Christ Child Society of Cleveland

Transcription

1 January 2014 Christ Child Society of Cleveland Mission: To foster a personal love of Christ expressing itself in service for needy children regardless of race, color, or creed. MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT New Years is traditionally the time to look back at the past year and move into the New Year with resolutions, goals and aspiration. As I look back at 2013 I see a year that was filled with wonderful women doing wonderful things all in the name of the Christ Child. I must say, I ended the year having a ball! 2014 New Year s resolutions? Consider trying a new project, working on a committee, helping with the Red Wagon luncheon, put some time in at Showcase or join The Starlight Ball committee. And at the end of 2014 you too will realize you had a ball! Thank you for your continued service to the children of our community year after year! Happy New Year! Terri Parker Proposed Slate of Officers Past President Marybeth Baucco announced the slate of officers recommended by the CCS nominating committee. This slate will be voted on at the 2014 Winter Business Meeting. We are grateful to Marybeth, Melanie Close, Annette Gorris, Meg Kearns and Carol Nunez for putting together this talented group of ladies to become the next leaders of our Christ Child Society Slate of Officers President: Susan Ferraro Smith President Elect: Janie Nickodem Service Vice President: Ann Ertle Organization Vice President: Donna Kelly Financial Secretary: Mary Cay McConnell Recording Secretary: Lynne Gerace Corresponding Secretary: Gina Muffet WINTER BUSINESS MEETING Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. Parmadale Cottage #14 Chapter news and reports Voting on Slate of Officers Socialize with friends Refreshments Hostesses Joanne Saporito and Ruth Graskemper Reflecting with Father Ralph A new year is not only a time to turn a calendar page, but it is also a great time to remember that our God is a God of new beginnings, always offering us the opportunity to start fresh with a clean slate. So many of the good works of the Christ Child Society seek to enhance those new beginnings given to us by God. The most obvious one is a layette, the hallmark of the Society, that literally enhances a life just begun. All the other good works of Christ Child contribute in similar ways to the enrichment of life. It is good to know that we can cooperate with God in treasuring the gift of life and helping to provide some of those reminders of the new beginnings offered to us by our ever-faithful and always loving God. May this New Year be filled with blessings for you and all those you love! Fr. Ralph

2 Volunteer Opportunities January 2014 Chagrin Falls Sewing Group Wednesday, January 8, 10:00-2:00 Thursday, January 9, 10:00-2:00 Contact: Donna Kelly Euclid St. John of the Cross Sewing Group Wednesday, January 8, 12:30-3:30 Contact: Mary McKown Far West Sewing Group Tuesday, January 7, 9:00-12:00 Contact: Connie Kinner Grandmother s Program Merrick House Contact: Stephanie West Heights-St. Dominic Sewing Group Tuesday, January 21, 10:00-2:00 Contact: Irene Chalko Layette Packing-Parmadale Monday, January 6, 10:00-12:30 Contact: Lynne Gerace Merrick House Pre-School Reading Enrichment Tuesday, January 7, 9:30-10:30 Tuesday, January 21, 9:30-10:30 Contact: Stephanie West My Stuff Packing Monday, January 20, 10:00-12:00 Contact: Cathy Caruso Parmadale Head Start Reading Enrichment Every Tuesday until the end of May, 9:30-11:00 and 1:30-3:00 Contact: Grace Starinsky St. Francis Library Tuesdays during the school year 9:45-2:15 Wednesdays during the school year 9:45-1:45 Contact: Liz Niehaus Showcase Contact: Meg Kirkholder (Tues.-Wed. scheduling) Contact: LaVerne Madigan (Thurs.-Sat. scheduling) Shifts available Tues.-Sat.: 10-2 / 10-4 / 12-4 West Park Catholic Academy Library Every Monday during the school year 8:30-12:45 Contact: Paula Conrad *Contact information can be found in our Chapter roster. Grandmother Program Help is needed for the Grandmother Program at Merrick House. We have a great need for help in the infant, babies and toddler rooms. Assist with holding, rocking, feeding and playing with the children on any day, Monday through Friday, after 9 AM. You may stay one, two or three hours to assist the trained staff in caring for the children. Your help would be most appreciated. Contact: Stephanie West East Side Committee We ve heard your requests for east side service projects! Please join the committee to help us find them! We cannot find new projects without your help! Your input and research help is essential! Contact: Donna Kelly - Wanted - Attention Sewers: Chairmen Ways & Means Chairman Chairman assists in fundraising by organizing small raffles at the Legacy and Spring Luncheons. No experience necessary. Contact: Terri Parker Looking for a Uniforms Chairman and a Beds/Cribs Chairman. Both positions will begin in Spring 2014 and we would like to have these positions filled in the next few months. Contact: Gina Muffet Website Committee Looking for a Chairman for the Website Committee. If you have an interest in websites and a desire to help us build the perfect site, please volunteer. Contact: Terri Parker Winter Hats, Gloves or Mittens needed for 2014 Winter Jacket Program Please take advantage of the winter sales to purchase hats, gloves or mittens (sizes infant to children s XL) for our Winter Jacket program. We tuck them into our jackets as an extra gift to the children. They will be collected at the Red Wagon Luncheon in September. Call Carole Moran for information. Please be sure that all flannel is being cut in one yard (36 inch) lengths. A cut blanket ready for sewing is 36 x 44. We have been continuing to receive some blankets that are cut too large. All stitching should be done in white thread only. We have white thread available at the Cottage. A narrow folded hem is preferred, but if you are using a serger please be sure to use a finer stitch count. The current serged blankets that we have been receiving have stitching that pulls away too easily. Thank you for supporting this important project. Lynne Gerace 2

