Press
Learn More about Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens currently sponsor nearly 180 programs for children and youth, adults and seniors, the developmentally disabled, the mentally ill and the isolated. We are pleased to share information about our organization, our mission and these vital social services through press releases for print and electronic media distribution.
You can also read our most recent newsletter here.
For more information, please contact:
The Office of Development and Communications
191 Joralemon Street, 12 FL
Brooklyn, NY 11201 phone: 718-722-6204 fax: 718-722-6220
In the News
The New York Times2-6-12
“Volunteering Time and Clicks to Bridge Generations”
“Seeing the kids’ reactions to Santa, they remind me of how I was when I was little,” said Brian Vazquez, 17, a junior from Bushwick, Brooklyn, who helped give out stuffed animals to children after they sat on Santa’s lap. “Handing them the toys makes me feel happy.” Read more.
Queens Chronicle 1-26-12
"The State of South Queens"
While recent State and State of the Borough addresses have been clogging the airwaves, the plants, and sometimes just hopes, of civic leaders and legislators can be pieced together to create a very definitive state of South Queens. Read more.
The New York Times 1-25-12
"A Family Holds On to Its Musical Dreams, Despite a Promoter’s Lies"
Sylvia Brown knows the ending to the old saying: If something sounds too good to be true But there was something about a music promoter’s promise of recording careers for her two eldest children that made Ms. Brown and her whole brood spend almost every penny they had to move to New York City from Kansas City, MO., on a Greyhound bus in July. Read more.
The New York Times 1-24-12
"Advertising or Not, Billboards Have a Towering Presence"
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens' BplusQ Billboard featured in The New York Times. Read more.
The New York Times 1-18-12
"Joe Salters keeps film aspirations in the while building a life of sobriety"
The bookshelves in Joseph Salters’s bedroom tell the story of his life. On the bottom shelf sit well-thumbed paperbacks with titles like “Adult Children of Alcoholics” and “Narcotics Anonymous.” The top shelf is lined with Shakespeare plays and a copy of “Screenwriting Tricks of the Trade.” Read more.
The Queens Courier 1-12-12
"Program Seeks Volunteers to Help the Elderly"
Chris Schneider spent 33 years as a social studies teacher before he joined the Northeast Queens Senior Services. Now, as program manager, he spends his time finding volunteers to visit lonely seniors. Read more.
The New York Times 1-11-12
"A Survivor of Haiti’s Quake, and Now of Leukemia, Too”
In a faint voice, Danielo Morpeau, who is still learning English and speaks with a slight Haitian accent, read two of the first words he learned while living in New York: “melatonin,” to aid sleep, and “Celexa,” to treat depression. Read more
Leader/Observer 1-5-12
"Howard Beach senior center housing moves forward”
Howard Beach will soon see a new housing development. Read more
The New York Times 1-4-12
"Sacrificing to Nurture Her Sons’ Academic Aspirations”
Listening to Kevin Del Villar rattle off ideas for how to improve Sunset Park, near his Brooklyn home, one might think he has been an urban planner or architect for years. Read more
The New York Times 12-31-11
"A Queens Woman Begins Her Third Career, as a Designer”
A dream can be deferred for only so long. Read more
The New York Times 12-22-11
"Just Getting By, Until the Day She Could Not Move”
Connie Nelson is in love with the view from her 18th-floor balcony: The glittering towers and spires of Lower Manhattan have beckoned her each day for 20 years. Read more
The New York Times 12-13-11
"Helping Lift a Daughter From Illness"
On a brisk afternoon, a mother and daughter scaled a jungle gym, crossed a bridge and took off down a pair of slides in Evergreen Park, in Ridgewood, Queens. Read more
Currents 12-12-11
"Can food pantries feed hungry NYC?
