Catholic Charities East Bay

We’re delighted to welcome Deacon Michael Gallagher to Catholic Charities East Bay as our new Director of Development! Michael brings extensive experience in major gifts fundraising, strategic planning, and donor and community engagement. Throughout his career, he has built meaningful relationships with donors, corporate leaders, clergy, and community partners while connecting people with opportunities to make a lasting impact. Michael spent many years in sales and business development, including significant time with Opportunity International, a global Christian organization focused on helping families overcome poverty. His career also includes leadership and sales roles with ADP, WorkflowOne, R.R. Donnelley, and Veritiv Corporation. Michael’s commitment to service extends deeply into his faith and community. On October 11, 2025, he was ordained a Deacon for the Diocese of Oakland and serves at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, where he has been a parishioner for more than 50 years. His vocation is grounded in service, compassion, and stewardship. Please join us in giving Michael a warm welcome to the CCEB family! We’re excited to have his leadership, experience, and passion for service on our team. 🙏

This summer, 8 interns worked alongside our legal team across our Richmond, Concord, and Oakland offices and helped open 297 new immigration cases. They delivered more than $200,000 in free legal services to people who might otherwise have nowhere to turn for representation. Their work touched nearly every part of our immigration practice, from consultations and DACA renewals to naturalization, U visas, and asylum cases. We’re deeply grateful to the supporters who make this internship program possible. Their generosity is helping expand access to justice across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and giving the next generation of legal professionals an opportunity to serve their community. To learn more about our programs or make a generous donation, please visit our website at cceb.org

Meet Marleny and Aaron 👋 Marleny and Aaron came to the United States as teenagers, each carrying hope and hardship. Marleny arrived from Honduras at age 13 to reunite with family in California, leaving behind her mother and sisters. Aaron came from Mexico at 14 after years of instability, at one point living alone and struggling to meet basic needs.   They eventually met at John O’Connell High School in San Francisco, where Marleny’s strong academic skills and determination complemented Aaron’s resilience. They graduated in 2009 and married a year later, beginning their life together in California. Like many immigrant families, their path to stability was uncertain. Although both were approved for DACA, they wanted something more permanent with a future they could count on but didn’t know where to begin.   With our guidance, Marleny and Aaron began the complex process of applying for U Visas as a step toward lawful permanent residency. CCEB stepped in at every stage providing expert legal support, tracking deadlines, assisting with documentation, and offering consistent encouragement during a long and uncertain wait. Both Marleny and Aaron were able to secure work permits while their applications were pending, allowing them to continue supporting themselves and contributing to their community. In July 2026, their applications were approved. Today, Marleny and Aaron are building a stable, secure future one that once felt out of reach. Their story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when compassionate, expert support meets determination.   Your support makes stories like theirs possible. By investing in Catholic Charities East Bay, you help individuals and families move from uncertainty to stability, and from fear to belonging. To support more families like Marleny and Aaron, please visit our website at cceb.org

Catholic Charities East Bay is delighted to announce that Monica J. Burnick has joined the organization as Director of Marketing and Communications. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in brand strategy, marketing, and integrated communications, Monica will lead CCEB’s storytelling, outreach, and engagement efforts across the East Bay. Monica brings a unique blend of corporate, nonprofit, and community-sector experience. She spent many years as a senior marketing leader at Chevron, where she led integrated marketing and brand communications. She later founded MBB Communications Group, a consultancy focused on helping local nonprofit organizations. In her new role, Monica will be working closely with programs, development, parishes, and community partners to elevate the voices of clients, employees, and volunteers and help our community see the impact of their support. Welcome, Monica 🎉

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Summer Faith Campers at St. Isidore Parish in Danville, Catholic Charities East Bay received 85 backpacks, each filled with school supplies for kindergarten and elementary school students. As the new school year approaches, these donations will help 85 children in our community return to the classroom feeling prepared and ready to learn. For many families, the cost of purchasing school supplies can quickly add up, especially for those with multiple children. These thoughtful contributions provide more than just backpacks or crayons, they help ease back-to-school expenses and ensure students have the materials to fully participate and succeed in the classroom. We are deeply grateful to the parishioners of St. Isidore for their generosity and commitment to supporting local children and families. We extend a special thank you to Maura Piombo-Pacas for coordinating this meaningful effort. You are putting Love into Action and helping children begin the year with confidence and the tools to thrive. #backtoschool To learn more about our programs or make a generous donation, please visit cceb.org

Can you tell which one it is? You can't tell just by looking. They all look the same. People are often the same way. You can't always see what someone is going through beneath the surface. Everyone carries something we can’t always see. By taking the time to check in, listen, and offer support, we can help build a community where no one has to face life’s challenges alone. 🫶 If you or someone you know is in need of our services, please visit our website at cceb.org We are here to help.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities East Bay and The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, S.J., Bishop of Oakland, you are invited to join us in celebrating those who put Love into Action throughout out East Bay community!

Monday Morning Motivation! Shaping Futures, One 9th Grader at a Time One of the most rewarding aspects of the Corporate Work Study Program is watching our 9th graders take their first steps into the professional world. For many students, their first day at work is filled with excitement, curiosity, and a few nerves. Thanks to the guidance and encouragement of dedicated workplace mentors, those first experiences quickly become opportunities for confidence, growth, and discovery. Mentoring a 9th grader is a dynamic and rewarding experience. It means helping a young person navigate a professional environment, build workplace skills, and develop the confidence to ask questions, solve problems, and contribute as a valued member of the team. In return, mentors often gain a fresh perspective, renewed energy, and the satisfaction of watching a student grow throughout the year. Three of our Corporate Work Study partners recently embraced the opportunity to mentor a Cristo Rey De La Salle 9th grader and shared what the experience has meant to them. Their stories highlight the powerful impact of investing in young people and demonstrate how meaningful mentorship creates lasting benefits for both students and the workplace. https://lnkd.in/gFEur2Ch Prologis Penumbra, Inc.and Catholic Charities East Bay #communityschoolthatworks #eastbayfutureleaders #cristorey #9thgraders

Over the past few months, Catholic Charities East Bay has partnered with the Diocese of Oakland and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Concord to host Immigration and Housing Clinics. On select Wednesdays, these clinics have been held at the parish’s Holy Family Care Center, bringing trusted resources directly into the community. Through these clinics, individuals and families have received access to immigration legal guidance, housing support, and additional assistance. Alongside our services, St. Francis of Assisi's Gabriel Project provides diapers, baby clothing, and other essential items, while the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County offers food assistance —creating a space where families can access multiple forms of support in a single visit. For many community members, navigating complex cases and finding the right resources can feel overwhelming. By bringing these services together in a local parish setting, this partnership helps make support more accessible while connecting neighbors with trusted staff, reliable information, and practical assistance. Together, we are expanding access to essential resources, strengthening community connections, and helping individuals and families build greater stability for the future. To learn more about our programs or to donate, please visit cceb.org