FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT:
DIANE CEO-DIFRANCESCO
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with immense pride and gratitude that we present our annual report for this past year. We have experienced an amazing year of success and impact in our community, thanks to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, board of directors and the generosity of our supporters.
We continue to meet the needs of individuals in our community by providing safe housing, food and clothing, mental and physical health connections, educational and enrichment activities, and by supporting each resident’s plan toward achieving self-sufficiency through transitional activities such as securing employment and affordable housing. We welcome you to explore our many achievements in this annual report.
We extend our deepest appreciation to you, our supporters and donors. You are the heart and soul of our organization, and it is through your generosity that Casa de Paz keeps its doors open each day. We also thank our staff for their tireless dedication, and our volunteers for their invaluable hours of time and talents. Their work achievements are a testament to our collaborative spirit and our unwavering commitment to our mission.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our work in supporting women and children in their successful transition to independence. We believe that by working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of survivors of intimate partner violence.
Thank you for being a part of our mission.
Sincerely,
Diane Ceo-DiFrancesco Diane Ceo-DiFrancesco
President, Board of Directors, Casa de Paz
VOLUNTEER PROFILE:
DAN AERNI
By Julie Zimmerman
Throughout his life, Dan Aerni has always loved to solve puzzles. His career as a consulting engineer investigating traffic crashes allowed him to solve puzzles for a living, trying to piece together what happened in ways that could explain the details to a jury, judge or insurance firm.
Now retired, Dan is still solving puzzles, and Casa de Paz is one of several non-profit organizations benefiting from his skills and expertise. Dan’s work for Casa de Paz has included service as a board member, maintenance and repair person, the grant committee, information technology assistance, and steady, faithful financial support to the organization.
It began with a moment of serendipity, as Casa de Paz was considering renovation of a building in Spring Grove Village and needed someone to guide the process. Father Dan Hartnett, then pastor at Bellarmine Chapel, suggested the need to Dan, a longtime parishioner, and he agreed to help. When that project became unfeasible because of the cost, Dan helped with the renovation at the
current location.
As Dan’s work with Casa de Paz grew, so did his skills and understanding of the world in ways he was unaware of before. He remembers the day he was in the office and a survivor of domestic violence, with a swollen face marked in varying shades of red and purple, came in for help. He’s spoken with other residents who have explained the immeasurable obstacles they’d encountered in trying to find a life free from violence and fear.
“I have learned skills that I didn’t know I had, but it’s interesting to understand and get a feel for things some people have to go through in this world that I wouldn’t otherwise understand,” he says. “I’ve also gotten an understanding of how fortunate I’ve been in my life.”
Born in Cincinnati, Dan spent 14 years away in places as varied as Colorado, Montana, American Samoa, New York
and Kentucky before returning home. He and his wife Kathy now have children and grandchildren in four different states and cherish opportunities to visit them when they’re not immersed in volunteer work. Dan’s other responsibilities include serving as the current president of Habitat for Humanity’s steering committee for the local Shalom Coalition and working for Habitat two to three days a week. He and Kathy work at Gorman Heritage Farm on habitat restoration, cutting down honeysuckle and making sure they don’t come back, and they are also involved with ARC of Appalachia, which is committed to open space preservation.
Dan is also a runner who has completed 15 marathons and would like to add more to his list. Though busier in retirement than most people are in the midst of their work lives, he finds satisfaction in his current commitments. “What I like is the variety,” he says. “They’re not all the same. I get to use my talents in various different ways.” That extends to Casa de Paz, an organization he didn’t know much about when he became involved but whose mission he’s grown to admire as his work there has expanded.
“One thing about Casa de Paz that appeals to me is that anybody who is a decent person has a soft spot for the underdog,” he says. “The residents are real underdogs and that’s a real incentive for me to work for the organization. That’s important to me.”
FROM RESIDENT TO VOLUNTEER
By Julie Zimmerman
Like most volunteers at Casa de Paz, Eugenia works with residents to build their skills and self-esteem and help them heal as they move toward the future. In Eugenia’s case, she teaches women to cook, spending time on her day off in the Casa de Paz kitchen, sharing cooking techniques and then enjoying the fruits of their labor with residents around the kitchen table.
Unlike most volunteers, though, Eugenia understands firsthand the obstacles and opportunities the women face. Four years ago she was in their shoes with her two adult daughters and granddaughter. In between slicing avocados and preparing guacamole, she answers residents’ questions and provides quiet hope with the story of her time there.
Eugenia and her family are all thriving now, living on their own, the women employed, her granddaughter excelling at school. Even more than the recipes she brings to her classes, she wants to teach residents that they too can take back their lives. “Before we came to Casa de Paz, our life was in chaos,” Eugenia says. “We were received here in a wonderful way. Everyone helped us and we learned to make our own little way.”