According to the latest numbers, close to one and a half million New Yorkers are living without enough food, including one out of every five children. And with the economy struggling to get back on its feet, more and more families are struggling to put food on the table. Read more
The New York Times 12-11-11
"From Florida to Brooklyn to Care for Her Ailing Sister"
When Sandra Dorne received a call in 2010 from a niece saying that Ms. Dorne’s older sister was in desperate need of care, she did not think twice. She packed her life into a small suitcase, left her waitressing job in Orlando, Fla., and three days later booked a $150 one-way plane ticket to Allentown, Pa. Read more
The New York Times 12-9-11
"A Quest for a Better Life, Interrupted by Sudden Grief"
Janet Brown is an expert at stealing naps. The driver’s seat of her minivan often doubles as a mattress, allowing her to sleep briefly during breaks in her duties as a single mother, a full-time student, a chiropractic intern and a counselor. She sleeps two to three hours each night. Read more
The Tablet 12-9-11
"Going Hungry - Catholic Charities' Food Pantries at Critical Level as Demands Rise"
With increasing federal budget cuts and a difficult economy, the food pantries of the Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens are struggling to provide assistance to a growing amount of people in need, said Nina Valmonte, a director of CCBQ. Read more
Queens Chronicle 12-8-11
"Help Us Help Them"
The hardest thing to do is explain to a hungry family that Catholic Charities simply does not have enough food to give them during a crisis.Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 12-7-11
"Cupboards are Bare at Local Food Pantries"
The cupboards are nearly bare at food pantries throughout the region as emergency food programs struggle to meet rising demand with declining resources. Read more
The New York Times 12-6-11
"Getting Her Dream Home, but Missing the Furniture"
Natasha Sydney’s new home has a sunset view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and three “Happy Birthday” balloons hovering near the living room ceiling, but not much else. Read more
The New York Times 12-3-11
"A Woman’s Illness Recurs, but She Still Tries to Inspire Others"
Wonder Pearson knew something was wrong when her typing speed began to drop. She had averaged 95 words a minute while working as an administrative assistant at the Internal Revenue Service in Atlanta. Read more
The New York Times 11-29-11
"Putting Others Ahead, and Then Falling Behind"
There is a certain type of woman who is good at taking care of everyone but herself. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 11-18-11
"CCBQ Raises $450K at Bishop’s Award"
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation hosted their 2011 Bishop's Testimonial Award Reception on Wednesday, November 9th. Read more
The New York Times 11-14-11
"After Months of Making Do, a Mother Is Ready to Once Again Make a Home"
Elizabeth Johnson-McKinney surprised her son, Xavier, when she told him they were moving to a bigger house. Read more
The New York Times 11-14-11
"Where are they now? – Samantha Johnson"
The New York Times 11-6-11
"Far From Home and Fighting a Rare Disease"
Numbers tell a stark story of Thonn McMillan’s battle for survival against a rare disease that has wreaked havoc on his body. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 9-30-11
"CCBQ Senior Centers Get "Extreme Makeover"
Two senior centers operated by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens recently underwent an “extreme makeover” with the help of volunteers from St. John's University and The Home Depot. Read more
Currents 9-27-11
"Extreme Makeover for Catholic Charities Senior Center”
Ty Pennington may not have been there but the Peter J. Dellamonica Catholic Charities Senior Center got an “extreme makeover.” Read more
Brooklyn News 12 9-25-11
"Senior Centers get an "Extreme Makeover"
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Peter J. Dellamonica in Astoria, Queens and Pete McGuinness Senior Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn underwent an "extreme makeover" as part of St. John's University's Tenth Annual University Service Day. Read more
NY1 News 8-25-11
"Senior Citizens Learn Self-Defense From Fearless Fighting Females”
A group of seniors in Queens learned some self-defense maneuvers Thursday thanks to Senator Joseph Addabbo and Evon Reyes of the Fearless Fighting Females. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 8-9-11
"CCBQ Awarded Fidelis Care Grant”
Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, recently announced the distribution of $227,020 from its Community Grant Fund to Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens in order to promote our programs and services which help those in need throughout the boroughs. Read more
Brooklyn Daily Eagle 8-9-11
"Grants Support Catholic Charities”
Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, recently announced the distribution of $112,290 from its Community Grant Fund to benefit Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens, $114,730 to support Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services… Read more
Brooklyn Daily Eagle 8-9-11
"Catholic Charities Dinner Honors JetBlue Executive”
Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens was set to honor Richard J. Smyth, vice president of corporate real estate of the New York-based JetBlue Airways, at The Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner on Wednesday. Read more
Currents 7-13-11
"Could Seniors Pay the Price on the Debt Ceiling?”
