Sister Patricia Griffith to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Executive Director to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Sister Patricia Griffith to be honored at ACIT’s 8th Annual
Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian Award Luncheon
ISLIP TERRACE, NY – MERCY HAVEN IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that Executive Director Sister Patricia Griffith, D.Min., LMSW will be honored at the Reverend Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian Award Luncheon. The luncheon is sponsored by Advancement for Commerce, Industry and Technology (ACIT), a networking association representing hundreds of Long Island businesses across all industries. ACIT created the Msgr. Hartman Humanitarian Award Luncheon to honor leaders on Long Island who have made a great impact in the community. The luncheon will take place on April 12th at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury and will be preceded by a trade show. For more information about the luncheon visit www.acitli.com.
Sister Pat will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her career serving Long Islanders who are homeless, living with mental illness or living in poverty. She began her career in 1973 at St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Shore and in 1985, she and Sister Kathleen Nolan founded Mercy Haven, Inc. where Sister Pat continues to serve as the Executive Director. For the past 47 years, Sister Pat has been a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She earned a Bachelor Degree from Brentwood College, a Masters Degree in Education from Fordham University, and Masters in Social Work from Adelphi University. She holds three Post Graduate Certificates in Moral Theology, Gerontology and Non Profit Management and most recently graduated with a Doctorate of Ministry.
Mercy Haven was begun by a small number of concerned citizens who, with Sister Pat’s leadership, responded compassionately and aggressively to the need for clean, decent and affordable housing for persons living with mental illness. The agency has now expanded to include housing for the elderly, limited income families, disabled and homeless individuals and families. Mercy Haven rents and owns a total of 70 sites across Nassau and Suffolk counties, representing over 100 units of housing. The agency provides these homes to a total of 245 residents, including 19 families and 40 children. In partnership with the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Mercy Haven oversees 75 Section 8 certificates. The organization also assists and supports two overnight shelters known as “John’s Place,” located in Mattituck and Greenport.
During the past 28 years, Mercy Haven has grown to be a multifaceted community resource. Our support includes free legal advocacy, which has tended to 2,245 cases during the past 15 years and brought a successful class action which increased Food Stamp benefits for more than 115,000 households throughout NY State. Mercy Haven’s additional support programs include education and employment skills training, community outreach classes and seminars, staff on-call 24/7, and a sophisticated property management department.
For Sister Pat, her biggest accomplishment is the creative response Mercy Haven continues to make by assisting community members in need of advocacy, housing, and support services. She is proud to work with a staff comprised of generous professionals who know their life choice has changed the lives of so many.
