LSSNY’s Service

7,000 people assisted daily

11,300 clients served last year

15,000 additional clients served by our Long Island food pantry

1,150 toddlers and pre-school children educated

820 individuals and families received immigration legal services

450 formerly homeless adults served in our five residences

Housing that Feels Like

Home• 5 residences• Safe, supportive

housing with medical/mental health services• Special programs to

foster independent living skills• Serving 450 formerly homeless adults

2016 President’s Awards Honorees

We proudly announce the establishment of the Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award, in loving memory of Justice Daniel W. Joy, who gave of himself and his professional talents so generously.

Justice Joy received his LL.B. degree from Brooklyn Law School, and spent the first 25 years of his career specializing in housing law for the State and City of New York. He was elected to the Civil Court of the State of New York in 1983, and then to the Supreme Court of the State of New York. In 1993, Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed him to the Appellate Division, Second Department; in 1998, Gov. George Pataki appointed him to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. After 42 years of government service, Justice Joy retired from the “bench” at the age of 69, in August 2000.

Justice Joy was an active civic, religious, and community leader who served on numerous boards, including the board of Lutheran Social Services of New York for more than eight years. He was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church (Jamaica, NY), where he served as Chairman of the Stewardship Committee and sang in the choir. He also served as Chairman of the Urban Empowerment Fund Board at the ELCA-Metro New York Synod.

The Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award

When Ron Drews came to LSSNY in 2003, he came with nearly 30 years of experience in Lutheran social service leadership and ministry. His early career was remarkable for steady progress towards higher levels of leadership, including his service as Regional Director and Vice President for Operations of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Porterville, California. He also served as the Vice President for Operations/CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. In each of these leadership roles, Ron brought accountability and stability to the organizations, all the time keeping sight of his deep commitment to serve the most vulnerable people in society by advocating for dignity and respect for all. He also demonstrated effectiveness in securing private and government resources to create solutions to solve the unmet needs of constituents and led through effective planning and organizational management.

Ron, the son of a pastor, comes from a strong Lutheran heritage and upbringing. He is on the roster of the LCMS in word and service ministry, and has worked to revitalize the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, as a member of the church council. Ron’s comprehensive list of board service includes Lutheran Services New York Alliance (inaugural Chair), Lutheran Ministry of Higher Education (Treasurer), and Church Women United (Assistant Treasurer). In addition to his professional human service record, Ron has found new ways to help others through his personal hobbies. For instance, when he challenges himself by running in a marathon, he often runs for a cause like hunger prevention. He has also strengthened LSSNY’s educational programs by bringing art and music activities to our children, always keeping an eye toward program enhancements that will open the door to new opportunities for clients who would otherwise not have them.

As we give the inaugural Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award to Ron, we do so with a sense of deep gratitude for the talent and dedication that he has shared with us as LSSNY’s former President/CEO. With his playful, dry wit he steadily advanced LSSNY’s programs in new directions, helping us make positive inroads into communities in need.

Ronald S. Drews, President/CEO, Lutheran Social Services of Southern California

Recipient of The Honorable Daniel W. Joy Dedicated Service Award

During her 15-year tenure at LSSNY, Christine Connell worked tirelessly to develop, lead, and promote programs, foster community involvement, and enrich our partnerships with congregations. During the last six years at LSSNY, Christine served as the agency’s Vice President for Agency Advancement, coordinating marketing and communications for all agency programs, providing leadership for new development projects and the diversification of funding opportunities, and working closely with key leadership and the Board of Directors in the initiation of the organization’s Faces of LIFE funding campaign. In all these roles, she displayed a multitude of talents as a committed leader, strategic thinker, and development professional.

Christine took the helm as CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, a human services agency in the Greater Washington D.C. Region, in February 2016. Before working at LSSNY, she was the Executive Director of an emergency relief organization in York, PA, that served low-income families and individuals.Christine received her Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and is a Diaconal Minister with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She serves on the Church Council of Zion Lutheran Church, Staten Island, NY, and on the National Board of Directors of the ELCA. Her passion for social justice ministry drives the work she accomplishes, and she is grateful for the gift of serving the church each and every day.We congratulate Christine on her transition to CEO at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, and thank her for her many years of dedicated professionalism and service.

