Stories of Hope

Catholic Family Services

2009 Annual Report
Dear Friends,

We had 2,770 stories to tell.

Over these last 10 months that I have had the privilege
to be the Bishop of Kalamazoo, I have been able to learn
more about the inspiring work of Catholic Family Services.
This year I am proud to introduce the 2009 Annual Report
which shares a number of the compelling stories of
hope from just a few of the 2,770 people who received
help from Catholic Family Services. We hope you will be
inspired by their courage to transform their lives. These
stories remind us of our mission—to provide services with
compassion, care and concern for justice to all people in
need, in the manner of Jesus Christ.
This past fall I was delighted to work alongside Fran Denny, Executive Director,
board members and agency leaders to develop a new vision of Catholic Family
Services which begins with this statement:
“We envision ever-increasing stability and independence for the
individuals, families and communities we serve by restoring hope and
expanding our comprehensive, innovative and proactive social services
throughout southwest Michigan.”
I want to especially recognize the following: Fran for her faithful leadership of
the agency; our retired bishops, Bishop Paul V. Donovan and Bishop James A.
Murray for their many years of spiritual leadership and support; the board of
directors for their oversight and for all the supporters who offer their generous
gifts of time, treasure and talents.
Each day Catholic Family Services provides many with a hopeful future. Assuring
all of you of my prayers as we continue waiting in joyful hope, I am
Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley

Bishop of Kalamazoo

A 17 year old foster child came to Caring

Network with her first pregnancy. She had no
hope for the future and made poor choices
that resulted in her incarceration. We waited
in hope for her return but it did not occur. She
did remember us at the time of her second
pregnancy and returned for services. She is now
getting prenatal care, working hard to maintain
a drug free life and building her faith foundation.
She says that regular contact with Caring
Network helps her stay focused on her goals.
The Ark Services for Youth
The Ark Shelter
The Ark is a short-term crisis intervention shelter serving youth ages 10-17 in all
nine counties of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The Ark serves youth who have run
away, are in danger of being homeless or are experiencing a crisis or conflict. Youth
may stay up to 21 days and receive counseling and support services to help reunite
them with their families and stabilize their living situations. Crisis counseling is
provided through the toll free 24 hour phone line. The Ark shelter is located in
Kalamazoo.
174 runaway, homeless or youth in crisis
25 transitional placements
1,746 days of care

The Ark Community Services

This program helps homeless youth, and those who are precariously housed,
locate safe and stable housing and transition into independent young adults
with healthy lifestyle behaviors. We serve youth ages 16-21 in ten counties
in southwest Michigan. Youth receive personalized case management and
counseling, life skills training, employment and education support, emergency
supplies and assistance with housing.
262 crisis contacts
5,544 hours of counseling/case management services
13,122 days of housing assistance
131 youth served

The Ark Outreach

Outreach staff offers free education and prevention workshops in schools
and other organizations, helps promote The Ark services and provides crisis
intervention and case management services for youth ages 10–21.
354 presentations were made in six counties reaching 15,292 individuals

A young girl came to The Ark from a hospital,

where she had been treated for suicidal
thoughts and depression. She was fighting
with her family and not getting along with
anyone. At The Ark, staff helped her develop
healthy coping and stress management
skills. She returned home and continued with
aftercare services. She now reports feeling
happy and her self esteem has increased. She
feels good about herself and her future.
 Caring Network
The Caring Network brings hope, care and dignity to pregnant and parenting
women and their babies. Caring Network staff provide life-affirming services and
options to protect and improve the lives of women and children. In 2009, we
offered services to women in Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Berrien counties. These
services included case management and counseling, in-home visits, referrals,
pregnancy and parenting classes, perinatal depression screening, infant mortality
risk screening and education, family literacy programs, material items, adoption
and post adoption counseling and transitional housing.
548 clients received case management and/or prevention and support services
28 clients received brief assist services
5,569 hours of case management services

