Catholic Charities of Rochester, Bishop Clark Award, September 2012

At the September, 2012 Rochester Catholic Charities Diocesan Board meeting, Board Chairperson Linda Stundtner presented Jack the Bishop Clark Award. This award, recognizing outstanding service to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, was established in 1999 when the Board presented it to Bishop Matthew Clark in recognition of his long and consistent support of Catholic Charities. This award was given to Jack in celebration of his twentieth anniversary as Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities.

Linda Studner’s Remarks

This is Jack Balinsky’s mantra – Here I am, Lord. This is stated in his recollection of his forty years of service and exemplifies the mission of Catholic Charities and his life.

Jack has led the efforts in both the Syracuse and Rochester dioceses. He has helped to expand the organization by conveying the message that it is necessary to encourage those in the pews to follow the gospel message to love our neighbors through advocacy and service. Through his efforts and connections with those who know him and have the means to make change, he has helped to grow the decentralized structure of Catholic Charitie into a stronger organization where the needs of each agency are met.

Jack’s life is Catholic Charities. He has made sure that those who have served and provided leadership for the past one hundred years are remembered in his chronicles of the organization. In doing so he also gives the reader an excellent insight into what he has accomplished. His standards are high, and he effectively gets others to step outside the box so that Catholic Charities is instrumental in following its mission.

Finally, it is hard to imagine Catholic Charities without Jack Balinsky. Hopefully, he will continue to be a strong leader as his shoes will be difficult to fill. He entitles his work on the remembrances of his family “On the Shoulders of Giants”. Well, Jack, the history of your leadership and accomplishments should be entitled “On the Shoulders of a Giant.”

Congratulations, Jack, upon the receipt of the Bishop Matthew H. Clark Award.