Focusing on those most in need…

Dear Grantees

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland wants to share the stories of the impressive work of its grantee organizations on this site’s homepage. Has your organization earned special recognition? Is there a story involving the people you serve that could be profiled?

Let us know!

Grantee Profile:

The Kidney Foundation of Ohio

How does it feel to be told you have kidney failure at the age of 16? “Brian” felt confused, shocked and scared when he started on in-center hemodialysis and then transitioned to peritoneal dialysis in his home. After just a few years, he was fortunate to receive a successful kidney transplant.

Through everything, his mantra was: “Never give up!” The Kidney Foundation of Ohio offered vital assistance to support Brian's family's financial needs. Grant funding helped with transportation costs and emergency expenses. This fall, Brian starts another journey – college.

Cleveland Housing Network

After escaping an emotionally abusive marriage, my daughter Joy and I became homeless. We lived in a shelter, but I eventually succumbed to depression and turned to drugs and alcohol to mask the pain. I was utterly unrecognizable by any who knew me.

After I was introduced to Cleveland Housing Network and [social worker] Tamika in 2003, my life changed drastically. I have a home. I have conquered my demons. I have returned to college after 10 years, and I have a 4.0 GPA. Eventually I plan to earn a Masters Degree and a Doctorate. My daughter is an honor roll student.

Some people come into our lives to help us fulfill our destiny. I believe CHN came into my life to help me fulfill mine. Every day, I do two things: I wake up and see myself where I want to be and refuse to stop working toward that. And every day, I reinforce to my daughter that she can make it. I teach her to have the confidence that she can do anything.

I know that without the help of CHN, and my strength in God, none of this would have been possible. —Monique

Collaborative to End Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in the U.S. and around the world that subjects youths and adults to force, fraud, or coercion for sexual exploitation or forced labor. Seven religious congregations – Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, Sisters of the Incarnate Word, Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, the Congregation of St. Joseph and Sisters of Notre Dame – and lay professionals operate educational and advocacy programs in Cleveland and Canton. Program expansion to Youngstown and western Ohio is planned.

Mission + Vision

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland improves the lives of those most in need with special attention to families, women and children living in poverty. Our primary focus is to increase the community’s capacity to meet the needs of the underserved. As a faith-based organization, the Foundation extends the values of Jesus Christ through the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and also works to sustain the ministries of women religious.

Proposal submission is currently closed

for Saint Ann Legacy and Good Samaritan grants.

Women & Spirit Opens in Cincinnati

Women & Spirit, a traveling museum exhibit designed to build awareness of “the women whose spirit helped make America” is now on display at the Cincinnati Museum Center through September 2009. Developed by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the exhibit will travel across the U.S. for three years. The Sisters of Charity Foundation made grants totaling $30,000 in support of the Women & Spirit project. The Sisters of Charity Health System also made a grant of $15,000.

On May 15th, the Foundation hosted the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) at the exhibit's Grand Opening. Fourteen CSA Sisters participated in a road trip to the Cincinnati History Museum, joining up with Sr. Miriam Erb, CSA Congregational Leader, Sr. Marian Durkin, congregational liaison to our Board, and Sr. Mary Denis, the CSA Archivist who served on the national Women & Spirit Advisory Committee. (Above foreground l. to r., Sr. Regina Fierman and Sr. Joan Gallagher enjoy a video presentation.)

Also on the trip was Sr. Rosemarie Carfagna, an Ursuline Sister who serves on our Religious Communities Ad Hoc Committee and as Vice President for Mission & Ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Program Officer Lynn Berner and consultants Kathy Csank, and Karen Malone Wright also attended.

Women & Spirit features rare artifacts, first-person accounts, interactive components and modern and archival video. Visitors learn the story of the role of women religious at some of the nation’s dramatic turning points, including the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, the 1901 San Francisco earthquake and the civil rights movement.

Cleveland is well represented in the national exhibit through the stories of Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA, founder of Rosary Hall at St. Vincent Charity Hospital and Sr. Dorothy Kazel, OSU who was killed in 1980 while doing missionary work in El Salvador.