SUMMER DONATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT: While our team is out during the warmer months, we want to make sure we’re available to receive your donations. If you plan to drop off items, please give Michele Puleo O’Hare a call at (518) 817-6804.
Kids’ Corner
R & E May School Graduation
Congratulations to our graduating class at St. Catherine’s R & E May School! Parents and families were invited to watch the ceremony as each sixth grader received their official certificates and awards. We are so proud of the progress our students have made and can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!
Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER 15TH
COLONIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Foursomes & sponsorships still available!
Register: www.st-cath.org/golf
Call: (518) 410-5941
E-Mail: mpuleoohare@st-cath.org
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming fundraising event, the 7th Annual Dr. Arthur J. Wallingford Memorial Golf Tournament, presented by The Sirco Family Foundation! The Wallingford family has been involved with St. Catherine’s for decades and we are delighted to honor him. By getting involved in fundraisers like these, you are supporting the critical work St. Catherine’s has performed for nearly 140 years. It’s because of this support that we can offer a range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of underserved children, families, and adults. These programs include homeless and supportive housing services, therapeutic residential programming, a foster care program, the R & E May School, and community-based outreach programs that provide support throughout the Capital Region and beyond.
Without our supporters, this wonderful day of fun, friends, and fundraising would not be possible! To our returning sponsors, thank you for continuing to believe in the mission and vision of St. Catherine’s. To our new sponsors this year, welcome! We are excited to have you on board and we hope your love and passion for St. Catherine’s will grow year after year.
Sincerely,
Christopher J. Farrell
SCCC Foundation Board of Trustees President
Monica Marini
SCCC Foundation Board of Trustees Vice President
For more information about this event, including levels of sponsorships available, contact Michele Puleo O’Hare at (518) 410-5941, visit www.st-cath.org/golf/ or click below!
Event Recaps
United Special Sportsman Association
A huge thank you to the United Special Sportsman Association (USSA) for inviting children from our Residential Program to an overnight fishing excursion on Oneida Lake! We also want to thank our dedicated program staff for making this such a successful and memorable event for those we serve!
Pioneer Bank Mini Golf Corporate Challenge
We had a great time at the 5th Annual Pioneer Charitable Foundation Mini Golf Tournament to benefit Pioneer Bank’s Foundation!
Throughout the day over $16,000 was raised to support local children in need.
St. Catherine’s even took home the Lowest Stroke Count Award! Thank you
Employee Spotlight
Dr. Shawn Hunziker Principal, R & E May School
Dr. Hunziker comes to us with years of experience in special education, having held the title of Principal for Special Programs in his previous role at Washington, Saratoga, Warren Hamilton, Essex BOCES for the past 19 years. Prior to that he worked as a special education teacher for the Brittonkill Central School District for 11 years, and since 2013, he’s been a professor in the Education department at Hudson Valley Community College.
We sat down with Shawn to learn about his inspiration behind becoming an educator, his upcoming goals for the R & E May School, his favorite part of the school day, and more.
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: Growing up my family always told me I was going to be a teacher, and I told them they were crazy. I thought, what would I teach, and why would I teach, when I could go into the private sector and make more money?
The summer before senior year we had to do an internship. I ended up doing one with the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. Through that I got introduced to special education. I remember thinking, that’s what I’m going to teach, I’m going to go into the field of special education. Right up until that point I was going to go into industrial organizational psychology, and I was all set to go to grad school in Florida. I had to go back to my advisor and say I was going to go to Saint Rose for education. It was that internship that changed it all.
Q: What are your goals for the upcoming school year?
A: Our goal is to continue to build a welcoming, nurturing environment, in a therapeutic setting, that’s conducive to educating and meeting our children’s needs. We’re also aiming to increase communication amongst school staff and with other parts of the agency, to see how we can collaborate in terms of services and supports.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the day, and why?
A: Arrival time. That’s when they give you the high-five’s and the fist-bumps, or they ask for a hug. Seeing them arrive and hearing about what they did the night before or over the weekend is always fun. We all stand in the lobby and watch them come in, so it’s a very positive and welcoming environment with several staff there.
My other favorite part of the day is towards the end of the day when they do the announcements. We do shout-outs and “stellar student awards.” With all the obstacles our students sometimes have to face, hearing those shout-outs for a kid that had a great day, or a kid that was able to turn their day around, those are the bonus checks in this field, to be able to hear and see those things.
Q: What is your proudest accomplishment or moment as principal so far?
Hearing from the State Education Department (SED) about the improvements the school has made, particularly the positive culture of the school, and hearing that from parents too.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about?
A: There is a remarkable staff here, a very dedicated staff, who work tirelessly, who are passionate, who follow the mission of St. Catherine’s and who make a positive difference in the lives of children. I think that’s important to acknowledge because one person can’t do it on their own.
Ways To Give
LEAVE A LEGACY
• SUPPORTS GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN
• CAN BE USED TO FINALIZE ESTATE PLANS
• LEGAL THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
At St. Catherine’s, care can come in the smallest of ways—and still mean everything.
At the R&E May School, a young student recently tried on a compression vest for the first time. He paused for a moment, then looked up and said, “This is nice. It feels like my mom’s hug.”
He wasn’t alone. Across the classroom, other students were curling into sensory body socks and gently zipping weighted vests. Another said, “I feel so quiet.”
Gift commitments must be confirmed in writing, and are subject to some restrictions, to qualify for membership in St. Catherine’s Brady Legacy Circle. FreeWill
• IT’S FREE!
Thanks to several small grants, students at St. Catherine’s can access sensory equipment that helps them feel safe and calm during their school day. These moments speak to the heart of our mission: helping children feel safe, supported, and seen.
And while we work every day to care for our community, we also want to help you care for yours.
This spring, we’re sharing a free tool from our partner, FreeWill, that helps you create your will in just 20 minutes— no matter your life-stage or wealth. If you have kids, pets, or just people you care about, a will gives you the power to make clear decisions for the future like who would care for your children and how your assets would be shared.
It’s not just a plan. It’s an act of care for those closest to you.
Please reach out with any questions, and thank you for your continued support!
All the best,
To learn more, visit www.st-cath.org/leave-a-legacy or click the button!
Volunteer Spotlight
The Bonadio Group
A big shoutout to our friends at The Bonadio Group for volunteering at St. Catherine’s!
Volunteers spent the day potting vibrant flowers, weeding, and refreshing the gardens around our Connections to Care Family Opportunity Center, preparing it to thrive this summer!
Interested in volunteering with us? Click the button to start your journey today!
The Towne Law Firm Albany Injury Lawyers
A big thank you to The Towne Law Firm Albany Injury Lawyers for donating cleaning and sanitation supplies, to benefit our homeless and housing programs!
Lauren and Maggie Mullen
We extend a heartfelt thank you to Lauren and Maggie for donating toys collected from Maggie’s tenth birthday party to benefit the children in our programs!
For more information on ways to support St. Catherine’s, click right to get started!