MercyFirst

For Immediate Release: May 10, 2021, Syosset, NY MercyFirst, a multiservice organization serving the children, youth and families of Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, today announced that Ms. Renée Skolaski, MSW, has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of MercyFirst, effective immediately. This is following an extensive search by the MercyFirst Board of Trustees to find a replacement for Mr. Gerard (Jerry) McCaffery who will retire after 15 years of inspired lead...Continue reading

Congratulations to Besa Bauta, MercyFirst Chief Data Officer, and her team at the Social Impact AI Lab for being named a semifinalist in this year’s NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge! With colleagues at this lab, Besa uses artificial intelligence to provide non-profit organizations with a real-time view of what’s happening in their clients' lives, thereby improving mental health and welfare services for children and families. Check our new I AM GPH podcast Episode 97 (produced by NYU GPH’s Office of Communications & Promotion) to hear more from Besa Bauta. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. https://publichealth.nyu.edu//ep97-mental-health-and-artif

The latest MercyFirst Annual Report is now available! https://issuu.com/mercyfir//20_mercyfirstannual_report_web

Congratulations to our very own, Barbara Denize, Vice President, and to all the #prevention champions!

Voting is open for MercyFirst's Dog Program photo in the 2021 NIA Annual Photo Contest for Nonprofits! This year's theme, "Nonprofit Strong!" ! Every vote counts, so please share with your friends and family too! https://cont.st/ozSrr_uyfiJaW?g=1

An interesting insight into the joys and challenges of being a Foster Parent. It is a wonderful and important role for children in need of this care.

Congratulations to Kathleen Brady-Stepien on being named the President and CEO of Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) !

It has been quite a year with more challenges than we ever could imagine but with more hope and reassurances from all those around us who we count on every day to help us do this very challenging work. Many thanks to each of you for helping all of us at MercyFirst get through this year as hopeful as we have ever been! https://issuu.com/mercyfir/docs/21_winter_mercylink_final_3

Countdown to the Angel of Hope Virtual Gala! We will be honoring the Good Samaritan Outreach with the Angel of Hope award . Their mission is to bring hope and healing to the youth in the START With Hope Program. They bring them faith centered spiritual encouragement through the vehicles of music, instruction, prayer and love conversations.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteer, Nathalie Fernandez, who has been working, virtually, with our START With Hope program!

Youth and staff enjoyed picking raspberries and making wildflower bouquets during their recent trip to Orkestai Farm. Thank you to the wonderful staff for inviting us to explore the farm!

The MercyFirst Youth Leaders led an activity with our younger residents about how words can hurt someone's feelings. Everyone wrote down as many hurtful words as they could think of and then ripped the papers up, as a symbol to not use those words again. Then they made a list of appropriate ways that to react when someone hurts our feelings with words. It was a great activity for everyone!

Shop AmazonSmile http://smile.amazon.com/ch/11-1635089 during Prime Days and select MercyFirst as your charity of choice. A portion of your purchase helps support our important programs for children and families.

Members of our Social Justice club collaborated with our Art Therapy Department to create this powerful message in the cafeteria.

One of our teen volunteers has gone out of her way to make her hobby workshops happen during the pandemic. She has organized virtual workshops in calligraphy, scrap-booking, drawing and nail art. This week our young ladies learned the art of calligraphy. Thank you Dhruvi Tarpara, founder of Underprivileged Youth Assets, for sharing your talents!

Happy #MercyDay !

Life comes at you fast! Whether you've recently moved, become a citizen or turned 18 -- you should be sure to register to vote. And what better day than today -- #NationalVoterRegistrationDay? https://bit.ly/register4_2020

The BBB Accredited Charity Seal shows that our charity has met rigorous standards of accountability. When you donate to MercyFirst, you can feel good about giving. Check us out at https://bit.ly/35VV6O0

Happy Rosh Hashanah to our friends in the Jewish Community. May you have a good and sweet new year.

Congratulations to our Family Foster Care and Treatment Family Foster Care front line staff - Michael, Andrew, Valerie, Erica and Tara- on receiving an Excellence in Practice award from NYC Administration for Children's Services- ACS! Thank you for always going above and beyond for our children and families!

Today, we remember the victims of the Sept. 11th terror attacks and the heroes who risked their lives to save so many others #neverforget

I applaud Legislator Drucker’s public support of the Jericho Family Support Center. As evident in what the TOB did, many public officials these days duck from taking a principled stand on issues to avoid the push back that goes with the NIMBY attitude found all too often around us. Families who find themselves homeless need a helping hand to get back on their feet and this project has all the right supports and services in place to do just that. If community members have questions about what will take place at the program, they should get answers. But such questions cannot be the basis to just say NO at any cost to lending a helping hand. Well done Legislator Drucker! Gerard McCaffery President/CEO MercyFirst