CFC in the News

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), one of the nation's leading human services organizations, today announced the five finalists for its 2012 National Volunteer of the Year Award.…Read more

Down the street from the Rochester International Airport, where individuals from all corners of the world cross paths , a diverse group gathered to discuss the crossing paths of different religions and the role of faith in society…Read more

When Kiernan and Lazeski returned to Rochester with their infant daughter, they wanted to do something to keep Anna's Chinese heritage alive.…Read more

Each year, over 300,000 individuals lend their hearts and hands at local Catholic Charities agencies. Volunteers are the backbone of the Catholic Charities network…Read more

Over 50 potters are expected at this year's Throw-A-Thon, where they will create more than 200 bowls to be used at the Catholic Family Center (CFC) Empty Bowls event in mid-October…Read more

Smell the food and listen to the voices. On Saturdays at the Somali Community and Development Association in Rochester, it's as if you're far away in Somalia…Read more

On the wall of Jim Morris' office at the Catholic Family Center is the definition of refugee.…Read more

The Catholic Family Center held its 20th Annual St. Patrick's Day Charity Gala…Read more

The Catholic Family Center's Credit Education Bureau and the American Cancer Society are now offering financial assistance to guests of the B. Thomas Golisano Hope Lodge Hospitality House…Read more

Steve Fahy of Brighton and Gary Jones of Penfield could have spent their day off doing spring cleaning around their own homes and enjoying the warm temperatures and sunshine…Read more

hen Catholic Family Center CEO Mark Wickham visited the agency's Healthy Sisters' Soup & Bean Works recently, he fell into conversation with a worker there, a woman who said she'd just received the first promotion of her life. Not only that, it was the first time she'd been able to hold down a job…Read more

Thumbs up for Gordon Munding and the Beale Street Cafe for hosting a fundraiser for the Catholic Family Center. "Cool Blues for the Homeless," held on March 4, generated more than $300 for the CFC's homeless shelters, as well as donations of clothing and food. Local musicians donated their time and talent…Read more

Improving legislation for Catholic causes is a year-round focus of the diocesan Public Policy Committee, yet there's one day that stands apart from the rest: when activists and politicians from around the state gather in Albany to share their views…Read more

he Rochester Area Ford Dealers donated a new Ford Transit Connect passenger van to ABVI-Goodwill…Read more

Irondequoit Senior Ministires (ISM), a collaborative ministry with Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (BKT) Catholic Parish, is hosting its 10th annual Lenten Series…Read more

The Alzheimer's Association will honor one of six finalists with the Debra J. Mayberry Inspiration Award on March 1 during its Celebrating Women and Successful Aging: The Little Purple Dress Luncheon, featuring best-selling author and journalist Gail Sheehy…Read more

The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and Catholic Family Center are also beneficiaries of the Xerox program this year…Read more

Marlene F. Bessette, Rochester, N.Y., to Catholic Family Center. Bessette will work on the ongoing management of a sustainable housing program…Read more

Marlene Bessette will volunteer at the Catholic Family Center to work on the ongoing management of a sustainable housing program…Read more

Thumbs up for Crocus Clay Works and the Rochester Public Market for supporting Catholic Family Center's Healthy Sisters' Soup & Bean Works program during January…Read more

A video on the Catholic Courier website that features John Hurley. John talks about his family business, and mentions CFC's refugee program and Healthy Sisters…Read more

Helping hundreds of community members each day is certainly something to feel good about, and Rochester resident Jennifer McDermott can confidently say she does just that…Read more

In 2007, Maria Ray was 40 and had never held a job. The most important thing in her life was getting the next drink…Read more

The very talented and generous artists over at Crocus Clay Works are teaming up with Healthy Sisters' Soup & Bean Works to raise money to fund the Sisters' ongoing program…Read more

The talk was sponsored by diocesan Catholic Charities and St. Bernard's. Additional speakers are scheduled to make presentations in the spring, including…Read more

