WALL STREET — As executive director of The Bridge to Life, Francesca Yellico spends her days helping mothers who choose life for their babies over abortion. Operating out of Bridge’s College Point headquarters, she gathers baby clothes, formula, diapers, and other things a new mother would need for her baby.
Yellico is so used to working behind the scenes with little fanfare that she was shocked to be informed that she was to be presented with an award at the Bishop’s Humanitarian Dinner of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ).
“Surprise is not the word for it. It is such a tremendous honor,” said Yellico, who received the Ubi Caritas Award for her work at The Bridge to Life, an organization that offers everything from ultrasound referrals for pregnant women to highchairs and strollers.
The CCBQ dinner, which took place at Cipriani Wall Street, was part of CCBQ’s celebration of its 125th anniversary. Founded in 1899, CCBQ provides affordable housing, sponsors senior citizen centers and food pantries, and offers counseling and other support services to the physically and mentally challenged.
Bishop Robert Brennan praised the work of CCBQ. “The work you do makes a difference every day,” he said.
According to CCBQ officials, the organization raised more than $2 million at the dinner, which drew a crowd of 950 people.
Yelico views her award as an encouragement to keep her focus on the families that Bridge to Life helps. “I don’t do it for the recognition,” she explained. “I do it for the moms and babies and because it’s the right thing to do.”
The award winners included: Tom J. Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce (Humanitarian Award), Robert Pape of the Paul Martin Charitable Trust (Humanitarian Award) and Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs at DeSales Media Group (Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Award).
“It’s the honor of a lifetime,” Grech said of receiving an award from CCBQ. He called the work CCBQ does in Queens miraculous. “Catholic Charities is in every single community in Queens,” he said.
Pape has served as an advisor and a fundraiser to numerous non-profits, but admitted that he felt undeserving of an award. “I’m humbled. There are so many people who do so much more than me,” he said.
LeVien, whose award was named in memory of the Auxiliary Bishop Sullivan (1930-2013), a former executive director of CCBQ, said he was grateful for the honor because he had the opportunity to meet the late bishop.
The award also meant a great deal to him, he said, because he has worked with CCBQ on disaster relief efforts following Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and the pandemic in 2020 and has seen up close the dedication of its employees.
“I’m truly honored to receive an award from a group like Catholic Charities that does such great work and helps so many people,” he added.