The Story of How Joseph & Mary’s Home Successfully Completed Two Capital Campaigns in Five Years

Two capital campaigns, both successfully completed between 2021 and 2026, have resulted in Joseph & Mary’s Home nearly doubling the number of neighbors in need who can rest, heal and be renewed in a medical respite setting. Additionally, the renovations allow for one-floor, fully-accessible living for both male and female residents.

Thanks to generous benefactors and support from several foundations and government agencies, the two capital campaigns raised more than $4.5 million combined.

The Mary’s Home Capital Campaign made the creation of Mary’s Home possible, providing the opportunity for women to receive medical respite care in Northeast Ohio. Joseph’s Home’s “A New Home for Healing” Capital Campaign allowed for a more modern and mobility-aid-friendly home to open, and be attached to Mary’s Home.

Here is an overview of what each campaign accomplished.

Mary’s Home Capital Campaign: Completed in 2022

After serving men at Joseph’s Home for more than 20 years, expanding the mission to serve women seemed like the right next step. Rather than adding women to the original Joseph’s Home space, a portion of the building next door to Joseph’s Home was acquired to become the new Mary’s Home. The space, which had previously been used as an elementary school and daycare center, required extensive renovations in order to make it a home suitable for medically fragile women. The campaign to make the renovations a reality publicly launched in Spring 2021. The initial goal was $1.3 million.

By the time the renovations were completed in late Fall 2021, the Mary’s Home Capital Campaign had raised $1.5 million. The new home was blessed on November 3, 2021 and welcomed its first female resident on March 25, 2022.

Mary’s Home features 10 private, secure bedrooms. A kitchenette, dining room, community room and laundry room, plus an additional art activities space and computer work stations, are available for all residents.

A room at Mary’s Home

The Mary’s Home Capital Campaign Committee included Chair Jeanne Colleran Weaver and Honorary Co-Chair Sr. Joan Gallagher, CSA, as well as Kristine Adams, MSN, CNP; William M. Denihan; Mary Denihan; Lorraine Dodero; Richard C. Gallagher; Natoya Walker Minor; and Lisa Zimmerman, PMP.

The Mary’s Home Capital Campaign was led by Chair Jeanne Colleran Weaver (center) and included Sr. Joan Gallagher, CSA, (left) as an honorary co-chair. Both women are pictured here with Jeanne’s husband, Richard Weaver.

Mary’s Home Capital Campaign Committee Members and Joseph & Mary’s Home Board Members, along with representatives from the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Congregation, attended the November 2021 Blessing.

Joseph’s Home “A New Home for Healing” Capital Campaign: Completed in 2026

The original Joseph’s Home provided men experiencing homelessness and serious health conditions with a safe place to heal and achieve independence for close to 25 years. But the two-story building presented challenges for residents with mobility limitations.

These challenges were becoming more and more common. Studies show that the average age of individuals experiencing homelessness is increasing. A 2019 study by the University of Pennsylvania projected the number of seniors experiencing homelessness to triple by 2030. Additionally, the toll of housing instability can age people by 20 years. Many Joseph’s Home residents had wheelchairs, rollators, walkers and canes.

The need for a 100% handicapped accessible home for men – replicating what Mary’s Home already provided for women – was clear. When the space adjacent to Mary’s Home became available, it was an obvious opportunity.

Not only was this single-floor space a great solution for residents with mobility challenges, it was also ideal for staff. This new layout would eliminate the need to move between multiple buildings, streamlining quality care.

The campaign publicly launched in June 2024 with the goal of $2.5 million. It included three main priorities: make possible the renovation of the new Joseph’s Home, which had last been a dialysis center; further bolster operational support; and grow the endowment.

Once again the fundraising goal was exceeded. More than $3 million was raised. Bishop Michael Woost of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland blessed the new home on July 23, 2025. Male residents officially occupied the space by mid-January 2026.

A room at Joseph’s Home

Much like Mary’s Home, every Joseph’s Home resident has his own room, with 11 available. The renovation – an adaptive reuse of the existing structure – created the individual rooms and ADA-compliant bathrooms. All-new windows, flooring, doors and light fixtures went in, and community living areas also were created.

The new home continues the long-standing mission of treating men with the dignity and respect they deserve while preparing for their next chapters.

Thomas Tyrrell was the “A New Home for Healing” Capital Campaign Committee Chair. Sr. Joan Gallagher, CSA, served as the honorary co-chair. Other committee members included Timothy R. Barnett, MD, FACS; John A. Bastulli, MD, FASA; Lorraine Dodero; Richard C. Gallagher; Audley M. Mackel, MD; Srinivas Merugu, MD, FACP, MMM, CPE; Sylvia Moore; and Anthony J. Searcy.

A New Home for Healing Campaign Committee Chair Tom Tyrrell (center) with his wife, Diane, and Sisters of Charity Health System President & CEO Michael Goar. Tom was the 2025 David Henderson Memorial Award Recipient in thanksgiving for his volunteer leadership on the campaign.

A New Home for Healing Campaign Committee Members with Joseph & Mary’s Home Board Members, along with Bishop Woost (center), who performed the Joseph’s Home Blessing in July 2025. Sr. Joan Gallagher (pictured right, in red sweater) once again served as the honorary co-chair.

Ways to Support Joseph & Mary’s Home

Although both campaigns have now concluded, it is more important than ever to continue to support the Joseph & Mary’s Home mission of providing a nurturing, caring environment for adults experiencing homelessness who have acute medical needs.

To learn more about how you can give to neighbors in need, please visit our Ways to Give page. This site shares how you can provide care through gifts to the Annual Fund or provide for the long-term sustainability of this mission by growing the Sr. Joan Gallagher, CSA, Endowment Fund. A full range of giving options is available, including tax-smart giving and legacy giving.

For more information on giving to Joseph & Mary’s Home, please contact Senior Director of Major Gifts Colleen Corrigan Day at [email protected] or 216.987.9201.