Catholic Charities Diocese of Youngstown touched the lives of more than 30,000 people in our six-county diocese last year. To acknowledge that impact, Catholic Charities Diocese of Youngstown held their annual Voice of Hope Dinner on Thursday, May 4, to a sold-out crowd at the Grand Resort Ballroom in Warren. The event also served as a fundraiser, honored three Voice of Hope Award recipients and provided Catholic Charities’ supporters with the chance to gather together and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year.
“Voice of Hope was created as a way to celebrate the unity and identity of Catholic Charities’ services in the Diocese of Youngstown and to raise funds to support our basic needs assistance programs,” said Jennifer Luccarelli, project manager at Catholic Charities Diocese of Youngstown.
The evening’s agenda included opening remarks from Bishop David J. Bonnar and Rachel Hrbolich (diocesan director of Catholic Charities), dinner, a keynote address from Dr. James Kravec (chief clinical officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health), a video presentation on the good works of the three Catholic Charities locations—Ashtabula County, Portage & Stark County and Regional (Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull Counties)—then the presentation of the Voice of Hope Awards, closing remarks and Benediction.
Committee members had various reasons to participate. “I really enjoy fundraising. I am a detail-oriented person. Planning and crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s to allow the guests to enjoy the experience gives me joy,” said Carrie Artman, executive administrative assistant at Catholic Charities Ashtabula County.
During his opening remarks, Bishop Bonnar related classic television commercials to the mission of Catholic Charities. “I am sure you have seen the commercial for Motel 6 when Tom Bodett says, ‘We’ll Leave the Light on for You.’ Catholic Charities always leaves the light on, especially for those who live in the darkness of poverty, homelessness, hunger, loneliness and incarceration. The light that they radiate is none other than the light of Jesus Christ.
“Second, there is a commercial for State Farm Insurance which says, ‘Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.’ Without prejudice or discrimination, Catholic Charities is a good neighbor, who is always there accompanying those most in need. The outreach of Catholic Charities extends beyond just this staff, as people throughout this Diocese share in the neighborly sense through their contributions to the annual Diocesan Appeal: ‘One in hope. One in mission.’ Catholic Charities could not leave the light on or be a good neighbor without their generosity and support,” said Bishop Bonnar.
The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to all people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.
The support of the mission comes from the staff of the agencies and diocesan offices as well as businesses and general public.
“I am here to support our own,” said Anita Davis, Catholic Charities Regional Agency’s Trumbull County receptionist.
Crystal Wells of Catholic Charities Regional Agency’s Mahoning County office said that she wanted to support her place of employment, which helps so many people.
Jennifer Guerriero and Tim Giffin of Mercy Health attended the event as representatives of their employer, a Voice of Hope sponsor. Giffin, a St. Rose Church parishioner, was also there to support Father Korda, a former pastor at the parish.
Youngstown native James F. Kravec, MD, F. A.C.P., discussed in his keynote speech the importance of hope throughout the COVID pandemic:
“The spring of 2020, we were home, like everyone was. There were no community events like this. Mass was said in an empty church while we watched from home on our couch. Now look where we are three years later in a packed, sold-out room with a crowd here to celebrate our award winners. Hope is certainly back in our communities. The despair of COVID is gone, I think. Each one of these events I talked about during COVID represents a roadblock, an opportunity, but it was only through the efforts of people coming together did we see our positivity, did we see our hope … This brought out the best in us, just like our award winners tonight. Your stories of hope and inspiration are meaningful for all of us here tonight. May our God of Hope bless you tonight and always,” said Kravec.
The 2023 Voice of Hope Award Winners were Father J. James Korda, Sister Jean Orsuto and Saint John School in Ashtabula.
Korda, president emeritus at CTNY and host of the award-winning Wineskins radio program, was honored for his trailblazing work in television ministry. He retired in July 2022, but continues to host Wineskins.
“My work in Communication pales to my fellow nominees,” said Father Korda during his acceptance speech. “As I began my work in radio and television in the early 1980s, I realized that I had to use the gifts of media to be a voice for those who had no voice. While I wasn’t in the trenches like my fellow nominees, I tried to bring to the airwaves the issues that are all around us—domestic violence, generational poverty, immigration, homelessness, human trafficking and racism—issues that are addressed daily through Catholic Charities. I am grateful to all of you who are here today because together we are that voice of hope for the faceless and the homeless. We should never, ever, deprive someone of hope, because it may be all that they have.
