Annual Report 2012 - MercyFirst

hope is unstoppable
Annual Report 2012

Message from the CEO
Dear Friends:
MercyFirst is one of New York’s leading not-for-profit human service agencies founded by the Sisters of
Mercy in 1894. Each year, we touch the lives of more than 4,000 children and their families at locations
in Brooklyn, Queens and throughout Long Island. Our staff of almost 600 are committed professionals,
which through our continuum of care, provide hope and healing to children who are struggling today,
giving them the foundation for a brighter tomorrow.
I’m pleased to take a moment to reflect and share with you all the lives we have touched in the past year
at MercyFirst.
• We helped 686 families through our Preventive Services Programs, keeping 1,608 children safely at
home, with their families and out of the foster care system.
• We successfully reunited 180 foster children with their family and created 51 new families through
their adoption of a foster child.
• We provided safe and loving foster homes to 793 children in our Foster Boarding Home Program.
• We taught 377 youth in our Residential Care Program important life skills to help better their
futures.
• We provided sanctuary for 37 teenage mothers and their babies in our Mother/Baby Program and
helped them become better parents.
• We provided scholarship assistance for 23 of our graduates to attend college or vocational school
so they can be better prepared to learn the skills they need to become productive members of our
community.
These statistics are only part of the story. The real story of the past year unfolds everyday with the work
done at each of our programs and with those children and families whose lives are made brighter because
of what we do – families whose dreams are fulfilled, young mothers who learn to care for their babies
while continuing their education, and teenagers who learn to believe in themselves despite life’s hardships.
None of this would be possible without the generous support we receive from you. With your help we
can continue to fulfill our Mission, to inspire hope and promote healing for children and families in need.
Gerard McCaffery
President/CEO
Executive Staff
Gerard McCaffery
President and Chief Executive Officer
Carla DeFrancisco, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Jacqueline McKelvey, LMSW
Chief Program Officer
Joanne Cordaro
Sr. VP of Human Resources
Dawn Lewis
Chief Compliance Officer
Senior Staff
Sister M. Seton Agovino, RSM, LMSW
VP of Mission Integration
Sharon Dillon, M.S.
Sr. VP of Preventive Services
Dr. James Horne
Medical Director
Achim Kretschmer
Sr. VP of Information Technology
Carolyn O’Brien, LMSW
Sr. VP of Residential Programs
Kerri Sneden
VP of Resource Development

Mission and Values
Mission
Through the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, our Founders and
Sponsors, MercyFirst inspires hope and promotes healing for
children and families by providing quality human services
and educational opportunities while advocating for social
change.
“Not everyone gets a second
chance at things, but I am
grateful for mine. I am so
lucky to be at such a caring
and beautiful place like
MercyFirst.”
- Resident
Values
As a community of care, MercyFirst honors the spirit of our Founders and Sponsors, the Sisters
of Mercy, by carrying out our Mission and being faithful to six Core Values in the work
we do every day.
• Hospitality: We provide a welcoming, open, safe and sensitive environment for
those we serve and with whom we work.
• Compassion: We empathize with the suffering of others and actively work to alleviate
it as if it were our own.
• Respect: We value every individual’s God given right to be treated with respect
and dignity; and accept the responsibility to treat others in the same way.
• Integrity: We embody wholeness and unity through honesty in our words and
actions.
• Justice: We act with fairness and mercy in our relationships; and advocate for
positive change in our society.
• Excellence: We strive to use our knowledge, skills, and talents to carry out our
responsibilities to the best of our ability.

Our Programs and Services
MercyFirst, a Sanctuary® certified agency, reaches out to children and families who have been traumatized — children growing up without parents, families
on the brink of disaster, teens who have lost hope for the future. Every year we provide hope and healing to thousands of children who are struggling today,
giving them the foundation for a brighter tomorrow.
Community and Campus-Based Residential Treatment Programs
MercyFirst provides a wide array of treatment and support services to the children and adolescents in our residential group home and campus-based
programs. Education, pastoral care and recreation are provided on our campus and in the community.
Campus Programs
Our campus in Syosset provides a structured environment for teenage boys and girls who need
a high level of care and support. They attend our on-campus school full-time and participate in
regular recreational and social activities along with receiving the specialized treatment they need
to help them become productive members of the community. An OASAS licensed substance abuse
treatment clinic is operated on our campus through a co-operative agreement with Outreach.
Community Group Homes
Each day our group homes in Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk counties provide youth with the guidance they
Therapeutic Horse Program.
need to become responsible and contributing members of the community, giving them the opportunity to develop important skills and
learn the social behaviors necessary to succeed in independent living. Our specialized homes include Mother/Baby homes which assist
teen mothers, as they learn to parent effectively.
Family Foster Care
Foster families in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island provide loving, nurturing, temporary homes for children
unable to reside with their biological family because of serious allegations of abuse and neglect. MercyFirst
works intensely to reunite children with their families. When this is not possible, we seek permanent homes
for the children through adoption or discharge to a relative.
See a video about our Foster Fathers on
our website.

