Jack Balinsky, who has been director of diocesan Catholic Charities since 1992, will receive the Bishop Mugavero award from the New York State Catholic Conference Council of Catholic Charities Directors during a presentation in Albany March 19.
The award recognizes an individual who, in the spirit of late Bishop Francis Mugavero, has made a significant and sustained contribution to the work of charity and social justice on a statewide level.
In a letter announcing the award, the council said Balinsky has provided outstanding leadership to diocesan Catholic Charities and the state Council of Catholic Charities Directors for more than two decades.
Balinsky’s career started with the Diocese of Syracuse’s Catholic Charities, where he served in a variety of roles from 1971-84, including as area director. From 1984-90 he served as executive secretary of the state Council of Catholic Charities Directors in Albany. From 1990-92, he worked as executive director of DuLac Community Development Corp. in Albany.
During his tenure at the Diocese of Rochester’s Catholic Charities, he has overseen the dramatic expansion of Catholic Charities’ services and presence in the 12-county diocese from three subsidiary agencies to 10 that serve more than 250,000 people a year.
He was one of 100 people and organizations in 2010 to receive Catholic Charities USA’s honorary Centennial Medal, and was recognized by the state Catholic conference with the J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service in 2011.
A 1969 graduate and the class valedictorian of the University of Notre Dame, Balinsky holds a master’s degree in public administration from Princeton University.
He also has written a history of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Rochester and a six-volume history of the state Catholic conference, both of which are available at www.jackbalinsky.org.
