CCCHS to host 45th annual Rose Cologne Dinner

STATE COLLEGE — The founders of the Centre County Council for Human Services first met  with the purpose of creating one group that combined the funds of several organizations to take care of Centre County’s needs more completely. They felt that more could be achieved if organizations, churches and individuals banded together. 

By uniting, they brought unique talents and expertise together for the benefit of all. More could be accomplished by putting their financial resources together, also. CCCHS incorporated in 1968, making this its 50th anniversary.

“Every time the CCCHS meets, I am so impressed and proud of all the organizations and all they do for the community,” said Katie Kensinger, the current president of CCCHS. “They all work so well together.”

CCCHS has currently has 120 members, including organizations, faith–based groups, businesses and individuals. The council helps Centre County residents with food, housing, safety, medical and dental care, mental health issues, home heating and more.

Each year, the Rose Cologne Dinner is held each year to honor volunteers from the organizations that make up CCCHS. Cologne was a founding member of the council, as well as widely known in other areas. She was a faculty member at Penn State in the Sociology Department and helped found Habitat for Humanity and the Centre County Branch of the Pennsylvania Prison Society.

Susan Smith, an early and active member of CCCHS, said, “In the early days, we wanted to hold the dinner, include volunteers from around the county, and keep it affordable. The first one was held at the Penns Valley High School and the charge was $8. We would honor as many as 40 to 50 people for their volunteer work.”

This year’s dinner will be held Monday, April 16, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College. A number of awards will be presented, including the Ann Graybill Cook Volunteer of Distinction Award. This recognition is given to a person who has contributed as a volunteer to the council by working on special projects, participating on multiple committees or serving on the board.

Cook was known as the person behind the formation of the Voluntary Action Center. Her idea of a directory of would-be volunteers is now known as the Help Center, which matches volunteers’ skills to services in the community.

Smith received the Cook Award in 2004. Among Smith’s credits are starting the organization known as Helping Hands and the State College Food Bank. She also was instrumental in the forming of Temporary Housing, which is now called Housing Transitions.

Evelyn Wald, who received the Ann Graybill Cook Award in 2008, came to State College in 1986 as a Lutheran minister and later had a private counseling practice. During those years, she also was active in the CCCHS.

“I worked for over 10 years on a training committee,” Wald said. “We held at least two trainings a year for members in two distinct areas — administrative/organizational and legal issues.

“The year I was to receive the award (which was a secret), I kept saying I wasn’t going to attend the dinner. I was in Harrisburg doing a training session and they told me that they needed someone to fill in for the person who was to give the invocation. That was how they got me to drive back in time for the dinner. I was totally surprised.”

Wald founded the House of Care in 2000, which is a personal care home for end stages of life. There was a block grant available and, as an example of cooperation, Wald said the Women’s Resource Center and Housing Transitions held back that year in asking for money so that the grant could go to the House of Care.

Wald also was the executive director of Interfaith Human Services from 1992 to 1994, and she has coordinated past Rose Cologne Dinner events. 

“It is always a feel-good night,’ said Wald. ‘It is so good to hear about the good that is accomplished.’

CCCHS meetings are held at noon on the fourth Thursday of each month at MidPenn Legal Services, 3500 E. College Ave, State College.

For more information, visit www.theccchs.org.