Caring Network Apartments

Transitional living apartments located in Kalamazoo for pregnant homeless
women and their babies.
11 adults
6 babies
1,281 days of residence

Post Adoption Services

Kalamazoo Caring Network offers services for birth parents and adoptive children.
62 contacts
4 cases opened
80 hours of service

A 16 year old pregnant homeless teen

was referred to Caring Network from an
emergency shelter. She immersed herself in
the parenting classes and worked with her
case manager to get back in school and find a
job. After high school, she went on to college
and is now in the process of pursuing her
dreams for herself and her child.
 Bridges Counseling
Bridges provides high quality, professional mental health counseling for
individuals, couples, families and children. Our experienced Masters’ level
therapists help clients resolve issues relating to depression, anger management,
gender identity, marital or relationship conflicts, sexual abuse, grief and loss and
any other issues to help restore their quality of life.
542 clients
2,270 sessions

Heating Assistance
Funds for this program are raised by the Diocese of Kalamazoo and administered
by volunteers.
388 families (1,191 adults and children) received heating assistance

Baraga Manor
Baraga Manor Apartments in Otsego provide affordable, attractive and safe living
for adults ages 62 or older and/or mobility-impaired adults.
52 residents
17,488 days of residence

A resident at Baraga says that her apartment

is the nicest place she has ever lived in. She
told staff that she had lived in very small
apartments with very little heat, and one place
was even infested with bugs. When Baraga
installed new carpeting she was thrilled
because she had never had new carpet before.
She enjoys spending time in the community
room and visiting with her neighbors. She is
glad to call Baraga Manor “home.”
Thank You to our Major Funders Thank You to our Caritas Donors
Allegan County United Way and Volunteer Center The Catholic Family Services Circle of Friends are the
Art Van Furniture faithful people who support our agency financially each
Barry County United Way year. Our circles are named after the fruit of the spirit,
Battle Creek Community Foundation listed in Galatians 5:22-23. We do not have space to list
Berrien Community Foundation all of our friends, but we gratefully acknowledge everyone
Berrien County Department of Human Services who has generously made a donation over the past year.
Borgess Health Alliance Every gift is appreciated. Listed below are the names of
Branch County United Way individuals and families who have given at the very highest
Catholic Charities USA level, the Caritas Circle of Love.
City of Kalamazoo
City of Portage
DeGroot Family Foundation Arthur & Pam Albin Shahin & Dawn Motakef
Diocese of Kalamazoo Tom & Molly Andrews Christopher Nagra
Donald & Ann Parfet Family Foundation Anne Brissette
Dorothy U. Dalton Foundation Barney & Judy Naylor
Emergency Food and Shelter Program/FEMA Thomas Burdgick
Fabri-Kal Corp. Tom & Peggy Rienzo
Greg & Barbara Ciolek
Greater Kalamazoo United Way Ken Rodden
Ellie Clark
Hackett Catholic Central High School
Harold & Grace Upjohn Foundation Don & Fran Denny Greg & Linda Root
Havirmill Foundation Kenneth Davis
Heart of West Michigan United Way Lawrence & Joan Root
Irving S. Gilmore Foundation Matt & Mary Early
David & Teri Scott
Kalamazoo Community Foundation John & Amy Fein
Kalamazoo Community Mental Health David & Jackie Sirotti
Robert Ferguson
& Substance Abuse Services
Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services Tim & Wendy Fleck Patricia Siwajek
Kalamazoo Youth United Way Dan & Carol Frosolone Denis Sobieray
L. Perrigo Company
Michigan Department of Career Development Nancy Frye Brian & Wendy Sosville
Michigan Department of Education Tom & Colette Gushurst
Michigan Department of Human Services Joe & Gloria Spoerl
John & Mary Hendrickson
Michigan State Housing Development Authority Tom & Priscilla Swiat
Michigan Women’s Foundation Ron & Donna Holmes
Pfizer, Inc. Jim & Jill Jilek Jim & Geri Tomshack
Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Prab, Inc. John Jones & Karrie Kranz Bill & Julia Van Domelen
St. Joseph Catholic Church Scott & Martha Keeler Robert & Janet Wheeler
St. Monica Catholic Church Jody Kotecki
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services David & Anne Widger
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Anthony Kriston
United Way of Greater Battle Creek Todd & Kristi Wolf
Dan & Dianne Litynski
United Ways from other areas Peter & Maureen Yanik
Van Buren County Department of Human Services Dean & Laura Masztak
William and Katherine Van Domelen Foundation David McGavin Bryant Zanko