Christine Connell, DMCEO, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a dynamic, regional force that helps nearly 200 congregations across New York City, Long Island, and seven upstate counties answer the call to do God’s work to help friends and neighbors, celebrate diversity, work for justice, and advocate for peace. Through a variety of ministries, lay leaders and clergy work together to put their faith into action to help reduce hunger, provide disaster relief, and foster youth leadership.Because of the work of the Metropolitan New York Synod, members receive the needed resources (leadership development, youth ministry support, financial guidance) and congregational support they need to live out their missions and help bolster service in God’s name. The Metropolitan New York Synod also partners with lay leaders on relevant initiatives: Domestic Violence Awareness Task Force, Global Mission, Youth Ministry, and Women of the ELCA. Across many sectors of human service, the Metropolitan New York Synod works to organize ministries and support community-based action. Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY), recognized by the ELCA as a “social ministry organization,” has been fortunate to be able to partner with the ELCA’s diverse member congregations. An example of the ministry our ELCA partner churches provide is the back-to-school backpack drive sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church in Scarsdale, NY, each year, for students at LSSNY’s New LIFE School in the Bronx. By putting a backpack in every student’s hands, the congregation helps make the road a little easier for elementary, middle and high school students with special needs. ELCA member churches have also been a driving force in supporting our food pantry on Long Island, by donating food, volunteering their time, and organizing food drives and special holiday programs. The food pantry’s success in providing nutritious, delicious food to families in need has been an amazing achievement that reflects the collaborative, positive outcome of the partnership between LSSNY and ELCA member churches, including ongoing support from our partners at Grace Lutheran Church, Uniondale, NY, as well as Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seaford, NY; St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Farmingdale, NY; and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockville Centre, NY; to name a few. The bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod, Rev. Dr. Robert Rimbo, is a spiritual guide, pastor, member of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, ecumenical liaison and speaker, and published author. A graduate of Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN, and Christ Seminary – Seminex, St. Louis, MO, Bishop Rimbo holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He was formerly the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, and bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA. He is a board member of the Lutheran Services New York Alliance, Lutheran Health Care (Brooklyn, NY), and the national Lutheran Music Program.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America–Metropolitan New York Synod

The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod—Atlantic District

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod–Atlantic District (LCMS Atlantic District) is a diverse community that includes over 100 congregations; some 35 preschools, elementary schools and high schools; and Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. Its reach spans metropolitan New York, Long Island, the northern suburbs of New York City, the Hudson Valley, and the state capital region. Its mission is to nurture Christians and reach out to others by “engaging the world with the Gospel of hope.” The Atlantic District shares the Gospel with neighbors near and far, in multiple languages and among many different cultural groups. The Atlantic District identifies, trains and supports clergy and lay leaders; offers programs and resources; provides “best practice” models for evangelism, governance, and financial management; and trains local mission leaders for service.

The work of the Missouri Synod–Atlantic District reaches many avenues of health and human care, including disaster response, immigration & naturalization, neighborhood revitalization and housing, Lutheran schools, and youth leadership. The Atlantic District has eight action-oriented task forces, and a strong, vibrant Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). One example of the LWML’s ministry in action is their recent donation of Spanish and English language Bible storybooks to LSSNY’s New LIFE Center – Long Island food pantry, to be given as part of the layette sets distributed to new mothers. It’s one way that LCMS church congregations are helping babies get a healthy start in life! Many LCMS church congregations, including those at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hicksville, NY; the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Garden City, NY; St. John’s Lutheran Church in Williston Park, NY; and the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Valley Stream, NY; give their time and donations to support the day-to-day operation of the food pantry.

The Reverend Derek G. Lecakes was recently elected and presides as President and Bishop, succeeding long-time President and Bishop, the Rev. Dr. David H. Benke. Over the years, Reverend Lecakes has served the Atlantic District in several leadership roles, including Secretary, Regional Vice President, and founding member and leader of Lutherans Capital Area Relief efforts. Reverend Lecakes received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia College, Bronxville, and for 13 years served as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Niskayuna, NY.

Feeding the Hungry

• The New LIFE Center –

Long Island is reducing hunger among Long Islanders • 109,970 pounds of

food distributed in 2015

• Holiday Meals at Thanksgiving, Christmas

and Easter• Over 45

congregation partners

With Gratitude to God for our co-worker

Ron Drews and an abiding Godspeed to Ron and

Julie

From his friends at Lutheran Services New York Alliance Board and CPE Program

"Serving Together to Further the Church's

Servant Mission"

Urban Education Ministry

The Center for Urban Education Ministries’ work, in shaping new

models, identifying key resources, and

networking many Christian groups focused

on Christian urban education, is invaluable.

-Dr. Shirley Roels, NetVUE,Calvin College

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Safe Haven for ChildrenFor many unaccompanied minors – coming from countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador – our program is the first time they are living in a safe, stable environment, with care from adults who nurture and respect them.

Guiding Young Mothers

They [the counselors] support you. Lots of

teenagers say we don’t want to go to school.

They push us to go for us and our kids. It’s like

having a family.

-A teenage mother of three talking about her experiences

at Our Sister’s Place

(a mother-child group residence)

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Thriving Kids/Thriving CommunitiesWe educate more than 1,000 toddler and preschool children in our early child care centers• 10 Early LIFE sites• 100 Family Child Care

Provider Partner homes

The New LIFE School educates 200 elementary, middle, and high school students with special needs.

Our Awards Demonstrate Our Impact:

“Emerging Leader Award” from the National Association

of Social Workers NYC

“Dads Take Your Child to School Day!” recognized by NYC Administration

for Children’s Services

“Member of the Year: Superstorm Sandy” from the New York Disaster

Interfaith Services

This year’s auction book was printed entirely on 100% recycled

paper.