Medical and Mental Health Services
MercyFirst operates two medical clinics in Brooklyn and Syosset that are staffed by a Medical Director, Nurse Practicioners,
RN’s and LPN’s. Mental Health Services are provided including individual, group and family counseling, assessments,
and medication management as needed.
Family Support & After-School Programs
Everyday we work with hundreds of families and their children to support and strengthen them through our Family
Support & After-School Programs. Our After-School programs offer teens a safe, supportive environment during the
Tutoring.
after school hours when they are most likely to engage in risky behaviors.
Bridges to the Future
MercyFirst’s innovative Bridges to the Future Program provides today’s struggling youth with
the support and skills they need for the bright future they are capable of achieving. The initiative
supports our youth as they complete their education, develop workforce and daily living
skills, and prepare for the future.
2012 Scholarship Recipients.
Core Services
MercyFirst provides core services to our children and families, depending on the particular program that they
are associated with:
Case Management and Home Visits; Substance abuse treatment; Pastoral Care; Recreation and Mentoring;
Educational assistance including tutoring, college prep and financial assistance to attend college; Life Skills
training including preparation for independent living, financial literacy, food preparation, etc.
Life Skills Classroom.

Financial Report
Year Ended June 30, 2012
2012 Financial Report
Program Government Support $43,680,843
Support and Non-Operating Revenues
Grants $226,837
Donations $784,763
Special Events $308,429
Other $182,265
Total Support and Non-Operating Revenues $1,502,294
Total Support and Revenues $45,183,137
Agency Expenses
Program Expenses
Foster Care and Adoption Services $14,306,009
Residential Campus Programs $11,539,362
Community-based Group Homes $5,439,415
Medical and Mental Health Services $5,924,472
Family Support and After-School Programs $2,240,475
Total Program Services $39,449,733
Administrative and Fundraising Expenses $6,315,119
Total Expenses $45,764,852
Administrative and Fundraising
13.8%
Family Support and After-School Programs
4.9%
Foster Care and Adoption Services
31.3%
Medical and Mental Health Services
12.9%
Community-based Group Homes
11.9%
Residential Campus Programs
25.2%

Locations
4
3
2
1
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1. Brentwood
Independent Living Residence
Brentwood, NY
2. Deer Park Residence
Mother/Baby
Deer Park, NY
3. St. Mary’s Campus
525 Convent Road
Syosset, NY 11791
4. Nassau Preventive Services
60 Hempstead Avenue
Suite 303
W. Hempstead, NY 11552
5. McAuley Residence
Mother/Baby
Brooklyn, NY
6. Virginia Residence
Mother/Baby
Brooklyn, NY
7. The Montague Center
Family Foster Care
186 Montague Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
8. Angel Guardian Campus
Family Foster Care
6301 12th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
9. The Gerard C. Durr Center
Preventive Services
333 Avenue X
Brooklyn, NY 11223
10. Rockaway Park
Family Foster Care
230 Beach 102 Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
11. After-School Program
Uniondale, NY
12. Merrick House
Community Residence
Merrick, NY
13. East Massapequa Group Home
East Massapequa, NY
14. Baywood Group Home
Bay Shore, NY
15. Brightwaters Group Home
Brightwaters, NY