According to the latest national Pew Research/Washington Post poll – despite all the warnings of an economic apocalypse if the government fails to raise the nation’s debt ceiling limit – many Americans say they do not have a good understanding of what would happen if the debt limit is not raised. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 6-27-11
"CCBQ Hosts Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted its Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner at Pier Sixty on June 22nd. Read more
Currents 6-23-11
"Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Honors JetBlue Exec”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens hosted Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s annual Humanitarian Award Dinner. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 6-8-11
"CCBQ Celebrates New WIC Programs”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens celebrated the opening of its two new WIC Programs in Woodside and Jamaica, Queens with commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday. Read more
Currents 6-7-11
"Catholic Charities Celebrates New WIC Programs”
Pregnant women and families with young children have a couple of more places to turn in Queens, thanks to Catholic Charities. Read more
Currents 6-6-11
"Catholic Charities’ Emergency Management on the ground in Joplin, Missouri”
This year’s tornado season has been the deadliest in over six decades. Twisters have killed more than 500 people so far this year. Read more
Currents 5-10-11
"Bereavement Support for Those Grieving and Coping with Loss after 9/11 Tragedy”
President Barack Obama visited New York City today to remember the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Read more
Currents 5-3-11
"Seniors Learn to Stay Balanced”
Staying balanced may not be as easy as it sounds. For many seniors, that can – literally – be the case. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 4-22-11
"CCBQ Senior Center Gets “Extreme Makeover”
Catholic Charities Catherine Sheridan Senior Center in Jackson Heights, Queens underwent an “extreme makeover” on Saturday, April 16th as part of Scranton University’s Day of Service. Read more
Queens Ledger 4-19-11
"Debbie Hoffer, Advocate for the Elderly”
The Queensboro Council for Social Welfare recently honored Debbie Hoffer, the Director of Field Operations for Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens. Read more
Currents 4-19-11
"Senior Center Gets a Spring Sprucing Up”
Seniors, and the centers and services they use, were targeted for deep spending cuts that would have padlocked center doors and left many seniors without a place to spend their days. Read more
NY1 News 4-16-11
"Queens Senior Center Gets Friendly, Free Makeover”
A senior center in Jackson Heights is getting a makeover, all thanks to alumni from Scranton University in Pennsylvania. Read more
The New York Times 3-27-11
"Alone, Together”
On a raw, gray morning this month, two women sat at their usual table, eating breakfast from plastic trays. Read more
To view The New York Times slideshow of the seniors at Seaside Senior Center, please click on the following link: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/03/27/nyregion/20110327SENIORSss.html
Queens Courier 3-16-11
"Senior Center Reopens – Faces Closure”
It was a bittersweet day of celebration for the seniors and politicians who joined them to cut the ribbon on the new Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Senior Center. Read more
New York Nonprofit Press 3-14-11
"CCBQ Celebrates New Space Despite Threats to Senior Center”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens joined with elected officials and community leaders on Friday to celebrate the opening of a new location for its Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Senior center. Read more
Queens Chronicle 3-10-11
"Seven Area Senior Centers May Close”
Seniors in Queens are concerned that they may soon have nowhere to go if the governor’s budget cuts pass. Read more
NY Daily News 3-8-11
"Queens Senior Center at Risk: State Budget Cuts Could Close Lifeline”
The neighborhoods of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill are so close that their borders often blur. But when a senior center closed in Woodhaven nearly two years ago and residents were offered the chance to go to a facility in Richmond Hill, many opted to stay home. Read more
Currents: Writing the Wave 3-4-11
"Catholic Charities Senior Centers may be on chopping Block”
The Bloomberg Administration says it will have to close 105 senior centers in New York City if Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal becomes a reality. Among the centers slated to be closed: eight that are run by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. Read more
The Catholic Review 2-21-11
"Poverty, Joblessness, Deficits Combine to Slow Economic Recovery”
High unemployment, growing poverty and record budget deficits are combining to dim the hope that the nation’s economy will gain traction quickly. Read more
The Times Ledger Newspaper 2-9-11
"Senior Center Finds New Home”
It was a match made in Woodhaven. On one side was a senior center forced out of its home by high rent, on the other a volunteer ambulance service that badly needed funds. Read more
El Diario - El Mensajero 2-5-11
"Centro Cambia de Dirección”
El Servicio de Caridad Comunitaria Católica (Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services CCNS) Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Centro para Adultos Mayores ha anunciado que el centro se trasladará a una nueva ubicación y está abierto para almuerzo y actividades desde el miércoles 2 de febrero de 2011. Read more
Brooklyn Eagle 2-3-11
"Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Honors Libba Claude as Volunteer of Year”
Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens acknowledges the valuable service of Libba Claude, an extraordinary woman who donates her time and resources to the hundreds of families from The Children’s Center at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York. Read more