The Rochester Public Market and the Catholic Family Center's Healthy Sisters' Soup and Bean Works will recognize January as National Soup Month with a free tasting…Read more

During your First Friday travels this week, stop by the Hungerford Building for art, food, and an opportunity to benefit a worthy local organization…Read more

The Winter Warmth Soup Benefit to help the Healthy Sisters Soup and Bean Project is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Crocus Clay Works Gallery, Suite 225, Hungerford Building, 1115 E. Main St. Buy a hand-made bowl, and enjoy a meal of soup, bread, hot beverage and dessert. All proceeds will be donated to the Soup and Bean Project…Read more

Monroe County just launched a website that tells people seeking mental health services how long they'll have to wait for an appointment at public clinics…Read more

Funding will be used to construct 21 units of supportive housing in Rochester…Read more

As discussed in part 3 of this series about JustFaith, Marvin L. Krier Mich's Challenge and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching…Read more

Woods Oviatt Gilman is once again making a financial donation to five local not-for-profit organizations. Each year we make these donations in honor of our clients…Read more

The Karen (pronounced kuh-REN) and another ethnic minority group, the Chin, began settling in Rochester about six years ago. Today, Rochester is home to about 860 refugees from that part of the world, many of whom live in the Maplewood neighborhood, says Jim Morris of Catholic Family Center…Read more

Fran Weisberg has a quote from Carolyn A. Portanova, president and CEO of Catholic Family Center, hanging on her office wall: "Trust your crazy ideas." Read more

The CYO Basketball teams at Church of the Transfiguration, 50 W. Bloomfield Road, are putting on a Breakfast with Santa…Read more

Billed as "24 hours of unprecedented giving," Thursday's ROC the Day fundraiser brought in more than $567,000 for nonprofits in the nine-county region…Read more

A former chairman of the boards of directors of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Catholic Family Center, Cooney now sits on the WXXI Board of Directors…Read more

Mary Hannick was barely 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. When she decided she wanted to become a Red Cross volunteer during World War II, she was told that, at 98 pounds, she was too small. They told her to come back when she weighed 108 pounds. She went on a milkshake diet and put on seven pounds. That was close enough, as it turns out…Read more

Amid high food costs and a challenging economy, suburban Monroe County is struggling to feed itself…Read more

The 2011-12 Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal will tap into social media and make greater use of the Internet in hopes of introducing the campaign to a new generation…Read more

St. Bonaventure University will host a panel discussion on the similarities and differences, common ground and divergences among the Abrahamic Tradition…Read more

Muted watercolors, wood crafts, packaged soups and classical hymns will all share some of the spotlight during a two-day arts and music festival…Read more

Mark Wickham has been selected to succeed Carolyn Portanova as president and CEO of Catholic Family Center…Read more

The U.S. Census Bureau data about poverty is old news. We know that one in two children in Rochester is living in poverty and…Read more

Winter is coming quickly, and many are still in need of a warm place to stay and a hot meal. To help fight hunger and homelessness, the Catholic Family Center of Rochester is hosting its 8th annual Empty Bowls event…Read more

Catholic Family Center has selected the CEO of Lakeview Mental Hospital Inc. to succeed its long-serving president and CEO, Carolyn Portanova…Read more

Mark Wickham is leaving Lakeview Mental Health after a 10-year stint as its CEO…Read more

Mark Wickham has been selected to succeed Carolyn Portanova as president and CEO of Catholic Family Center…Read more

Two agencies have joined efforts to train medical interpreters and improve language services for the Latino community…Read more

Turk Hill Craft School presents the 8th Annual Catholic Family Center Empty Bowls Rochester, with proceeds from the event to benefit the CFC Women's and Children's Homeless Shelters…Read more

A newly formed group, the Greater Rochester Coalition for Immigration Justice, has invited Dr.Paul Finkelman to come to Rochester to speak about the legal…Read more