The four of them first escaped their situation with the help of Women Helping Women and then turned to Casa de Paz for help.
The group of four arrived at the home and immediately began taking steps to put their lives together. In time they obtained jobs and began to understand what they needed to do to establish their lives. They benefitted from the counseling, the life skills, the encouragement and the warmth they encountered at Casa de Paz.
The women all work in the restaurant industry now, and Eugenia’s daughters have been promoted to supervisory positions. Eugenia saves carefully and spends cautiously; though she eventually was able to save enough to buy a car, she takes the bus to work because it’s cheaper than having to pay for parking.
“We’re all evolving in our own way,” she says. “My daughters are really moving forward and doing well. I’m proud of everything but I’m really proud of my granddaughter; the school says she’s really smart.”
Once their life settled a bit, Eugenia wanted to give back to Casa de Paz, so she proposed the cooking classes as a way to stay connected. She’s taught cooking classes elsewhere
too, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge of Mexican cooking as a way of connecting with people.
“When I lived here (at Casa de Paz), I thought it was always so lovely when people came to help us, so I just wanted to help out and give back now that I can,” Eugenia says. “I enjoy helping people, and I especially love giving back to the women here because Casa de Paz gave me so much.”
2024 By The Numbers
Barriers Towards Self-Sufficiency
Lack of Safe & Affordable Housing
Many survivors find it difficult to secure a stable living situation, especially in areas with high demand and low availability. Studies have shown that Cincinnati lacks 50,000 affordable housing units per a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Discrimination and prejudice can play a role in locating safe and affordable housing.
Language
Language barriers can complicate navigating systems of support and securing employment. Although translation services may be available, they are not always offered or reliable.
Systems
Though there can be security in filing a police report or obtaining a protection order against abusers, these processes can be time consuming and often fail survivors due to gaps in communication and resources.
Childcare and Education
While some survivors’ children may attend public schools, limited access to after-school programs means that parents struggle to find jobs that align with school hours. Early childhood education
programs, when available, can be cost-prohibitive or have limited hours, making it difficult for mothers to secure full-time employment.
Transportation
Many of our residents cannot afford a car and thus rely on public transportation, which can be unreliable and complicate their commute to work or their child’s school.
Work
Many of our residents are single parents. Finding work during school hours is very challenging. A recent self-sufficiency report released by the Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati found that a single parent with a school age child and a preschooler would need to have an hourly wage of $35.61 to be self-sufficient. Ohio minimum wage is $10.51. She would have to work 151 hours a week at this wage to be self-sufficient.
Survivors face barriers to leaving abusers, but they still continue to be confronted by obstacles during their journey to self-sufficiency. These barriers create a significant challenge for Latina survivors to regain their independence and build a secure future for themselves and their children.
Transition to Towards Self-Sufficiency
Immediate Needs
Staff collaborate with residents to meet their immediate needs for safety planning, food, clothing, mental health support, primary health care, and school enrollment. Residents create an individualized plan to reach self sufficiency. They set goals and partner with our Family Support Coordinator to make progress in those areas.
Participate in Community
Residents participate in programs to support their goals. Programs include, but are not limited to, yoga, language exchange, ESL, cooking classes, art classes, and group therapy.
Occupation
Residents establish a culture of purposeful activity by developing their job readiness skills, learning new systems that will support them like public transportation, seeking jobs, and participating in
activities that empower them and build confidence.
Heal
Residents meet weekly with their mental health therapist and create a self care plan to heal from the trauma they experienced. They participate in enrichment activities that support their social-emotional wellness. They find strength in the community at Casa de Paz, cooking, cleaning, celebrating, and raising their children together.
Support for Children
Children at Casa de Paz are enrolled in school or early learning programs. Their healing journey is supported through sessions with an Early Childhood Mental Health Therapists, developmentally appropriate programming, enrichment activities, and playing with volunteers.
Transition
Residents secure affordable housing. We continue to support residents through advocacy, connections to community resources, and invitations to Casa de Paz community activities. Further engagement is offered through the Fenix Group, our bi-monthly support group.
Casa de Paz 2024 Financial Summary
Media Sponsor
Organizational Sponsor
Business Sponsor
Special thanks to Community Matters and LaSoupe!
Thank You Donors!