Sister Jean Orsuto, director of Emmanuel Community Care Center in Girard, has strong associations with her fellow award recipients.
“I thought about how all of us are connected; people of faith through God’s gracious love,” she said. “I found myself in some way connected to each of the participants in tonight’s event. I grew up in Ashtabula, where I attended Saint John High School, now Saint John School where the importance of service was instilled in me from the faculty and staff. More importantly, my vocation to religious life was fostered by the Sisters of Humility of Mary who taught in the school. Father Korda was pastor at St. Rose [Parish] in Girard and was very supportive of Emmanuel Community Care Center. He had me on Wineskins to talk about the work that we do. Jim Kravec works at Mercy Health, which holds a special place in my heart, and as Nancy Voitus [executive director of Catholic Charities Regional Agency] alluded to, she and I worked there for several years in the lives of the poor and marginalized in need of healthcare.”
She continued, “I also serve on the board of Catholic Health Partners, which became Bon Secours Mercy Health. Also, I credit Jim Kravec and his wife’s [Dr. Cynthia Kravec] counsel for keeping me and many others alive during the Pandemic. Indeed, we are all connected by God’s generous love.”
Saint John School in Ashtabula was honored as a herald of the Gospel. Seeking to bring light and truth to PK-12 students in Ashtabula County and beyond, through its commitment to educating the whole person in the Catholic Tradition.
“I certainly believe that education and Catholic Education is the greatest gift of hope that we can give people,” said Sister Maureen Burke, President of Saint John School. It is a gift that continues on. This past Saturday night, we had our annual hall of fame. I think their stories are of hope that has blossomed, not just the seeds of promise but the fruits and trees that continue to give us hope for the future. We promise we will continue to do what we can to provide hope for our students and the people of Ashtabula.”
Guests had an opportunity to partake in games of chance for prizes such as gift cards, chocolate, wine and whiskey.
Saint John School’s fourth and seventh graders provided the dove centerpieces for the dinner. Doves are a symbol of hope, peace, freedom and love. Each dove was the student’s interpretation of the theme.
Proceeds from the Voice of Hope dinner go directly toward the work of Catholic Charities, which continues to help people in the six counties of the diocese on a daily basis, providing food, utilities, housing and emergency assistance to those in need.
Wendy Rusback, administrative assistant at Catholic Charities Regional Agency pointed out, “It is a great way for the community to come together and learn more about what Catholic Charities offers.”
Artman expanded on this. “We are the charity arm of the church and the funds coming in are so important because they come back to us to help those that Jesus says will always be here and we are to love and actually serve them as He would.”
“It is important to have this fundraiser because of three words—community, charity and celebration,” said Mike Houy, a communication intern at Catholic Charities. “First, I believe in coming together as a family, sharing a meal and conversing with each other. Everyone had a hand in helping Catholic Charities and the Voice of Hope either directly or indirectly, and getting together for one night is a great way to come closer as an organization. Secondly, charity is why we work here at Catholic Charities and it’s a way to live the Word of God when Jesus calls us to help and serve others. Lastly, it’s a way we can celebrate what God has given us and others through His Grace.
“We celebrate each other’s company. We celebrate the awardees and we celebrate Catholic Charities with what we have accomplished through God in the past year for those who need it most,” he said.
The success and support of the community was evident, even before the fundraiser took place according to Lucarelli.
“We were sold out without mailing a single invitation! Not only did we sell out, but we had to extend our capacity from 325 to 340 seats!” The increased capacity provided an opportunity for more people to become aware of the needs of people in the diocese and the help that Catholic Charities provides.
In closing, Bishop Bonnar remarked. “I am so filled with hope and joy for our future together and all the good things that happen every day. It really is awesome when the work of charity, the work of loving, the work of giving … is happening. I feel so proud because it is happening on so many levels in our parishes, in our schools, at Catholic Charities, at St. Vincent de Paul Society, in our hospitals, in all our different entities in the Mahoning Valley and beyond. I am proud of every one of you because you give me hope. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you .”