More companies are adding Employee Assistance Programs, or EAP's to their list of benefits to help employees who may be going through difficulties during these uncertain economic times. Kevin Einbinder is business manager for Employee Assistance Program of Rochester…Read more

"Building and Supporting Communities" is the theme of a National Adult Day Services Week celebration at St. Ann's Home, 1500 Portland Place, happening Friday…Read more

A rally today in the nation's capital will highlight the 2.5 million Americans who some call the nation's "silent safety net": grandparents who are raising their children's kids…Read more

Success is frequently born of collaboration; when two people put their heads together, a kind of alchemy takes place in which ideas flourish and problems are more readily solved…Read more (page 23)

A rally today in the nation's capital will highlight the 2.5 million Americans who some call the nation's "silent safety net": grandparents who are raising their children's kids…Read more

Carolyn Portanova, CEO of Alliance for Children and Families member Catholic Family Centers (CFC) has been named the Member of Distinction by the Council of Agency Executives…Read more

When homeless shelters overflow, the practice for decades has been to place those who cannot find beds into private hotels…Read more

Catholic Family Center's Healthy Sisters' Soup & Bean Works has launched a new line of rice mixes…Read more

Healthy Sisters' Soup & Bean Works makes the Channel 13 News! Watch the clip

The young entrepreneurs in the City of Rochester Bureau of Recreation's Biz Kids Real program also see the fair as a marketplace where they will offer healthy options to hungry fairgoers…Read more

Teens in the Biz Kids Real Youth Program prepared to sell their own fruit products at the New York State Fair…Read more

Amelia mourns the death of her daughter while facing the challenge of caring for four grandchildren with very limited means. She is lost within the system and confused. Catholic Family Center's Kinship Care Resource Network could have provided the support she so desperately needs to keep her grandchildren out of foster care…Read more

Catholic Family Center will host its 24th annual Gaffney Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, Aug. 22, at Locust Hill Country Club…Read more

Through citizen activism and partnerships with human service agencies, naturally occurring retirement communities are helping local seniors age in place. Organizers say the communities make particular sense now, as health care costs continue to soar and legions of graying baby boomers want to remain active and independent…Read more

In October of 2010, CFC's Refugee Volunteer Administrator, Debbie Lanceri, met with Carroll Wetherby, a history teacher at Gates-Chili High School and proposed a unique collaboration…Read more

Access to mental health care, opposition to sex trafficking and adherence to the common good have been selected by the diocesan Public Policy Committee as its three priorities for 2011-12.…Read more

Facing the daunting task of caring for refugees hailing from several continents and speaking 65 languages, Rochester General Hospital has taken the lead…Read more

When Bud, an elderly gay man who lives in a Rochester-area residential community for seniors, posted news clippings outside his door regarding same-sex marriage, the reaction he got from other residents was not overwhelmingly positive…Read more

Carolyn Portanova recently received the first-ever "Member of Distinction" award for her years of service and leadership…Read more

There's value in understanding other cultures and people." — Jim Morris, associate director of refugee services at Catholic Family Center.…Read more

Medical Motor Service of Rochester and Monroe County Inc. won a national award for excellence recently…Read more

Facing the daunting task of caring for refugees hailing from several continents and speaking 65 languages, Rochester General Hospital has taken the lead in offering…Read more

It can be difficult to assess how an older loved one is doing. Long distance caregivers do not see their loved one on a regular basis, and local caregivers may not notice subtle changes…Read more

Every Friday morning, Sunnking gathers all of our employees for a weekly update on company news, events, and operational changes. Sometimes the topics are serious, sometimes they're funny and other times they can be pretty boring (but necessary)…Read more

For the past few weeks, there have been discussions around the topic of "redesigning Medicaid" in New York state as a way to improve efficiency and reduce costs…Read more

Richard Lenio is the kind of man who hates attention, but it's impossible for him not to receive it. A man who does as much as he does cannot simply fly under the radar…Read more