2011-2012 Donors
reflects donations made between 7/1/11 - 12/31/12
INDIVIDUALS
$50,000 +
Mrs. Virginia M. McCarthy
$10,000 - $24,999
Anne and Scott Gildea
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Rizzi
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Sweeney
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Shine
Mr. Eugene Suozzo
$5,000 + $9,999
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Clifford
Mr. Gerard McCaffery and
Ms. Margo Magid
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. McCarthy
Mr. and Mrs. John Pelan
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Senor
Ms. Patricia Siebecker
Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Silveri
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Wright
$1,000 - $4,999
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph K. Bazuro
Mr. John P. Bermingham, Esq.
Ms. Christine Canariato
Mr. Joseph P. Castellano
Mrs. Barbara Conolly
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Davy
Ms. Sharon Dillon
Ms. Sarah Dioguardi
Mr. Peter Falcone
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Farrell, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris J. Gallagher
Mrs. Patricia Gallagher
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Goonan
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Grammatico
Dr. W. David Harmon
Mr. Steven Hirsch
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hoenig
Mr. Steven Kaplan
Mr. Sean Lalor
Mr. William K. Lavin
Mr. and Mrs. Joel I. Mandelbaum
Mr. and Mrs. John J. McCabe
Dr. Susan W. McCarthy, M.D. PC
Mr. Kevin G. McCarthy
Ms. Eileen McGann
Mr. and Mrs. William C. McGarry
Mrs. Maryellen McNamara
Mr. Albert W. Narizzano
Dr. and Mrs. Gary Oshinsky
Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Picardi
Mr. Roger E. Podesta
Ms. Marcia Sander
Mrs. Norma Schnyder
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Shabecoff
Mr. Gene Sharp
Ms. Kerri Sneden
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Stekol
Most Reverend Joseph M. Sullivan,
DD, MSW
Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Sweeney
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Widlitz
$500 - $999
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Abbott
Ms. Julia P. Bergin
Mr. Stephen A. Carlino
Mr. Michael G. Cotter
Reverend Joseph K. Curley
Dr. Robert W. Daly
Mr. Mark Davis
Mr. John A. Deleva
Dr. Richard P. Dina
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin K. Dunn
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Fletcher
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Gelinne
Mr. Leonard C. Giacose
Mrs. Michelle Greene
Mr. Dale Hagstrom
Mrs. Alice Hanley
Mrs. Marion Holmgaard
Ms. Maria Ivanis
Ms. Marlee-Jo Jacobson
Dr. Andrew Jacono
Mr. and Mrs. Don W. Korenczuk
Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. Jarrett Lilien
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDermott
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Schreiber
Mr. and Mrs. John Taliercio
Mr. George Wade
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Wallner
Mr. Harold Wheeler
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Wholley
Dr. and Mrs. Peter Winkelstein
Ms. Elaine Zhao
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Zurell
Up to $499
Sr. M. Seton Agovino
Ms. Sandra Autorino
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Baker
Mr. and Ms. Barry D. Barth
Mr. and Mrs. John Bartholomew
Mr. and Mrs. Hector Bartolomei
Ms. Pauline Blake
Ms. Josephine Blank
Ms. Harriett Blum Axler
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bono
Mr. Arthur J. Bouklas
Ms. Dolores Bradley
Ms. Jayne Bryant
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Byrnes
Mr. Dominick Caccippio
Ms. Rosemarie Caravana
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Cardali
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cardullo
Mr. and Mrs. Dominic N. Castellano
Mrs. Lena Catalano
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Catherwood
Mr. and Mrs. John Chanda
Ms. Kathleen A. Chapuis
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Collett
Ms. Barbara A. Conley
Rosalie H. Contino, Ph.D.
Mr. Eugene J. Cozzolino
Mr. and Mrs. Rosario Crimando
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Croghan
Sister Catherine Crumlish, RSM
Mr. Keith A. Cunningham
Ms. Kathy L. De Angelis
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Devendorf
Mr. John F. Donahue, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. William Donnino
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Donohue
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Doody
Mr. Thomas A. Dooley
Mr. Gerald S. Fitzgerald
Rev. Msgr. William J. Flood
Sister Dorothy Flynn, RSM
Mr. and Mrs. Murray Frank
Mr. and Mrs. Francis P. Frary
Mr. George J. Freitag
Ms. Nancy R. Funke
Mr. Joseph Gallagher
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Gildea
Mr. Leo J. Gordon, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Gorman
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Hardiman
Mr. Daniel T. Harning
Mrs. Mary Hemmelman

