1940s
The end of WWII spiked a need for social services programs.
1945
Bishop Michael J. Ready established Catholic Social Services.
1945
Monsignor William E. Kappes was named Director.
1947-1948
Opened the following programs: Counseling, Foster Care, Adoption and the Resettlement of Displaced Persons.
1949
Branches included Newark, Licking, Muskingum, Zanesville, and Franklin counties.1950s
Cold War, communism, Korean War, Hungarian Revolution, Eastern European refugees, Brown vs Board, Civil Rights
1952
Participated in the Franklin County Welfare Study creating a standard for grants.
1955
Began the Homemaker Services Program.
1957
Expanded services to include Scioto County, opened offices in Zanesville and Portsmouth.1960s
Vietnam War, Civil Rights, US relations with Cuba, first man on the moon, and JFK assassination
1960
New President, Monsignor Lawrence J. Corcoran, is appointed.
1965
Monsignor Corcoran appointed Executive Secretary of National Catholic Charities USA in DC.
1967
CSS moved from South Sixth Street to its current location at 197 East Gay Street.1970s
Vietnam war continues, women’s employment rights/ equal pay for equal work, and Watergate scandal
1971
First female President, Helen McDaniel is appointed.
1972
Monsignor Corcoran leads the creation of the Cadre Report of the National Conference of Catholic Charities.
1976–77
Began the Senior Companion & Senior Care program; CSS services extended to Dover and began services to residents of Seton Square.1980s
Reaganomics, AIDS, good economy, commercialism materialism, fall of the Berlin Wall, and stock market crash
1982
Accredited by Council on Accreditation.
1982
Began the Transportation Program in Licking County, Housing for homeless families, and Holy Rosary Family Shelter.
1987
New President, Sara Murphy, is appointed.1990s
Early 90s recession, Gulf War/Desert Storm, and mid-90s economic boom
1990–92
Launched Payee, Giving Tree, Project Rachel, homebased Family Services, and opened the St. Aloysius Family Center Kid’s Club.
1993
Bishop James A. Griffin hosted the inaugural Breakfast with the Bishop.
1994–95
Took over the Family Center on East Patterson and opened the Sherard Health Clinic.
1999
Opened the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center Food Pantry.2000s
2000 dot-com burst, 9/11, War on Terror, housing crisis, Great Recession, and immigration growth
2000–02
Launched programs for Job Readiness and Immigrant and Refugee Services.
2002
New President, Don Wisler, is appointed.
2006
First Spirit of Hope Gala.
2006–07
CSS was awarded the BBB Integrity Award, the Mundo Hispano Award for Best Non-Profit Organization, and the Healthcare Heroes Award.2010s
War on Terror continues, changing immigration policies/ increase of Hispanics in US, and troubled foreign economics
2010–17
Launched the Money Management, Pathways to Hope, HOME Choice, Foster Grandparents, Friendly Visiting, Maternal Health Counseling, and Seton Service Coordination Programs.
2014
The St. Francis Center in Portsmouth moved into a monastery.
2014
New President, Rachel Lustig, is appointed.
2017
Our Lady of Guadalupe Center was transformed into a community center.
2017
Named Columbus Foundation’s, Five Non-Profits to Watch.
2019
Awarded $1.2 M to replicate Stay the Course® program.Transforming Lives Through Catholic Social Services
Your support can help empower change and transform the lives of vulnerable seniors and families in central and southern Ohio.
Fill out your information in the form on this site to give to the fund
Give Online
Send a donation to 197 E. Gay Street Columbus, OH 43215 marked “75th Anniversary”
Contact Julie Naproano at [email protected] or (614) 857-1236