LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Loretto

WHEREAS, It is the sense of the State of New York to recognize and pay
tribute to those outstanding institutions within our communities that
play an integral role in the protection and care of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Primary among such institutions are those dedicated individ-
uals who, year after year, diligently seek to empower those in need and
promote a culture of equality, healthy living and respect; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 90th Anniversary of Loretto; and
WHEREAS, In July of 1926, Loretto was founded by the Syracuse Diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church as the first Diocesan home for the aging in
North America, and oversight was provided by the Sisters of St. Francis
of the Neumann Communities until the early 1970s; and
WHEREAS, In 1976, Loretto was restructured to meet the ever-increasing
needs of elders in the Central New York community; Loretto became a
private, charitable, not-for-profit organization and expanded its
services and developed a 33-acre campus on Brighton Avenue in the City
of Syracuse; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the able leadership of President/CEO Kim Town-
send, Loretto is a leading long-term healthcare provider to more than
7,000 individuals and their families, who are cared for by more than
2,300 dedicated healthcare professionals; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Loretto has continued to provide a system of
care consisting of diverse service options that can be accessed by indi-
viduals based on their current and anticipated future needs; and
WHEREAS, Loretto's specialized care programs are delivered across 19
locations in Onondaga and Cayuga counties, and it is the largest provid-
er of elder care services in Central New York; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 90 years, the depth of Loretto's role in the
Central New York community has grown as it has responded to the most
meaningful ways to serve the needs of elders and their families, with
the mission of deinstitutionalizing nursing homes and long-term care
services by replacing them with home-like settings that uses person-
first care; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Loretto is rooted in a rich heritage of faith
and service, meant to empower elders and those who care for them to live
with purpose, wholeness and dignity; and
WHEREAS, Through its comprehensive services and programs, Loretto has
improved the quality of life for countless individuals within the
Central New York community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Loretto; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kim Townsend, President and CEO, Loretto.