Our Directors
Sister Pat Griffith, LMSW, D.Min.
It is my honor and privilege to have the responsibility of leading this wonderful, creative agency. Our mission is to acknowledge the dignity and potential of people who are homeless, living with mental illness or living in poverty by providing housing, advocacy, education and life skills development. Hoping to create communities where diversity and inclusion are valued and all individuals can reach their full potential. This is not something one person can accomplish alone. My role allows me the gift of choosing the finest group of people to be our Directors, our staff and our volunteers. We are led by a Board of Directors who give of their time and talents to ensure the future growth of the agency and commitment to our mission. Together it is our challenge to search out the root causes of our participants’ struggles with the commitment of never giving up on finding effective, flexible, solutions for the enrichment of lives. The foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley’s quote inspires me each day: “The poor need our help today, not next week.”
Joseph Mercurio
“Begin with the end in mind” is a philosophy that Joe keeps in mind while working to better Mercy Haven’s programs. He particularly likes knowing that success in the not-for-profit world is measured in the number of lives that he can change. “What I like best about working at Mercy Haven,” explains Joe, “is being part of a team that is developing business solutions to ensure the future success of the agency.” He finds inspiration in Mercy Haven’s mission, people, and day-to-day challenges.
Lori Bonome
“Mercy Haven changes people’s lives and creates a foundation for them to succeed.” As the agency’s Director of Finance, Lori takes pride in working with a team of such dedicated staff. With a clear focus on the day-to-day operations, each member plays a key role in carrying out the mission of Mercy Haven. Knowing the obstacles non-profit work often encounters, Lori believes the reward of helping those in need far surpasses those obstacles. Her convictions are rooted in this quote by Maya Angelou, “You will face many defeats in life but never let yourself be defeated.” As for the future, Lori envisions Mercy Haven “continuing to carry out the mission and expanding services to help even more people in need.”
John Castellano
Unlike protections off
ered by the US Constitution for the poor who are facing criminal charges, there is no constitutional right to counsel for low-income people who are facing a civil legal emergency. In 1997, John joined Mercy Haven and established MAP to provide this type of counsel to those most in need. “What I like most about Mercy Haven is our ability to provide desperately needed, safe, and affordable housing to the poor, particularly those living with a serious and persistent mental illness and/or the impairments of advanced age,” says John. Having focused his more than 30-year career in law on the needs of the poor and underserved, he provides free legal services to a population virtually without other access to counsel. A philosophy that John lives by is: “Whatever you do for the least of my sisters and brothers, you do unto Me.”
Donna Donaghy
“Mission-driven work is the most rewarding, and my role as Director of Business Management gives me line of sight into different aspects of the programs and people that make our mission come alive. From the business end, to interacting with clients, to partnering with other teams – my job allows me to participate in so many areas of the work that we do,” says Donna. “Mercy Haven is a small organization that makes a big impact,” she continues. “We’re small enough to actually get to know those whom we serve. I like that we support those who are often left behind and that we honor their individual stories and potential.” With many of us feeling the uncertainty and difficulty of the past few years, Donna is encouraged by Mercy Haven’s commitment to community and that the agency will continue to be on the front line of community re-building work here on Long Island both now and in the years to come. Donna’s favorite quote is from Frederick Buechner, who said that the place of one’s calling is “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” “I like how this quote encourages you to think about how supporting others in their need can be joyful.”
Erin Galante
With a clear, competent background in direct care services, Erin joins Mercy Haven as the Director of Human Resources. “I wanted to work for an agency whose mission I can stand behind and feel proud to work for,” says Erin. She enjoys working with the staff and ensuring they have everything they need to do the best job possible for those we support. “I like that I get to work with a great team of people,” she states. “The people who work here truly care for the individuals they serve and go above and beyond to help provide critically important services.” She sees Mercy Haven continuing to grow and diversify the services it offers to the community. When it comes to her commitment to staff and the work required for progress to continue, she quotes Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Ciara Jensen
“Seeing our participants, learning their stories and knowing how they have grown as a result of having safe, stable housing is very rewarding,” says Ciara. Starting her career 10 years ago as the Executive Assistant, Ciara understands the importance of meeting more people from the community, connecting them to Mercy Haven, and working with a fantastic team to ensure our agency has the funds needed to continue doing the work we do for those most in need on Long Island. Her hope for Mercy Haven’s future is to continue to push our efforts to expand our housing and services to meet the growing needs of the population we serve, and to be impactful in our communities. Ciara states that “working toward a worthwhile cause and positively affecting hundreds of lives is what keeps me coming back day after day.” Her favorite quote is from Jim Eliot, “Wherever you are, be all there.”
Gregory Mangini
As t
he owner of 35 properties and operator of over 100 units of housing throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, Mercy Haven’s facilities management team keeps very busy! Greg’s background in facilities management for the NYPD has more than prepared him for the task of keeping Mercy Haven’s homes safe, clean and well maintained for our residents. “I like working at Mercy Haven because of the caring of all individuals that are associated with the company,” explains Greg, “and I like the idea of being able to help those that sometimes can’t help themselves.” Greg foresees a bright future for Mercy Haven. “My hope for the future of our facilities department is to ensure that all participants have an enriching experience while living with Mercy Haven and to be part of the expansion of our housing which will help carry the mission to even more people in need.”
John Murray
“As Chief Financial Officer, I like that I am involved in almost all aspects of the agency’s operation,” says John. “Although I come from a financial background, I enjoy being involved with the daily operational issues that we face each day, as well as getting involved with the fund raising events.” John also enjoys working with Mercy Haven because he feels that he is a part of a team of dedicated individuals focused on maintaining and improving a successful agency. One of his favorite quotes is: “We are responsible for actions performed in response to circumstances for which we are not responsible.”
Donna O'Hearon
“As a social worker I 
have always been drawn to working with agencies that are service driven. Working with the most vulnerable individuals within communities has always been what I do,” says Donna. Her favorite quote, by Henry Van Dyke sums up this commitment: “to desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind- this is a choice which is possible for all of us.” Donna loves the opportunities for growth Mercy Haven provides to both residents and staff. “I love hearing from the residents who so often tell me how grateful they are to Mercy Haven,” she explains. “I love to see their growth, the growth of the staff who work with them and the positive difference being made in the lives of individuals and families.”
Lorrie Oricoli
Life’s most persistent a
nd urgent question is, What are you doing for others?… Martin Luther King, Jr. This quote symbolizes and embodies what Mercy Havens does on a daily basis. Mercy Haven’s Mission statement continues to motivate me. We acknowledge the dignity and potential of people who are homeless, living with mental illness or living in poverty by providing housing, advocacy, education and life skills development. Throughout my years of service at Mercy Haven, the agency has never strayed from this mission. I am fortunate to be part of an agency that inspires and energizes its staff to understand the importance and value of doing for those who cannot do for themselves. My hope for Mercy Haven is that we continue to be a strong advocate for those in need and that we strive to make systemic changes on issues that affect all whom we serve. And that we continue to ask the question… What are we doing for others…