Mercy Center was founded in 1990 as a counseling and support center to help women deal with stresses in their lives, and has constantly evolved over the years, adding programs and activities in response to the needs of the women and families it serves. 
 

Mercy Center Milestones

1990          Mercy Center opens in a classroom on September 1^st as a counseling center for parents of children in St. Pius V School in the Mott Haven area of the South Bronx.

Supported by the Sisters of Mercy, it is staffed part-time by its founder, Sr. Mary Ann Dirr, RSM, and two volunteer women from the community. Activities include retreat days, parenting classes, support groups for women, various workshops and home visiting.

1991          As activities increase, Mercy Center's two volunteers become part-time staff.

1993          In September, the first full-time staff person, Sr. Mary Galeone, RSM, joins the staff.
 
The first Family Weekend is held in the early summer. Spirituality programs expand in the fall and a series in Creativity is added to the roster of programs. 

1994          Mercy Center begins incorporation process in May. Leadership Training and Arts workshops are added in the fall. 

1995          Mercy Center is incorporated in New York State in January. Board of Directors adopts By-Laws in May and elects officers in September. 

As Mercy Center celebrates its 5^th Anniversary, its growing programs require the use of a second classroom in the school.

1996          The first Mercy Corps Volunteer joins the staff. 

Keyboarding and Word Processing courses are added to program listing.

1997          A Mercy Associates program is established, allowing women from the community to align themselves with the Sisters of Mercy in a two-year commitment, renewable of shared mission, values, prayer and community under the inspiration of Catherine McAuley.

1998         Board of Directors decides in April to purchase land to construct new building, and a site search is undertaken. 

Business Training classes and tutoring are offered. Staff is now 8 full-time people.

2000         Mercy Center celebrates its 10^th Anniversary.  In September, land is purchased, and a $2.1 million Capital Campaign is launched. Groundbreaking for our new building takes place in October. 

Teen Parenting classes, a Young Women’s Support Group and a Children’s Winter Camp continue Mercy Center’s program expansion. Staff is 8 full-time and 2 part-time people.

2002          ESL and After-School programs expand Mercy Center’s work with children and the Hispanic community of Mott Haven. 

Ribbon-cutting for new building takes place in November.

Grants from 29 private and corporate foundations provide $390,000 in funds for operating expenses even as individual and foundation support through a Capital Campaign provides the money needed for the new building.

2003          The move into new building takes place on a snowy February 7^th.

Sr. Mary Ann Dirr resigns in June, replaced by a leadership structure of 2 Co-Executive Directors, Mary Galeone, RSM and Joseph Dirr. 

Anger Management classes, ballet for children, partnership with the Fiver Foundation, and a Movie Discussion Group for Women continue Mercy Center’s tradition of creative programming to meet the needs of women, parents and families of Mott Haven.

2004          Staff grows to 10 full-time and 7 part-time people. Additionally, over 140 volunteers donate their time and talents to the work of Mercy Center. 

Program hours increase four-fold and participant numbers more than triple. A Board of Advisors is launched to help create long-range fiscal sustainability to match ongoing activity and program growth.

2005          A foundation launches the Mercy Center Endowment Fund with a five year commitment to a $250,000 matching gift, as a way to contribute to Mercy Center’s long range fiscal stability. The Board of Advisors sponsors the initial Cocktail Party and Silent Auction event at the Park Avenue Country Club in Manhattan, raising over $73,000 for Mercy Center.

Participant numbers continue to increase. Mercy Center undertakes two new programs: Family Development, and the Women’s Job Development and Entrepreneurial Program.

2006          A Job Developer joins the staff in February. Volunteer legal help grows to 2 part-time retired lawyers, and overall staff stands at 14 full-time and 12 part-time people.

New program offerings include the Capacitar health and wellness program, and Anger Management and Computer Basics courses in Spanish.

The Youth Program continues to grow, now including over 250 children. Antonio Banderas visits Mercy Center to join in a House of the Roses dance and drumming session.

2007          A Social Services Coordinator is hired as Immigrant and Social Services are expanded.

2009          Board of Directors adopts “Strategic Plan 2015”, embracing initiatives to assure the continued growth and vitality of Mercy Center into the future. The plan outlines specific approaches in the areas of Programming; Facilities; Leadership; Governance and Mission Integration; Marketing and Communications; and Development.

The generosity of our supporters allows Mercy Center to weather the financial downturn without sacrificing services to participants.

2010          Mercy Center celebrates its 20^th Anniversary with special events held throughout the year, culminating with an Anniversary Dinner honoring the founders, Mary Ann Dirr, RSM, Maria Mercado, Alba Torres, and Mary Galeone, RSM.

Over $450,000 is raised in an Anniversary Fund committed to multi-year fiscal stability.

An Associate Executive Director is hired to take responsibility for programming and administrative functions.

Mercy Center's work is now supported by 20 staff members and over 200 volunteers.

2011          As it begins its 21^st year of service to women and their families in the South Bronx, Mercy Center embraces the opportunities and challenges of the next 20 years!