Years ago, when he began working at the Community Place of Greater Rochester, Evan Green started getting a greater appreciation of the organization's impact on the community…Read more

One day after five victims of carbon monoxide poisoning were found in a home, local relief agencies said many families choose generators because they don't know where to go for help…Read more

Christians are always searching for ways to tie the central events of Jesus' final days to their own experiences with life and death and rebirth, and even to the cycle of life in nature…Read more

Soup making is fostering a new life for the women in upstate New York and it is all thanks an amazing non-profit work experience program that I recently learned about called…Read more

Monroe County has many services specifically for seniors, from computer classes to outings to help managing the changes that age can bring…Read more

Rochester is the national home for a first-of-its kind conference. Medical experts gathered to discuss health care for refugees…Read more

Mohamud Osman knows that when refugees first see a doctor in this country, they're unlikely to say anything's wrong…Read more

Three years ago, Tomika Lyons of Greece found herself being drawn into arguments with her 8-year-old son. She'd tell him to stop misbehaving, he'd continue, she'd yell, he'd demand an explanation, she'd run out of patience. "Then I'd whoop him,"…Read more

News coverage from News 10 NBC's website regarding Carolyn's retirement with video…Read more

Carolyn Portanova, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Family Center, will retire Jan. 1, 2012, the human-services agency announced Tuesday, March 29. CFC is an affiliate of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester…Read more

Anthony J. Adams Jr., chairman of the board of Catholic Family Center, announced today that longtime President and CEO, Carolyn A. Portanova, will retire effective Jan. 1, 2012…Read more

Turk Hill Craft School in Fairport, will host its 5th annual Throw-A-Thon. The event is Saturday, March 26 from…Read more

Tax time is always exciting when a refund is anticipated. Plans and projects that might have been on the back burner are now made possible through the injection of a large sum of money…Read more

A big turnout Friday evening for an annual event to help the Rochester Region's largest provider of family services…Read more

Grandparents are rallying against state budget cuts. Kinship Care provides assistance to relatives who take in and care for children that would end up in the Foster Care system…Read more

Budget-cut proposals dominated conversations local Catholics had with lawmakers during the 2011 Public Policy Day in Albany Tuesday, March 8…Read more

The American Association of Retired Persons, along with Lifespan, is calling on the state legislature to reject certain cuts proposed by Governor Cuomo in his state budget…Read more

About 1,000 Catholics from across New York will meet with legislators in Albany March 8 during the annual Public Policy Day, which will also feature a Mass with the state's bishops and workshops for youths and adults…Read more

During winter break, School 35 in Rochester was open for its refugee children…Read more

News coverage of "Cool Blues for the Hatless 3", a blues event sponsored by Son House Blues Club Musicians and Beale Street Café to benefit CFC homeless & housing programs. Read more

Catholic Family Center has received the largest single donation in the organization's history…Read more

"Americans love locking people up," says Ann Graham, the founder and onetime director of a program for former prisoners called Prodigal Sons and Daughters …Read more

Crystal Schmeer said she was still writing chapters in her addiction saga while her friend Connie Chisolm was overcoming incarceration and building a sober life…Read more

Representatives from more than 40 local ministries will be on hand from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, 150 French Road, Pittsford, for a community ministry fair…Read more

Struggling families in Caledonia and Mumford are among the people who've been helped most recently by the Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal …Read more

Citizens Bank employees are donating red mesh stockings to the Catholic Family Center's Francis Center …Read more

It's a program that's been a part of the Catholic Family Center for more than 10 years and now the Healthy Sister's Soups Program will get a new home. …Read more

A program that helps local women move up is making a move itself. The Catholic Family Center's "Healthy Sisters Soup and Bean" is doubling in size thanks to a new partnership. …Read more

Working at Healthy Sisters' Bean & Soup Works isn't just a job for Lowanda Presley – it stirred up a fresh start. …Read more

For some Rochester women in drug recovery, Healthy Sisters' Soup and Bean Works gives them hope for a better life. …Read more