Beatitude House staff presented out going Executive Director, Sr. Patricia McNicholas with a beautiful plant at their recent staff in-service.
Sr. Patricia is all smiles
Blog
Scholarship Winner Announced!
Congratulations to Robin Finger, the winner of the 2013 Karen R. Murphy Scholarship at YSU. The Karen R. Murphy Beatitude House Scholarship was established in memory of Karen R. Murphy, a thirty-year teacher, guidance counselor and administrator for the Youngstown City Schools who died of cancer in 2008. The scholarship recognizes the achievement by a woman who has completed a program of Beatitude House and who is a current undergraduate student residing in the Mahoning Valley.
Robin is a two-time winner of this award. Robin received a 4.0 GPA for the current spring semester and has maintained a 3.77 GPA overall. She is now enrolled as a senior in the Social Work program. In addition to her full-time education, Robin has moved to permanent housing and is working part-time at YSU as a student note-taker. She sees this employment as an opportunity for her to attend various classes to learn subject matter in classes that she would not be enrolled in. She is constantly searching for avenues to broaden her knowledge and experiences.
Congratulations, Robin! Hard work pays off!
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- Robin receives a Congratulations gift!
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- Robin and her daughters celebrate her achievement with Sr. Patricia and Sr. Mary Alyce
A Special Visit
While in Youngstown to give the commencement speech at YSU, actor Ed O’Neill (Modern Family) and his wife Catherine stopped at Beatitude House to see first-hand the impact our program has on the community.
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- Staff and residents welcome Ed O’Neill
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- Staff welcome Catherine
Community Awareness Day
MYCAP welcomed the community to their Awareness Day at Wick Park on May 17. Beatitude House participated in the event with a table of informational brochures about our Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing Programs and the services of Beatitude House Green Clean.
Sr. Mary Alyce and Tammy educate the community on the services of Beatitude House
Honoring our Mothers
The staff of Home Savings in Youngstown provided a Mother’s Day Dessert for the women at A House of Blessing Youngstown. Besides the colorful table decorations and delicious homemade cookies each of the women received a bright yellow potted plant to brighten their apartment. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!
Enjoying dessert
Bikes for Young Riders
The Out-Spokin’ Wheelmen Bicycle Club of Youngstown donated 13 tricycles to the Beatitude House programs in Youngstown, Warren and Ashtabula. We are very grateful for this great incentive to encourage our children to be outside in the summer and to develop healthy habits from an early age.
Enjoying the new bikes on a sunny day
Zonta Club of Ashtabula Presents Donation
Beatitude House has received a $2,000 donation from The Zonta Club of Ashtabula to help provide support services to the homeless women and children we serve. This is the second year The Zonta Club has supported the mission of Beatitude House. The club also presented a donation to Homesafe Domestic Violence Shelter.
Beth, a single mother of 3 who has received services from both organizations said, “I would have had to go back to my bad situation if it hadn’t been for Homesafe and Beatitude House working together.” Through the services offered by Beatitude House, Beth has earned her GED and her STNA license. In regards to the program Beth stated, “I think this program is a life changing program and my children and I are grateful for what a positive impact its had on our lives.”
Zonta International is a global organization of executive and professional women working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.
New Executive Director Appointed
Beatitude House’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Sister Janet Gardner, OSF, as the organization’s new executive director. The board feels Sr. Janet’s experience, skills, education, and passion will combine to make her an excellent leader. They look forward to her officially joining the staff this June.
Prior to coming to Beatitude House, Sr. Janet served as General Minister for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God where she oversaw and coordinated ministries in 22 locations. She has a Master’s of Social Work from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Additionally, her background in transitional and supportive housing programs, as well as her experience with direct service and administration, will inform her understanding of Beatitude House.
Sr. Janet Gardner
Donation Received in Ashtabula
Betty presents the donation to Sarah and Bunnie
Betty Kist, a member of Ohio Alpha Omega Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi recently presented Sarah Masek, Beatitude House Housing Director and Bunnie Cavallaro, Beatitude House resident with a monetary donation as well as household supplies from the chapter. Donations are always appreciated at Beatitude House!
Students Give Back
Ursuline High School Students of Service and their teacher mentor along with 2 members of the Youngstown Rotary Club teamed up on April 20 to help at A House of Blessing Youngstown. Despite the chill in the air, they managed to rake all of the leaves left on the playground from the winter. Now the playground is clean and ready for our children to enjoy. They also helped to clean and assemble complete sets of dishes and glassware that have been donated over the years. These dishes will be given to families as they move into our apartments with their children.
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- Cleaning up the front yard
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- Getting the playground ready for the children
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- Taking a break from sorting and organizing donations
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- Preparing dishes for the famillies to use