Services – Senior Communities, Senior Services Division
Society tends to forget older adults. Being on a team that centers them and their needs is powerful. Meet Jill.
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Bonnie March – Office Manager – Villa Maria Community Resources Behavioral Health Clinic Lansdowne, Family Services Division
When it comes to caring for individuals in crisis, there’s no such thing as “just an office manager.” Meet Bonnie.
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Erin Moyer – Clinic Director, Villa Maria Community Resources Behavioral Health Clinic Fallsway, Family Services Division
It’s one thing to recognize a struggling person’s existence. Seeing their worth is something else entirely. Meet Erin.
Meet our neighbors
Derek Tucker
Christine Chehreh
Andrew Holland
Williams Guevara Martinez
Watch his video here COMING SOON>>
Jalene, Jonyana and Shirlene
Podcasts
Victor Primera and Erin Moyer, Clinic Director at Fallsway, discuss the keys to the cycle of addiction and incarceration.
Brian Trees, Associate Administrator at Gallagher Services, discusses workforce development for those living with intellectual disabilities.
Nicole Williams, Program Manager at Christopher Place Employment Academy, discusses barriers to workforce development
Dr. Enrique Oveido, Medical Director of Villa Maria Community Resources Behavioral Health Clinic, discusses treating addiction