For nearly 80 years, Catholic Social Services has been a beacon of hope, dignity, and compassion in the community. Formed by the Catholic Diocese of Columbus in 1945 to serve women and children in Columbus, Catholic Social Services now provides programs in 23 counties throughout central and southern Ohio. Through its faith-based mission, the organization focuses on helping older adults age in place, providing working families the tools to build a better future, and supporting low-income students on their journey toward earning a college degree.
In 2023, Catholic Social Services welcomed Kelley Henderson as its new President and CEO. Henderson, who previously served as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, believes that Catholic Social Services’ long history and established presence in the region help foster a community of trust, collaboration, solidarity, and service.
In 2023, Catholic Social Services welcomed Kelley Henderson as its new President and CEO. Henderson, who previously served as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, believes that Catholic Social Services’ long history and established presence in the region help foster a community of trust, collaboration, solidarity, and service.
One of the ways that Catholic Social Services demonstrates care and compassion is through its programs for seniors, which help aging adults live healthy, fulfilled, and independent lives. With the support of the organization’s dedicated staff and volunteers, Catholic Social Services offers seniors transportation to non-emergency medical appointments, companionship through weekly home visits, money management assistance, legal resources, and more. One program that connects aging adults with the next generation is the Foster Grandparent Program, which trains local seniors to serve as tutors for youth in area schools, offering students mentorship and support while keeping older adults engaged in the community.
In partnership with local educational institutions, CSS's foster grandparents work alongside teachers to provide targeted student assistance.
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Catholic Social Services also provides a range of programs for working families, helping them overcome barriers to economic self-sufficiency and improve family well-being. Many of its family programs operate out of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center located on the west side of Columbus, where members of the Hispanic immigrant community can access a food pantry, nutrition classes, preventative health screenings, counseling services, legal and immigration consultations, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Catholic Social Services will also soon launch a new initiative—Pequeñas Bendiciones, or Little Blessings—at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center and in Newark, which aims to reduce infant mortality in the region.
Launched in 2019, CSS’ Our Lady of Guadalupe Center (OLGC) is a vibrant hub of empowerment and support for the Latino community.
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Little Blessings/Pequeñas Bendiciones will work to address the nutrition, health, parenting, and well-being needs of families with infants and toddlers.
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In an ever-evolving and growing community, Henderson envisions the need for a larger and expanded Center. “As our clients increase and we continue to build networks of partnerships that place the power of the community at clients’ fingertips, we know the need for a larger center is necessary,” said Henderson.
Additionally, in partnership with Columbus State Community College, Catholic Social Services helps Pell Grant-eligible students through Stay the Course®, an evidence-based program designed to improve community college completion rates by addressing non-academic barriers that can disrupt a student’s ability to earn a degree. Such barriers can include housing instability, food insecurity, and costly financial setbacks, such as unplanned car repairs, sudden job loss, or emergency medical care.
Stay the Course® is a lifeline for Columbus State Community College students facing economic hardships.
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Beyond seniors, families with children, and college students, Catholic Social Services also serves veterans and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in central and eastern Ohio to help manage their finances and remain stably housed. With the caring support of professionals working alongside them, these individuals can avoid crisis and stay focused on their hopes and dreams.
In addition to its many programs and services, Catholic Social Services is also a nonprofit partner of The Columbus Foundation’s Gifts of Kindness program, which provides grants to help lift up individuals and families experiencing an unexpected hardship. As Henderson explained, the Gifts of Kindness Fund is a vital resource to nonprofits assisting clients who are experiencing a crisis that is outside the scope of an organization’s existing services or resources.
“Crisis doesn’t happen in clean lines or tidy boxes. Crisis just happens and everything falls apart,” said Henderson. “Gifts of Kindness is for those unique situations that don’t necessarily fit cleanly into the safety nets that our organization has. It builds a bridge that helps people get back on their feet.”
Looking toward the future, Henderson said that Catholic Social Services is prioritizing community engagement to better serve its clients, increase volunteerism—or, as Henderson described it, “neighbors serving neighbors”— and respond to the community’s evolving needs. Catholic Social Services recently launched a new community engagement division, with the intent of bringing clients and volunteers to the table to build connection, convene important community conversations, and make them collaborative partners in the organization’s work.
“One of the goals of Catholic Social Services is to remain nimble and adapt to the needs of changing communities."
KELLEY HENDERSON, President and CEO of Catholic Social Services
“One of the goals of Catholic Social Services is to remain nimble and adapt to the needs of changing communities,” said Henderson. “We are here to be a resource to the community. It’s very important for us to make sure that we’re listening and moving in the direction that our communities need us to move in.”
The Columbus Foundation, its Supporting Foundations, and its donors have long supported Catholic Social Services through a variety of grants—including targeted investments to support the operation and renovation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, increase recruitment for the Foster Grandparent Program, and help launch the pilot of Stay the Course®, among numerous other investments. In recognition of the organization’s contributions to strengthening and improving the community, The Columbus Foundation also named Catholic Social Services one of the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2017.
“Since its founding, Catholic Social Services has provided essential, transformative services to our neighbors in central Ohio and beyond,” said Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation. “With great commitment, compassion, and care, Catholic Social Services has remained responsive to the community’s needs, helping to build trust, foster connection, and expand opportunity.”
Henderson, who expressed his gratitude of the community’s ongoing generosity, said that the support of The Columbus Foundation, its donors, and other community partners is a catalyst for Catholic Social Services’ work.
“We’re in the hope business. Our work is about helping people to design and navigate a future of their own,” Henderson explained. “Philanthropy is the energy that makes that happen.”