Catholic Charities of Livingston County Father Trott Award, December, 2016

At the annual Catholic Charities of Livingston County Red Carpet Christmas Gala, Board Chairperson Jeff Fasoldt and long-time Livingston County Charities supporter Mary Anne Palermo presented Jack the Father Bill Trott Award. As pastor in Livonia in the early 1990’s, Father Trott was instrumental in helping establish Catholic Charities in Livingston County. A saintly priest who had a special care for the poor and vulnerable, he died suddenly in 1996, and beginning in 1997, Catholic Charities established this award to be given annually to an individual or individuals who had made significant contributions to the agency.

Included here are an excerpt from Jeff Fasoldt’s letter informing Jack that he had been selected for the award, Mary Anne’s presentation of the award and Jack’s remarks upon accepting the award.

Jeff Fasoldt’s Letter

Anyone that knows you, Jack, sees you as a selfless person and a great reformer. You have been witnessed as someone who works hard for the destitute, the needy, and the poor. You really have been a beacon of light for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester and all of its branches. You have worked tirelessly for several decades and proved that social change can happen for the betterment of society.

Mary Anne Palermo’s Remarks

Father Bill Trott was the saintly pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Livonia (now St. Matthew), known throughout the area for his lifelong advocacy and commitment for the poor, homeless, and those addicted. He literally gave the coat off his back to a homeless man in two instances that I know of. In 1997, Catholic Charities of Livingston County instituted the Father Trott Community Services Award in his memory to a person who exemplifies by word and deed the values and commitment of Father Trott.

The 2016 honoree is Mr. Jack Balinsky. Jack has devoted his professional life to promoting charity and social justice. When appointed Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester in 1992, 24 years ago, Catholic Charities consisted of three scattered agencies. Jack expanded Catholic Charities to 10 agencies throughout the 12 counties of the diocese, Jack being a strong believer in the doctrine of “subsidiarity:” services are best delivered at the lowest level possible because local agencies know their people and can best serve their needs. A typical day for Jack might find him at a meeting of Catholic Family Center in Rochester, on to Elmira to the Food Bank, and ending up at the eastern end of the diocese at Wayne County Catholic Charities.

Jack has worked tirelessly to improve conditions for both urban and rural poor by meeting with New York State’s bishops and both county and state legislators, quite effectively, always in accordance with the highest Catholic principles. In 2011, he was honored with a special LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION, calling him “a true asset to society” meriting the respect and recognition of the New York State Legislature.

*Bishop Clark has said of Jack, "You exemplify the word SERVICE and honor the name CHRISTIAN." It is my great honor to present the 2016 Father Trott Community Services Award to Mr. Jack Balinsky.

Jack’s Remarks

Thank you all for being here tonight and for all that you do for Catholic Charities of Livingston County. I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this award, but I accept it on behalf of the entire Catholic Charities of Livingston County family. We are are here this evening because of you.

We would not be here tonight, if Sister Nancy O’Brien RSM, Father Jim Hewes and Wes Kennisan had not had the vision and commitment to start the Rural Outreach program in 1992.

We would not be here tonight if Sister of Mercy René McNuff RSM, then Chairperson of the Diocesan Board, was not a strong advocate for broadening the presence of Catholic Charities in the Diocese. (Ten days before I officially started, June 20, 1992, I was summoned to a meeting with Sister René. Reminiscent of the stereotype of the stern Catholic School teacher, she told me in no uncertain terms, “Jack you and that Tony Barbaro (Director of Catholic Charities of the Southern Tier) need to know that there is more to the Diocese than Rochester, Elmira and Geneva.” This directive led to the creation in 1993 of the so-called Steuben/Livingston Project Committee of the Diocesan Board.)

We would not be here tonight if it were not for the commitment of the wonderful Father Trott who we remember tonight, Father Dan Condon and Father Bill Gardinier to garner rock solid support from all the Livingston County Catholic parishes for the creation of Catholic Charities of Livingston County.

We would not be here tonight if it were not for the commitment of lay leaders like Joe Kane, Bill Derby, Jim Dollard and Mabel Treadwell, who formed the nucleus of the newly created Board of Catholic Charities of Livingston County. In her gracious introduction of me, Mary Anne Palermo repeated the importance to our work of the concept of subsidiarity: local leadership, local direction by those in the community, as the driving force in finding ways to respond to local needs.

We would not be here tonight if not for the leadership of Tim McMahon (who is not here tonight because he is officiating a wedding in Nicaragua), who was hired as Executive Director in 1996 and did outstanding work in fostering growth of the nascent agency. His work and those of his colleagues have had great influence on the evolution of Catholic Charities in the Diocese. The establishment resolution passed by the Diocesan Board in September, 1995, stated that the creation of the agency was for the purpose of better serving those in need in Livingston County but also to serve as a demonstration model about the feasibility of creating other County-based agencies. The great success of this work gave the Diocesan Board confidence to create other county-based agencies as Mary Anne mentioned.)

We would not be here tonight if Tim and the Board were not able to engender support from and develop partnerships with Livingston County government. County administrators Nick Mazza and Ian Coyle have been strong supporters of Catholic Charities. In her inspiring remarks earlier, Tabitha mentioned by name the Department leaders with whom we continue to work with closely.

We would not be here tonight if volunteer leaders like Mary Anne Palermo, then Board Chairperson and who also served as the Chair of the Search Committee, and Norma Reidman, among others, oversaw the successful transition of leadership of the agency from Tim to Joe Dimino in 2004, providing and soliciting much needed financial support.

We would not be here tonight if the next generation of Board leaders, particularly Art Hatton and Tom Baldwin, didn’t step up and respond decisively when the agency hit a rough spot after Joe’s departure in 2011.

I would not be here tonight if it were not for the leadership of Art, Tom and other Board members, and the commitment, competence and mission-driven compassion of staff for our clients. When I told Tim McMahon that I had agreed in October, 2011 to serve as Interim Executive Director, he was surprised, reminding me that I had consistently told him over the years that I planned to retire in June, 2012, when Bishop Clark would retire on reaching his 75th birthday. It was the joy of working with the dedicated staff that gave me a renewed sense of energy and commitment, and it is because of them that I am still with Catholic Charities today.

Finally, we would not be here tonight without the infusion of new Board members, including a number of younger leaders, who have taken over and provided a new sense of energy to our work. I know I will forget some names, and I apologize, but I’m thinking of folks like Renee Kleinhans, Jen Perelli, Deb Farberman, Pam Rychlicki, Mike Dougherty, Jeff Fasoldt, and Andy Kubrick. It is particulary the younger group who conceptualized this highly successful Red Carpet Christmas gala, which is becoming the agency’s “signature event” and which symbolizes the agency’s new leadership and energy.

So it is all of you who are joined with me in honoring Father Trott in accepting this award. Through the remarkable leadership of Tabitha, as you saw demonstrated earlier, and the continuing outstanding work of the agency, the agency is stronger now than it has ever been. I hope you join me in being proud as we respond so effectively to the Gospel call to love and serve our neighbor.