2011-2012 Donors
reflects donations made between 7/1/11 - 12/31/12
Mr. and Mrs. Ady Hershcovitch
Ms. Kristen T. Hull
Mr. Gerard P. Kaessinger
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas King, IV
Mr. John Kolnsberg
Ms. Lynn Krug
Mrs. Catherine M. Kulesh
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph LaBato
Mr. and Mrs. Angelo LaFauci
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Laukaitis, III
Mr. August J. Lenz
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Levine
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Levine
Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph M. Lohse
Mr. Guy Massie
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Masterson
Mr. Charles J. Mazer and
Mr. Stephen Olivier
Ms. Elizabeth McCarthy
Mr. and Mrs. William L. McKenna
Mr. Marc O. McKenzie, Esq.
Ms. Ellen M. Meehan
Mr. Joseph J. Metzler
Ms. Marla Moffet
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Nash
Ms. Maryann Neglia
Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Neglia
Ms. Stacey Ochoa
Mr. Salvador Osegueda
Ms. Mary S. O’Toole
Mr. John D. Owens
Frank J. Pannizzo, Esq.
Ms. Patricia Pennecke
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pergolis
Ms. Amanda Perkins
Mr. and Mrs. Pat Perrone
Mr. Frank Prince, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Rabinowitz
Ms. Heather Randall
Mrs. Lenore D. Reilly
Mr. William A. Rich
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Ritter
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Rollo
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Romano
Mr. John B. Ross
Mr. Bowen Ross
Mr. and Mrs. Fortunato J. Rubbino
Mr. and Mrs. Denis J. Salamone
Ms. Margaret E. Santuccio
Mr. and Mrs. David B. Schmitz
Mr. Joseph Sclafani
Mrs. Julie Shapiro
Ms. Eileen J. Shaughnessy
Mrs. Eileen Shaughnessy
Mr. Steven Silva
Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Sonn
Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Stewart
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Stone
Mr. & Mrs. James Swierczewski
Mr. and Mrs. John Tedesco
The Higgins Family
Mr. Vincent Tullo
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Valentino
Mr. & Mrs. Steven M. Verderano
Mrs. Inez F. Viola
Mr. Jeff Visconti
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vuono
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Waldron
Mr. Craig Walker
Ms. Patricia M. Walsh
Mr. and Mrs. John Wlaysewski
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wolfinger, II
Mr. Richard L. Worrall
Dr. and Mrs. Jin Xu
Ms. Alicia Yanez
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Ziemianski
Special Thanks to the Interior Design Society of Long Island that
renovated our Life Skills Classroom to provide better skills development
for our youth.
Please Note...
The names listed in the Annual Report have supported our work
through financial contributions. We sincerely hope that this list
is complete, but if we have inadvertently omitted your name,
please bring it to our attention. We are grateful for every one of
our supporters!

2011-2012 Donors
reflects donations made between 7/1/11 - 12/31/12
ORGANIZATIONS
$100,000 +
Estate of Agnes Trill Funk
The RTS Family Foundation
$50,000 - $99,999
BNY Mellon
NetApp
$25,000 - $49,999
RTP Technology
Siwel Consulting, Inc.
The Angel Guardian Guild
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
API Systems, Inc.
CA Technologies
ChemRx
Cisco Systems
CulinArt, Inc.
EMC Corporation
Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.
Gildea & Ivanis LLP
HP
Onx Enterprise Solutions
Oracle
Ridgewood Savings Bank
SHI
Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic
Community
Symantec Corporation
The Susan and Leonard Feinstein
Foundation
USI - Northeast
Valley National Bank
Victoria Loconsolo Foundation Inc.
Warren & Warren, P.C.
World Wide Technology, Inc.
$5,000 + $9,999
American Eagle Outfitters
Foundation
BDO Seidman, LLP
BMC Software
Capital One
Flatlands Lions Club
Flushing Savings Bank, FSB
Fujitsu America
IBM Corporation
Shadow Financial Systems, Inc.
Symantec Corporation
TD Charitable Foundation
The 451 Group
$1,000 - $4,999
Aricent Group
Boyle Family Charitable Foundation
Cisco Systems
Crook Brothers Productions, Inc.
Doctorow Family Foundation
EMC Corporation
Estate of Helen L. Perry
ExcelaCom
Forsythe Solutions Group
Headstrong
Hitachi Data Systems Corporation
HP
Intel
KPMG Performance and Technology
Lewis Tree Serrvice, Inc.
Maspeth Federal Savings &
Loan Association
MassMutual
Milliman
Mineola-Pacific Lodge, No. 125
North Sea Advisors, LLC
Red Hat, Inc.
Schroder Investment Management NA
The Glickenhaus Foundation
United Way of New York City
Wells Fargo
Women’s Association Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church
$500 - $999
Aptra Corporation
Casella Construction Corporation
Christian Community Foundation
Concrete Industry Promotional Fund
Consolidated Edison Co. of New
York, Inc.
IBM Employee Services Center
Kids Helping Kids - Robbins Lane
Public School 124
Vanguard Charitable Endowment
Program
VMWare
Up to $499
A Sprinkle of Fun LLC
Ace Florist of Syosset
Albert Weiss
American Innotek
American Polish Political
Association, Inc.
Apostles of the Sacred Heart
Baptist Church of the Redeemter
at Flatbush
Cold Spring Hills Nursing and
Rehab
Community Church of Syosset
Dahill Landscape Design &
Maintenance, Inc.
Douglaston Manor
F.R. Male Associates
Holy Name Development Program
KLM Alumni Association
LUCE
Marconi Living Trust
Marian Woods, Inc.
Me and My Pal, Inc.
Modell’s Sporting Goods
Moose Legion # 20
Notre Dame Club of Long Island, Inc.
Official Offset Corp.
Our Lady of Mercy Academy
Paradise Landscaping
Polish American Political Club
Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC
Programs For Little Learners
PSS Realty
Rudy’s Exterminating Co., Inc.
Say No More Pest Control
Schatz Steinway, Inc.
Sip Surf & Play, Inc.
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Spectrum Catalysts, Inc.
St. Athanasius Church
St. Paul The Apostle Church
Syosset Central School District
Tennis House, Inc.
The Children First Foundation, Inc.
The T. Rowe Price Program for
Charitable Giving
TW Cable, LLC
ULC Robotics
Vietnam War Veterans Association, Inc.