DONORS
| Crista Adams | Dan & Kathy Aerni |
| John Aerni | Richard Aerni |
| John Aerni-Flessner | Tony Aloise |
| Jonathan Amanda | Barbara Applegarth |
| Isa Aranda-Hopp | Mary Pat Austing |
| Sandra Bazzani | Tim & Jaynee Beechuk |
| Giselle Beeker | Jill Benge-Lembright |
| Andrea & Mike Bertels | Phil & Alejandra Best |
| Dennis & Georgia Bishop | Kathleen Blieszner |
| Mark & Julie Bodnar | Shannon Brausch |
| Doug Bruestle | Laura Castillo |
| Greg Ceo | Diane Ceo-DiFrancesco |
| Angel & Naomi Colon | Joe & Peg Conway |
| Rick & Sally Coomes | John & Lisa Corker |
| Eric and Juleen Dickerson | Leah & Terry Dunn |
| Elaine Fening | Grace Fening |
| Joey Fening | John Fening |
| Laurel Fiorelli | Sr. Rose Ann Fleming |
| Carole Fonseca Castillo | Alexander & Leah Foxx |
| Rick & Betty Franklin | Tom Freeman and Doug Klocke |
| Don & Jane Gardner | Cathy Giovanetti |
| Tom Green | James Harrington |
| Karla Herrera | Marie Hill |
| Don & Pat Hinkley | Melissa Hisle |
| Greg Houston | Pam Houston |
| Tom Jenne | Becky & Steve Johnson |
| Victoria Jones | Kevin Koffel |
| Chuck & Kathy Kohl | Alan & Aurora Krodel |
| Bryan & Guadalupe Krol | Sharon Kuczek |
| Richard & Madeleine LaJeunesse | Margaret Lawlace |
| Mary Leitzinger | Hannah Lembright |
| Mary Lembright | Debbie & Rob Lemmons |
| Dennis & Joan Long | Marilyn Maag |
| Edlin Maldonado-Fuller | Kate Malloy |
| Michael Marrero | Mary McElwee |
| Charlotte McEnery | Phil & Suzanne McHugh |
| Jim & Maryellen Millar | Bill & Charlotte Miller |
| Chris & Debbie Moning | Tim Moning |
| Rosa Moreno | Richard & Janet Neidhard |
| Anne Niehaus and Martin Madar | Peg & Fran Niehaus |
| Rachel Obringer | Kristin Okhuysen |
| Jim & Nancy Ollier | Melanie Parkinson |
| Freddy Perez | Dan Pfahl |
| Maria Piombo | Susan Popelar |
| Theresa Popelar | Kelly Provenzano |
| Heather Quinley | Elise Radina |
| Karen Riba | Dan & Laurie Roche |
| Joe & Jane Roehrig | John & Beth Roeseler |
| Bob & Mary Ann Roncker | Carlos Rosado |
| Andrea Ruiz Rabadan | Candace Sabers |
| Julia Sauter | Janece Schaffer-Burbank |
| Luz Schemmel | Dave & Grace Schmidlin |
| Christine Schroder | Jean Shannon |
| Chris & Christine Shea | Meghan Sloane |
| Heather Staley | Hilary Stampf |
| Anna Taft | Hope Taft |
| John & Susan Tew | Tom & Barbara Tobias |
| Jamie Trnka | Cindy Tsai |
| Andrew Turner | Aubrey Turner |
| Kelly Turner | Richard Turner |
| Elvin Vargas | Wandylis Vargas-Irizarry |
| Denis & Cecile Walsh | Betsy Weiss |
| Ron & Alice Weitzenkorn | Sr. Nancy Wellmeier |
| Stephen Wellmeier | Thomas Wellmeier |
| Patricia Wheeler | Steve & Amy Whitlatch |
| Annie Wilson | Carolyn Zhang |
| Erik & Julie Zimmerman |
ORGANIZATION DONORS
| Bellarmine Chapel | Brighton Science |
| Christ Church Glendale | Cincinnati Catholic Women’s Association |
| Duke Energy Business Services | Duke Energy Corporation PAC |
| Hispanic Chamber | Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish |
| Johnson & Johnson | Kroger Community Rewards |
| Niehaus Financial Services | Robert W. Baird & Co. |
| Sisters of Charity | Sisters of Mercy |
| Sisters of St. Francis | Streetside Brewery |
| Third Eye Brewing | Verizon Charitable Giving |
Foundations
| Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation, Inc. | Bon Secours Mercy Health |
| Franklin A Klaine and Janet S Klaine Family Foundation | Greater Cincinnati Foundation |
| Interact for Health | Justin R. Niklas Family Foundation |
| Mercy Fund for Ministry | Pepper Family Fund |
| Ruth & Robert Conway Foundation | SC Ministry Foundation |
| William P Anderson Foundation |
Gifts in Memory of
| Judy & Natalie Dewitt | Marilyn Maag |
Gifts in Honor of
| Dan & Kathy Aerni | Sr. Rose Ann Fleming |
| Teresa Roig-Torres | Wandylis Varas-Irizarry |
