| Message From Executive Director |
 New
York City Mission Society's motto - "Changing Lives Since 1812" - has
great resonance for me. It speaks to the fact that we have been helping those
in need longer than any other human services organization in New York City. It
also makes me conscious of the great responsibility that those of us at Mission
Society have today in honoring and perpetuating the organization's legacy.
While the face of need has changed many times in New York City over the years,
Mission Society has consistently been at the forefront of human service delivery.
Before the Civil War, we helped people primarily from Northern and Western Europe:
the British, the Irish and the Germans. After the Civil War and through World
War I, we helped immigrants mainly from Southern and Eastern Europe: the Italians,
the Polish, and the Greeks. Today most of our work is focused on African-American
and Latino populations in Harlem and the Bronx. And recently, we offered our
help to those affected by the World Trade Center disaster.
Reflecting upon Mission Society's rich history has reinforced my own belief
that human services are most effective when they embrace values such as dignity,
kindness, and respect. These time-honored values have always been at the core
of our work, and they are the thread that connects New York City Mission Society's
past to its present. In all of our work, we respect and value every person served,
seeing possibilities where others see limitations and recognizing strengths
where others see weaknesses.
Having embarked on its third century of service, New York City Mission Society
continues to provide relief, diminish grief, and inspire hope for the most needy
among us. This goal is fulfilled by working with communities to ensure that
children are healthy and succeed in school; by helping young people to make
the kinds of decisions that will safeguard their futures; and by making sure
that elderly, along with young people and their families, experience the healing
power of nature in the countryside.
In a complex world filled with so many challenges, we are proud to be able
to help to shape people into good citizens who care about their communities,
their families, and themselves. While human services are not cheap, and require
significant investment, they are ultimately less expensive than the cost of
unrealized human potential and the unfilled dreams of children and families.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about New York City Mission Society.
Sincerely,
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