Board of Trustees, Leadership Council
Board of Trustees
Chair
Mr. Kevin J. Shine
Vice Chair
Sr. Catherine Crumlish, RSM, Mercy Home for Children
Vice Chair
Mrs. Marie D’Amato-Rizzi
Treasurer
Mr. Scott Gildea, Gildea & Ivanis, LLP
Secretary
Mrs. Sheila Pelan
Mr. John B. Allen, Wharton B. Allen Agency, Inc.
Sr. Sheila Browne, RSM, Mercy Villa
Ms. Christine Canariato, Marketwire
Mr. Stephen Davy, Newedge Group, Inc.
Sr. Ivette V. Diaz, RSM, Catholic Health East/Global Health Ministry
Mr. Joseph H. Farrell, Esq.
Sr. Maureen Jessnik, RSM, St. Michael Parish
Mr. William K. Lavin
Mrs. Rhonda L. Maco, Law Offices of Rhonda L. Maco
Mr. John J. McCabe, Shay Assets Management, Inc.
Mr. Patrick F. McCarthy, IBM
Mr. Marc McKenzie, Deutsche Bank
Mr. Leonard Stekol, Ridgewood Savings Bank
Mr. Michael Sweeney, Palo Alto Networks
Mr. Harold Thomas, Schroder Investment Management
Sr. Sheila Tynan, RSM, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas -
Mid-Atlantic Community
Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM, St. Catharine and Our Lady of Victory Academy
Leadership Council
The Leadership Council is compromised of leaders from the business and public
sectors, along with individuals from the community who are committed to
aiding MercyFirst and supporting the agency’s mission through fundraising,
community support and public awareness activities. The Leadership Council
also includes former members of the Board of Trustees who want to stay involved
with MercyFirst and support its mission.
John P. Bermingham, Attorney, Former Board Member of MercyFirst
Campbell Brown, Journalist, Former CNN Anchor
Craig Cordell, NetApp - Verizon National Account Manager
Dr. Richard Dina, Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership,
Adelphi University - Senior Adviser/Consultant
Robert Flicker, C & B Consulting - Managing Director, A division of Gallagher
Benefit Services
Sister Sean Foley, RSM, Glencara, Inc. - Psychotherapy and Management
Consultant, Former CEO and Board Member of MercyFirst
Sister Lenore Guirreri, RSM, Sisters of Mercy Convent, Whitestone -
Administrator, Former Board Member of MercyFirst
William Hogan, NetApp - Vice President and GM
Lewis Johnson, Siwel Consulting, Inc. - President
John Koehler, The Koehler Org., Project Manager
Elizabeth McCarthy, Episcopal Social Services - Executive Director
James Sirignano, EMC Corporation - Senior Account Executive
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gerard McCaffery

Accreditations
Council on Accreditation
Sanctuary® Institute
American Psychological Association
Affiliations
American Association of Children’s Residential Centers
Child Welfare League of America
Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Human Services Council
Long Islanders for Families and Youth
New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services
525 Convent Road
Syosset, NY 11791
516.921.0808
6301 Twelfth Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
718.232.1500
www.mercyfirst.org
www.facebook.com/MercyFirst