Honored to Begin This Journey with You



After closing out an energizing first week, I want to take the opportunity to thank the entirety of the InterFaith Works community for what has been an incredibly warm welcome and very briefly share some first-week thoughts. Looking back on the week, what strikes me is the extraordinary dedication of the team. Every conversation has reflected a deep love for the mission and for the people we serve. The kindness, compassion, and competence of our staff are evident everywhere. It’s immediately clear that our work matters. The impact of our programs and the relationships they foster is profound.

While this may be no surprise to those who know InterFaith Works, coming in from the outside, it has been remarkable. I feel fortunate and privileged to join this organization, and despite a challenging and changing landscape, with such a strong foundation and a remarkable team, I see an incredible future for the agency. 

Grounded in our mission to affirm dignity, build equity, and create bridges of understanding, I look forward to working alongside you to ensure InterFaith Works remains a place where compassion meets action, and where every person is seen, valued, and heard.

Chris Foley

President/CEO

InterFaith Works of CNY

InterFaith Works would like to extend gratitude to our CEO Search Committee. We appreciate the numerous hours dedicated to finding the next leader of our agency. The committee was comprised of Catherine Gerard, Chair of CEO Search Committee; Linda Ervin, Chair of the IFW Board; Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken, IFW Board of Directors; Jim Bowers, IFW Board of Directors; Kristin Thompson Henry, Secretary of the IFW Board; Myrna Koldin, Immediate Past Chair of IFW Board; Rev. Phil Turner, IFW Board of Directors; and Deborah Welch, Incoming Chair of IFW Board.

Public Statement of Interfaith Works Roundtable of Faith Leaders

As faith leaders in Central New York, we unite to support people who are poor, oppressed, and vulnerable, people who are pushed to the margins of our society and who now face losses of great magnitude.

Our faith traditions affirm the dignity of all people, and we seek to build understanding by caring for children who have lost their parents, providing food for people who are hungry, defending those who suffer oppression, and offering shelter for people who have no place to rest. We echo this universal ethic of compassion in our call to seek human-centered solutions to the divisions among us and to care for each other.

At this challenging time when people are experiencing anxiety, fear and instability, we offer our resources of peace, wisdom and courage, seeking truth and working for justice. We encourage all people to embrace these values that shape our humanity, and call upon us all to promote solidarity, community, and love.

As we are celebrating our history of service to CNY, we will be uplifting one of our core programs each month. These programs are our legacy and our future. This month, we focus on the Chaplaincy Program. The content below was written by Barbara Davis, Ph.D.

In 1979, SAIC launched the Chaplaincies and Pastoral Care program, which later evolved into the Interfaith Initiatives program. The chaplaincies offered pastoral support in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facilities, with clergy representing multiple faiths. The Reverend Terry Culbertson (pictured here) was appointed SAIC’s first director of Chaplaincy Programs.  Within a few years, the program had part-time chaplains and/or lay ministers and dozens of volunteer pastoral caregivers offering worship opportunities, personal and spiritual support, counseling and religious services at local nursing homes, hospitals, health care centers, correctional facilities and children’s centers. The program served as the primary advocate for pastoral care services in the community, encouraging dialogue and cooperation among healthcare professionals, clergy and the community and also presented educational opportunities to increase the skills of all caregivers.

The purpose of SAIC's Pastoral Care Program was to bring the love of God to persons in institutions, who were not in the mainstream of society. This was to be accomplished through direct services, pastoral care consultation and advocacy for program development, volunteer recruitment and development, education and creation of specialized services according to need.  

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees for their incredible donation of three truckloads of items to InterFaith Works. In these photos are Bill and Dave from CWR, and Mohamad Nassereddine, Administrative Manager in the Center for New Americans. Your generosity is deeply appreciated by InterFaith Works and all those who benefitted from our winter coat and warm gear giveaway.

We invite you to click the videos below to hear more about our programs and services. The next videos will premiere on Friday, November 20 (A New Beginning, A New Life - Center for New Americans) and Monday, December 1 (Connecting One-to-One - Center for Healthy Aging).