3 Memory Eileen Fox (20) Ashley Szewczyk Ashley Busser Allan Sneaken Rodney Campbell Laura Koblenzer (4) Agnes Moyer Marie Ostergard (2) Remembrance/Endowment Report November 12 - December 11, 2013 Rev. John L. Viall Violet Gallo Dr. and Mrs. Mark Shoag Mr. and Mrs. William Dvorak Esther Veit (member since 1971) Pat McAuley (member since 1967) Mary Alice Arbeznik (member since 1979) In Our Thoughts Mary Doyle-death of sister in law (Mary Ryan) St. John Cathedral Mass For Christ Child Members, Living and Deceased and for their families. Friday, January 24, Noon Please notify the Christ Child office regarding deaths of CCS members or their immediate family members. Send Remembrance/ Endowment checks to: Christ Child Society c/o Parmadale 6753 State Road, Parma, Ohio Attn: Abby Sammon Nicola Antonelli-speedy recovery Donations this report period $1, Previous year to date $5, Total fiscal year to date $7, Provisional Christmas Party at Holy Name Head Start Program A Special Thank You to Santa Claus Larry Kennedy and Mrs. Mary Kennedy for their very generous donation to our Christ Child Society of Cleveland. Congratulations to our eighteen Provisionals for an outstanding Christmas Party on December 4th. Annette Gorris Provisional Chairman Provisionals seated left to right 1st Row: Georgeann Simia, Pam Kimatian, Sue Simonetti, Patty Suchy, Organization Vice President Janie Nickodem, President Terri Parker 2nd Row: Mary Herrick, Elizabeth Innocenzi, Irene Fitzgerald, Santa Larry Kennedy, Joyce Linton, Leslie Vecchio, Provisional Director Annette Gorris 3rdRow: Jackie Costanzo, Pat Liebenauer, Carol Zanath, Kathleen O Connell- Burton 4th Row: Joann Volk, Lolly Healey- Jamison, Linda Cerio, Ardis Radak, Nancy Hill 3

4 The Starlight Ball 2013 The Starlight Ball, our largest fundraiser of the year, took place on December 7th at The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. It was a captivating evening with fabulous decorations, enticing silent auction items, and inspiring entertainment. Over 330 guests participated in the festive celebration of our Society s efforts. Mike McIntyre, Plain Dealer Tipoff columnist and host of The Sound of Ideas on 90.3 WCPN, ideastream was the emcee and humorous speaker. Bishop Richard G. Lennon delivered the invocation, and Sister Judith Ann Karam, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine was honored as our 2013 Person of the Year. A highlight of the evening was a spirited performance by the Gospel Melanie Close, Susan Ferrano Smith and Terri Parker Choir of St. Francis School. Forty youngsters clad in red choir robes exuded Christmas cheer as they sang and were accompanied by a keyboard and drums. Marlen Fine Jewelers donated a Hearts on Fire Fulfillment diamond pendant as a raffle prize. The lucky winner was Christ Child member Michele Sumner. The $5,000 cash raffle winner was Mike Close, son of member Melanie Close. The Starlight Ball guests took home lasting memories of a spectacular evening and a reminder of our mission to serve the children of our community. To view additional photographs of the evening, go to and click on photos. Starlight Ball Committee: Marybeth Baucco Mary Graves Janie Nickodem Monica Bruck Mary Herrick Terri Parker Jean Canestraro Donna Kelly Kathleen Printy Cathy Caruso Karen Kirk Maire Shuster Paula Conrad Mary Mackert Mary Szabo Mary Jo Dailey Joan McAuliffe Lorene Varley Donna Fife Mary Cay McConnell Marie Ward Lynne Gerace Arlene McNamara Colleen Wyszynski Melanie Close and Susan Ferraro Smith, Chairmen Lorene Varley, Cathy Caruso and Arlene McNamara 4 Joanne Saporito with her son, Sam Saporito Ruth Graskemper and Don Schenkelberg

5 Sr. Marian Durkin, CSA, Father Ralph and Sr. Theresa Bontempo, CSA Beth Rymont and Kathleen Printy Melanie Close, Susan Ferraro Smith, Sister Judith Karam and Terri Parker Mary Mackert, Peter and Kelly Tom and Karen LaFond Sister Judith Karam and Bishop Roger Gries St. Francis Gospel Choir Matt and Gina Muffet 5

6 Terri Parker... President Susan Ferraro Smith... President-Elect Donna kelly...service VP janie nickodem... Organization VP Joan mcauliffe...recording Secretary Colleen wyszynski...corresponding Secretary Marie Ward... Financial Secretary ABBY SAMMON...Endowment/Remembrance Kathleen printy...newsletter Editor REV. RALPH E. WIATROWSKI...Spiritual Advisor Please direct questions, information & articles to: Kathleen Printy, Christ Child Society c/o Parmadale, 6753 State Road Parma, OH Chapter & Verse Christ Child Society of Cleveland c/o Parmadale, 6753 State Road, Parma, OH Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cleveland, Ohio Permit No ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL: Please deliver by January 7th Christ Child Society of Cleveland is chapter of: National Christ Child Society, Inc Executive Blvd, Suite 504, Rockville, MD / fax: