Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness
Mount receives $275,000 grant for Desmond Center
Photo by Lee Ferris
The Mount has received a grant for $275,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, to be used for the growth of the Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness.
This is the fifth grant that the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has provided for the Desmond Center since 2020.
The Desmond Center provides wellness and educational services for underserved individuals and families. The center offers accessible and equitable educational, health, and wellness services for community members and families in the local area. All services are free of cost and open to the community.
“We are delighted to announce that the Desmond Center has been awarded funding for the fifth consecutive year from the Cabrini Foundation,” said Ashley Collazo, interim director of the Desmond Center. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their continued belief in our vision and the vital work we do. Together, we will continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. We look forward with great anticipation to the year ahead.”
The Desmond Center began operating out of its new home in Guzman Hall in mid-2023. The revitalized space on campus includes new offices and community rooms, perfect for the center’s public events.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/
“We are humbled by the wide-ranging impact our grantmaking has made in just six years, and most importantly, by the dedication of our grantee partners to improve the health of the people of New York State,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “These new grants mark a significant milestone in our work and reaffirm our commitment to be responsive to emerging health challenges facing the most vulnerable children and adults in our communities.”
Mount, OC Aging Office present self-care writing workshop
Photo by Lee Ferris
The Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness teamed up with the Orange County Office for the Aging to present “Self-Expression as Self-Care” in the spring.
The workshop, part of the Aging Office’s Spring Wellness Series, delved into creative writing, drafting, and working independently on personal expression. Gina R. Evers, Coordinator of Tutoring Services and Writing Center at the Mount, guided participants in writing activities designed to honor and affirm their lived experiences.
“Two important components of self-care are self-expression and human connection,” said Evers. “Writing is a practice that cultivates both.”
Evers holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Her poems have been published in PANK, About Place Journal, Quarterly West, and The Comstock Review, among other journals and anthologies. Her writing has been supported by the VCFA Postgraduate Writers’ Conference, the Martha’s Vineyard Institute for Creative Writing, and the Lambda Literary Foundation.