A Message from Beth A. Broadway, President Emerita of InterFaith Works

Finding Common Ground Through Dialogue

El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action

Groundbreaking at the Welcome Home

On Friday morning, October 17, several IFW staff, donors, supporters, and community partners gathered as ground was officially broken to begin work on the Welcome Home. We look forward to sharing the progress with you as the house is renovated.

50 Years of Service, 50 Quilts of Love

In mid-October, Beth Broadway hosted a quilt show at the Stickley Showroom in Fayetteville. On the first day, Beth welcomed the community, and guest speakers reflected on Quilting as Passion, Quilting as Service, and Leaders as Servants. Intermittent musical performances were provided by Phil Rose. Donations collected during the show were matched by Beth and by Aminy Audi, President & CEO of Stickley, Audi & Co. An impressive $2,230 was raised, and with matches tripling the impact, the total reached $6,690 for InterFaith Works.

On the second day, Beth hosted a private showing of the quilts for IFW staff, giving the team time to enjoy the display together. At the close of the event, she invited staff to return to the showroom floor to discover which quilt she had gifted to each of them. Every quilt included a personalized message. Beth shared, “The quilts started to symbolize the world because you all symbolize the world. It was like a quilt of people. To be with you all is like traveling the whole world. You have allowed me to grow my heart as big as the world.”

Retirement Celebration for Beth Broadway

At the end of October, Beth Broadway officially retired. A celebration titled A Life of Service, a Legacy of Light was held at Traditions on the Links. Legacy Tributes were offered by Board Members, a staff representative, and a representative of the Round Table of Faith Leaders. Community Tributes were shared by Melanie Littlejohn of the CNY Community Foundation, Mike Melara of Catholic Charities, and Freida Jacques of the Onondaga Nation.

The Gifford Foundation spoke with Beth Broadway, President Emerita on navigating unexpected funding cuts and how capacity-building programs like Gifford's Embracing Disruption helped IFW to become more resilient.

Year-End Gift Baskets

We are so grateful for the incredible response we've received from the community. To date, we've secured 60% of the baskets needed to support our clients in the Centers for Healthy Aging, Dialogue & Action, and New Americans. There's still time to participate! The deadline is roughly three and a half weeks away - Friday, December 12. We are still in need of:

We would love for you to join us in supporting these individuals and families with something special to brighten their year’s end. For questions, please contact Jennie Prouty, Community Engagement Manager, at JProuty@ifwcny.org.

Spiritual Care Day

The El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action, in collaboration with Crouse Health, convened the 35^th annual Spiritual Care Day at the Crouse Hospital Pomeroy Center for Community & Wellness. The theme this year was "Prioritizing Self-Care for Spiritual Care Professionals." The Keynote speaker was Dr. Kaushal B. Nanavati, Assistant Dean of Wellness at Upstate Medical University. The panel included Nicole Windhausen, Licensed Massage Therapist and Human Design Guide; Reverend Julie A. Kelly, Lutheran Chaplain at Syracuse University; Elaine Wolfe, Mental Health Consultant; and Alexis Quinn, Public Health Educator with Onondaga County Health Department. The event was attended by chaplains and faith leaders who serve some of the most vulnerable populations. 

School Dialogue Leadership Program

The El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action officially launched its 2025–2026 School Dialogue Leadership Program. A total of 104 facilitators, consultants, student facilitators, and adult allies gathered from 27 schools in Onondaga County for a joint session to kick off this year’s project. Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter, Director of the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action, said, “We are enthusiastic about the positive impact this initiative will have on our young people. The energy in the rooms was contagious, as participants fully engaged in the day’s activities. Our community partners played a vital role in making this event a success.”

Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter sat down with the Food Bank of CNY to discuss the work of the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action. Bishop Colette spoke about the vital information loop created through collaborative partnership, which allows neighbors, agencies, and the Food Bank of CNY to make the most of their resources regardless of what is happening locally and federally. Click the play button to learn more!