A 17 year old came to Bridges for counseling.

He had dropped out of school at age 16
and had made some half-hearted attempts
at adult education but he kept quitting. He
said he felt like a loser. His counselor kept
encouraging him and he finally did go back
and receive his high school diploma. He now
has a stable job and is happy to be a “working
man” facing a promising future.
2009 Financial Statement *

Income Expenses
Contributions $132,757 Personnel $1,827,546
In-Kind Contributions 57,308 Contracted Services 69,960
Diocese of Kalamazoo 182,000 Supplies 72,773
Greater Kalamazoo United Way 273,447 Communication 47,902
Allegan County United Way 25,220 Occupancy 87,368
Barry County United Way 5,329 Publications 24,858
Branch County United Way 1,000 Travel 50,396
United Way of Greater Battle Creek 21,661 Direct Assistance/Housing 261,206
Other United Ways 6,729 In-Kind Expense 57,308
Program Grants And Contracts 1,277,437 Other Expenses 57,509
Program Fees 285,259 Total Expenses $2,556,826
Management Fees/Reimbursements 209,917 Balance $6,088
Released from Restriction 66,586
Other Income 18,264
Total Income $2,562,914

*This is a combined financial statement of two nonprofit corporations, Catholic Family Services
and the Catholic Family Services Non-Profit Housing Corporation. This statement is unaudited
and does not include depreciation expenses. The above figures include only management
related transactions with Baraga Manor. Otsego Senior Apartments, Inc., dba Baraga Manor and
managed by Catholic Family Services, had revenues of $531,030 in 2009, which are reported
elsewhere. Detailed financial reporting is on forms IRS 990 and can be obtained by going to
www.guidestar.com or contacting Catholic Family Services at (269) 381-9800. These corporations
are separately incorporated from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo, which sponsors
these charitable organizations.

A young man who was homeless and sleeping

under a bridge came to the Ark Community
Services program. He had a strong drug
addiction, was unemployed and felt very much
alone in the world. After working with his case
manager for many months, he now has a steady
job, stable housing, and has been accepted into a
national job training program. He is feeling good
about himself and his future looks bright.
2009 Board of Directors Office Locations
Timothy Kilmartin, President
Gloria Spoerl, Vice President Administrative
The Ark Community Services
Robert Wheeler, Treasurer Bridges Counseling
Melissa Locke, Secretary 1819 Gull Road
Kathleen Bess Kalamazoo, MI 49048-1611
John Jones P: (269) 381-9800
Amy Remmert F: (269) 381-2932
Michelle Radomsky
The Ark Shelter
Jill Jilek 990 W. Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-3614
P: ( 269) 343-8765
(800) 873-8336 24-Hour Crisis Line
F: (269) 343-7323

Caring Network
1441 S. Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-1370
P: (269) 381-1234
F: (269) 381-9809

Baraga Manor
301 Washington St.
Otsego, MI 49078-1276
P: (269) 694-9711
F: (269) 694-5857

Visit us on the web at

www.catholicfamilyservices.org

Mission Statement
The mission of Catholic Family Services
is to provide social services in the manner of Jesus Christ
with compassion, care and concern for justice
to all people in need and to advocate for their welfare,
calling those of goodwill to assist in this mission
in the Diocese of Kalamazoo.