Providence House Heartline 703 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221 · www.providencehouse.org SUMMER 2010

People of Hope Celebration 2010

Event raises more than $252,000 for Providence House’s programs and

services that benefit women and children

Providence House Foundress Sister Elaine Roulet, CSJ (l.)

introduces Foundress Honoree Barbara “Bobby” Blanchard

NYS Parole Board Commissioner

Sister Mary Ross, CSJ presents People of Hope Award to Brother Thomas Grady, OSF

Sister Janet Kinney, CSJ Executive Director of

Providence House

NYC Councilman Al Vann attended

Board President Janet D’Addario (seated) and Keelyn Mulvey

Lakisha Adams, Carl Luciano and Edna Johnson

This year’s People of Hope Celebration was a tremendously successful fundraiser that brought in more than $252,000 from generous benefactors of Providence House. The proceeds are allocated to help fund the services and programs that help our residents find a permanent place to live, get a job and pursue an education. This year we honored two very special people who helped Providence House during its formative years. Barbara “Bobby” Blanchard was the recipient of the Foundress Award. The Foundress Award is bestowed in recognition of the women and men who bear witness to the mission of Providence House by sharing their gifts with the women and children we serve. Ms. Blanchard is both a generous benefactor of Providence House and for many years was a close associate of our Foundress Sister Elaine Roulet, CSJ. Most recently, Ms. Blanchard was Director of The Children’s Center at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Brother Thomas Grady, OSF was presented with the People of Hope Award. The People of Hope Award represents our highest ideals in recognizing men and women who have unhesitatingly given of their time and talent to Providence House. Brother Tom vigorously advocated on behalf of Providence House dur-ing its infancy and assisted Sister Elaine open the first Provi-dence House residence in Brooklyn, New York. Providence House is certainly blessed to count both of these wonderful honorees as our friends!

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Hayes and Mrs.Phil Mittleman

Photos courtesy of Melissa Spiro

My name is Michelle and when I arrived at Providence House I was working at Burger King as a cash-ier. Now I am working as a crew leader and in mid-July I will be a Manager. Providence House has

helped me stay focused and concentrate on myself. Gwen, Jackie and the Sisters always offered good advice or en-couraged me to do positive things. One of my goals was to be reunited with my children and this past June, I had the opportunity to visit with them. Some of my future goals are to get my own studio apartment, take some business classes and to start volunteering at a nursing home. Some of my most memorable moments at Providence House were waking up to an Easter basket outside my door and a beau-tiful Mother’s Day bag filled with cosmetics. Overall I will remember how helpful the staff and Sisters were. It is good to have positive people around when you are trying to do positive things.

Providence House is thrilled and excited to share that the Kosciuszko Street per-manent supportive housing project has completed the NYC Uniform Land Review Procedure, a lengthy process, that includes the input of the City Planning Commission, Community Board, Borough President, and the City

Council, culminating with the Mayor’s final approval. With this last major hurdle completed, we will move to the next step, of preparing and accepting construction bids for this building, to be built on vacant land in Community Board 3, Brooklyn. The completed project will provide 45 units of permanent supportive housing for women and children with special needs, with one additional unit reserved for a build-ing manager. We hope to break ground in early spring 2011. Simultaneously, we are in the Land Review process for a smaller permanent supportive housing project in Community Board 9 in Brooklyn. More on this project to follow!

Women Speak About Providence House

Providence House Collaborates with YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities

In June, 2010 Providence House began a collaborative effort with YAI, an organization that builds brighter futures through services and opportunities that open the door for people with developmental disabilities to enter into society’s mainstream. Just as Providence House helps transform the lives of homeless, abused, and formerly incar-cerated women by helping them find stable employment and permanent housing, YAI makes a difference by putting people to work through job training and placement. This collaboration is a perfect fit for both organizations!

The YAI program offers participants an opportunity to develop and improve their skills set for future employment. Louise Kenny, Supervisor for the Brooklyn Day Services Program, wrote “I just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to vol-unteer at Providence House. I think we are in agreement that this morning, our first day of volunteering, was a great success and we look forward to continue volunteering

at your beautiful location.” Providence House has four YAI volunteers working one day a week putting into practice mainte-nance and facilities coordination skills that will help them in their search for future long-term employment. Both Providence House and YAI are looking forward to our continued working relationship. Tameeka Edwards, Supervisor of Community Opportunities, wrote “I am sure that this will be a meaningful partnership that will continue to grow over time.”

Jackie Oyewole (r.), House Manager at Providence House and Remala Parson, Work Superviser at YAI/NIPD. They provide the day to day leadership of this collaboration.

Supportive Housing Project Gets NYC Approvals