Senior Companion Luncheon

On October 14, the Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) showed cosmic gratitude to the Senior Companion Volunteers. Guests heard remarks from Lori Klivak, Senior Director of CHA; Emily Grant, Senior Companion Program Manager; Carrie Frank, Senior Companion Program Volunteer Coordinator; Stephanie Pestillo, Senior Companion Advisory Council Chair; Beth Broadway, President Emerita of IFW; Linda Ervin, Chair of the Board of IFW; and The Hon. Ben Walsh, Mayor of the City of Syracuse. Special acknowledgment was given to Ms. Helen Ingram, who completed 20 years of service as a Senior Companion Volunteer. Mayor Walsh read a proclamation stating October 14, 2025, was officially Helen Ingram Day in the City of Syracuse.

Ms. Helen shared her thoughts about volunteering. Before becoming a Senior Companion, she worked with Pre-K–aged children. This led her to want to be of service to seniors her age and younger. Ms. Helen has dedicated the last 20 years of her life to this program because she loves working with people. Reflecting on the proclamation from Mayor Walsh, Ms. Helen said she felt blessed and remarked, “God is in everything I do.”

Beth A. Broadway, President Emerita with Ms. Helen Ingram

The Ingram Family and Mayor Ben Walsh

Fall Fun for the One-to-One Program

In October, a group of 14 Alpha Phi Omega students from Syracuse University spent an afternoon with residents at Sedwick Nursing Home. Together, they made Halloween & fall-themed cards for the residents to keep. They also played Halloween Bingo. We are so thankful for the smiles Alpha Phi Omega put on many faces that day.

For more information about the One-to-One Program, reach out to Jillian Dickey at jdickey@ifwcny.org.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

We are pleased to announce our Center for Healthy Aging was awarded a national AmeriCorps Seniors grant of $110,000 to start a new Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Onondaga County. Since 1971, RSVP has sought to match volunteers age 55+ across the country with organizations that need volunteers and meet community needs. Research shows that older adults live longer lives and are less lonely when they engage in volunteerism. The program enriches the lives of seniors while being a support to agencies and organizations that may not have the capacity to search for the volunteers they need. In October, Cathie Slabaugh was hired to manage the new project and is actively seeking volunteers and organizations interested in participating. Early project areas include digital literacy, free tax prep and companionship for those in nursing homes. We want to thank AmeriCorps Seniors for believing in our ability to positively affect the lives of seniors. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, contact Cathie Slabaugh at 315-449-3552 x214 or cslabaugh@ifwcny.org.

Before the Distribution

After the Distribution

Warehouse distribution – October 17

Twenty-nine families were assisted with transportation to get to our warehouse for shopping for items including household goods and cleaning supplies. A CNA staff member also transported the families back to their address and assisted them in unloading everything they shopped for from our warehouse. Big and heavy items such as beds, cupboards, tables, and chairs were dropped off at their address by our staff member at the beginning of the following week. The aim was to downsize the warehouse while ensuring that families had enough household items in their homes.

Digital Literacy – October 18

Thirteen trainees were engaged in hands-on skills using computers to enhance online communication and essential applications. Participants gained confidence by learning basic skills. Most of them had basic information, but others needed more practice. We provided laptops for training and supported their independence in accessing services. The aim of this was to help clients who rely on computers to accomplish their daily work as well as share some of their information.

Path to Homeownership – October 21

We supported 12 participants in learning about the home-buying process, starting with the first step - a desire to learn, and reaching the last step - home closing. They received more information about loan options and financial planning. The session helped participants better understand the process, especially during the Q&A. They learned more about the steps toward long-term housing stability, which empowered them to begin planning for future homeownership goals. All materials and resources were translated into Arabic. Participants reported increased clarity and confidence regarding the steps involved in purchasing a home.

Taste of Diversity: Families Potluck – October 24  

Six families participated, including one family from Venezuela and five single mothers (three from Syria, one from Libya, and one from Iraq). The aim was to bring together clients and community members to share traditional foods from their cultures. The event fostered connection, cultural exchange, and community bonding. Participants expressed appreciation for the welcoming environment and the opportunity to celebrate their cooking with IFW staff members. We sat together as one family and shared the food.

