Catholic Charities honors United Way with top annual award

BATH – Catholic Charities of Steuben County at its annual dinner last month, presented five awards for outstanding commitment to the agency, its mission and the programs — Turning Point, Bath Community Child Day Care, Justice & Peace and Prevention — that combine to advance the mission.

Nearly 100 guests attended the harvest dinner held at the First Presbyterian Church in Bath.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the Friend of Catholic Charities award to United Way of the Southern Tier for its steadfast partnership in working to improve lives in the community. This award, the agency’s highest honor, recognizes an individual or organization that has helped Catholic Charities of Steuben County achieve its mission of building community, strengthening families, reducing poverty, and advocating for justice.

In his recognition speech, Chairman of the Board Robert Turissini said, “We can only do as much as we have the resources to do. And as a result of the support of the United Way, we have an increased capacity to care for the most vulnerable.”

United Way also works to boost families’ incomes by spearheading the CASH. tax assistance program. CASH stands for Creating Assets, Savings and Hope, and Turning Point operates a tax assistance site through the program at its Bath offices, which last year were able to help 60 families realize returns totaling $30,332.

Turissini also remarked on how the missions of the two organizations coalesce to bring about positive change in our community,

“While our mission is to directly serve the most vulnerable, this organization is charged with effectively mobilizing the caring power of our community. And that, they do!”

Turissini cited as an example of United Way’s community mobilization its Community Care Centers, which are places where individuals can receive a variety of human services under one roof.

Community Care Centers make it more convenient for people to get services that will help them get ahead, and they improve opportunities for agencies to partner with one another in service to clients.

Turissini also noted United Way was instrumental bringing a Health Ministry of the Southern Tier site to Catholic Charities’ 23 Liberty Street offices, thus classifying the location as Bath’s Community Care Center.