A “community of caring” is being nurtured at Catholic Charities of Long Island. In 2025, we’d like to see this community continue to grow so we can help more of our needy and vulnerable neighbors on Long Island. Let’s accept the invitation of Jesus to serve the least as he instructed in Matthew 25:35-40. We need you to share your time, talent and treasure, and most importantly your prayers, so we can deliver “Care with Dignity…Life with Hope.”

Inspiration for our journey comes in many forms. A man assisted by Parish Social Ministry at St. Patrick’s in Bay Shore, one of our affiliated ministries, recently shared the following heartfelt words:

“I was led here by God,” Ralph explained. “I was homeless and disabled. I had to put it all at the foot of the cross. And this was the place to do it; they are so beautiful here.”

“They help you in every way they can with food, counseling, clothes, and smiles. I don’t know what we would have done without St. Patrick’s Parish Social Ministry.”

If you’d like to join a tour of our service ministries at Catholic Charities, please contact Danielle Campbell, director of communications and development, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please enjoy this review of the events and people that made 2024 special for Catholic Charities of Long Island.

The tone was set during Catholic Schools Week visits to six elementary schools and some 3,000 students across the diocese where interactive presentations about Catholic Charities inspired plenty of questions from the kids. Director of Communications and Development Danielle Campbell, just a few months into her new role, led the way. A memorable visit to St. Agnes Cathedral School included presentations from CEO Mike Smith and other staff members. The visits were initial steps in a journey that blossomed during Lent and formally at a meeting Smith, Campbell and CCLI volunteer coordinator Tricia Callaghan had later in the year with Catholic school principals. 

Pizza with a Purpose, a good-tasting fundraising initiative introduced during Lent at pizzerias in several Long Island communities, raised awareness about Catholic Charities of Long Island and was an initial fundraiser for Parish Social Ministry’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund helps those who come to parishes seeking help after an unexpected problem, such as a job loss or costly repair bill, has left them in need. More recently, the Development and Communications unit has strategized with Parish Social Ministry to develop a consistent funding model for the Emergency Relief Fund, and we are developing a full-fledged campaign. Parish-focused ERF is exactly the type of program we believe we should support.    

The first part of the year featured Valentine’s Day and Spring Fling dances involving student volunteers from local Catholic high schools as well as seniors from Catholic Charities community centers and residents of our 12 homes for developmental disabled adults. Many students say they enjoy these dances just as much, if not more than, their own school proms. 

Catholic Youth Organization is another great diocesan partner with whom we’ve developed an ongoing relationship. CYO, under executive director Carol Sciotto, has taken an active and enthusiastic role in supporting CCLI events and programs, with holiday cards and board games made and donated by student-athletes and consistent fundraising by employees, parents, and others associated with CYO.  

In May, our annual Caritas Dinner honoring Susan and Jim O’Hara was an occasion to strike up the band, as the Pipe and Drums ensemble from St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington proved that night in its rousing entrance. Poignant award acceptance remarks by the O’Haras perfectly illustrated the mission of Catholic Charities of Long Island. The festive evening raised a lot of money along with the spirits of the many guests attending. 

The next month, we introduced a new format and name for our Impact Report containing annual highlights and a financial statement for Catholic Charities of Long Island. Features included pertinent quotes and brief stories about clients, staff and supporters as well as photos showing our work.

Other noteworthy spring programs were joint awareness efforts with CCLI’s Mental Health Services department, including a program for college students at Molloy University in Rockville Centre and an outreach during a girls’ lacrosse game at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, where our administrative offices are located.  

Over the summer, we began our participation in the We Are There awareness program being conducted by Catholic Charities USA in three waves throughout the second half of 2024 and the first part of 2025. Local agencies are asked to increase campaign’s visibility through their own social media channels and other communications vehicles. Advertising and promotional initiatives are also taking place on the national and local levels. 

The year’s bright lights included Campbell’s weekly reports on CFN Live about CCLI people, programs and events. The pieces highlight the powerful impact Catholic Charities has on the lives of those around us who are in desperate need. The segments, highlighted by Danielle’s warm on-air presence, translate into increased awareness of and positive response to CCLI initiatives. With so many good stories, it’s hard to select just a few. Favorites included a historical report about World War II veteran Leonard Jindra, as he celebrated his 103rd birthday with his daughter and friends from Catholic Charities senior services, and a heartwarming story about Carolyn Lawrence, another senior who told how Catholic Charities personnel helped her move to Harvest House in Syosset, run by two Dominican Sisters of Amityville. “I’m never leaving,” she said of her new home. The third, to air soon, is a profile of well-known TV chef Lidia Bastianich, who shares her family’s amazing Catholic Charities story.

Danielle is working on a new monthly show for CFN, “You Did It for Me.” This show will highlight longer-form feature pieces about CCLI programs and clients delivered in context with complementary interviews with CCLI directors and reflections by clergy and religious. Slated to begin in the first quarter of 2025, it promises to be quite a full package.  

In the fall, New York Islanders Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine enthralled the sporting crowd at our annual Catholic Charities Golf Classic with his remarkable Long Island story, including his current role heading the Companions in Courage Foundation, which walks with pediatric hospital patients across North America. Pat said his mission these days is less about scoring goals than offering assists to those in need.
 
More recently, we participated in a Health Fair for Refugees, a community outreach led by CCLI’s Immigrant and Refugee Services to promote good health practices and testing conducted by Catholic Health.

In October, we welcomed a new grant writer, Alisha Delisle, to our development and communications team. She comes with experience helping other local Catholic organizations and we look forward to her collaboration and ideas. 

In November, we initiated a program to facilitate and increase corporate giving to CCLI through existing charitable endeavors and matching programs at Long Island companies. Letters of solicitation are being sent each month to potential business partners.  

In December a perennial favorite took place. The annual Christmas celebration transforms the cafeteria at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip into a magical winter wonderland featuring Santa Claus and his elves. Longtime CCLI volunteer Bob Spina leads the way as Jolly Old St. Nick and dozens of residents of our homes for the developmental disabled are happily captivated by the celebration.    

As the year closes, we’re grateful for the good things that have continued and happened for the first time. One final thought portends well: the recent generous Christmas donation from Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, which was used to buy gift cards, toys, jackets, and gloves for young families in our WIC program and other CCLI causes.