Winter Coat & Warm Gear Giveaway – October 31  

In just six hours, we distributed coats to 50 families (245 individuals) in total. We were also able to pack and deliver an additional 30 coats to donate to Bob School at the end of the event. The success of this effort was made possible by the teamwork of IFW staff: sorting, organizing, coordinating logistics, and providing interpretation. Every team member played a vital role in making the event a success. We are still accepting donations of new or gently used coats for all ages. Please drop off items at our offices at 1010 James Street, Syracuse 13203.

Join us in congratulating Alla & Wayne Wescott

Alla and Wayne Wescott recently received an award from the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of USA. They were recognized for their faithful dedication, love, and devoted service to their local parish and to the life of the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Across the East coast, only 12 people were selected for this honor.

Alla serves as Assistant Manager in the Employment Department of the Center for New Americans.

Chris Foley, President/CEO of InterFaith Works

Chris Foley has been appointed to President/CEO of InterFaith Works. He brings impressive experience to the job, having dedicated more than 20 years to advancing community well-being through international development, higher education, and grassroots services. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Chris spent 17 years working for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) before the agency closed in July 2025. He's served in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Washington D.C. for the Power Africa program, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pacific Islands, Mongolia, Zambia, Afghanistan, and Brazil. Before USAID, Chris served as a Career Field Consultant and Assistant Director of Career Services for James Madison College at Michigan State University, as well as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay and Dominican Republic. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Richmond and a Master of Science in Resource Development from Michigan State University. Chris is committed to investing his energy into strengthening equity, dialogue, and community resilience in Central new York as he steps into this new role.

Cathie Slabaugh, M.Div. - Center for Healthy Aging

Cathie Slabaugh has joined InterFaith Works staff Manager of the AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in the Center for Healthy Aging. A native of Indiana, Cathie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry from Anderson University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Anderson University School of Theology. Prior to joining IFW, Cathie worked in philanthropy as an operations and grants manager, and service congregations an associate pastor and director of Christian education.

Napoleon Ntawuharuwe - Center for New Americans

We are thrilled to welcome back Napoleon Ntawuharuwe to the Center for New Americans as a Community Integration Specialist. An Immigrant from Rwanda, Napoleon arrived in the United States in August 2022 and joined InterFaith Works the following month as a Housing and Set-Up Assistant. He later served as Warehouse Coordinator, working closely with volunteers and the Housing and Set-Up team to help refugee families settle safely and begin new lives in fully furnished homes. After his position was affected by funding cuts in January 2025, we are delighted to have Napoleon return in October 2025, bringing with him his deep compassion, strong work ethic and valuable experience to continue supporting the diverse community we serve.

Hannah Smithgall - Center for Healthy Aging

Hannah Smithgall has joined the InterFaith Works staff as the Senior Coordinator, Volunteer Recruitment in the Center for Healthy Aging. Hannah is originally from Ballston Spa, New York, where she gained experience with organizations like the Capital District YMCA, Living Resources, the Children's Museum at Saratoga, and NYS National Guard Family Programs, before relocating to Syracuse. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History as well as a Certificate of Graduate Study in Nonprofit Management & Leadership, both from SUNY University at Albany. Hannah has worked as a tutor, ESL instructor, site supervisor, admissions coordinator, and youth program coordinator before joining IFW.

This person would be excited to engage youth in Central New York, through established programs in dialogue opportunities, leadership and facilitation trainings, and positive group development in order to break down stereotypes, build bridges of understanding, and empower students to make change in their environments.

About InterFaith Works of CNY



InterFaith Works affirms the dignity of each person and every faith tradition, builds racial and religious equity, and creates bridges of understanding among us. The agency has served the Central New York Community for 50 years with programs that include the Center for Healthy Aging, the Center for New Americans, and the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action.

InterFaith Works of CNY | 1010 James St. | Syracuse, NY 13203

Phone: 315-449-3552 | Fax: 315-449-3103 | Email: info@ifwcny.org | interfaithworks.org