June 18, 2024 Declared Santa Maria Community Services Day in Cincinnati and the State of Ohio to Celebrate 40 Years of Community Impact from President & CEO H.A. Musser, Jr.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2024
CONTACT:
Christy Cauley
Santa Maria Community Services, Inc.
Christy.Cauley@SantaMaria-Cincy.org
(513) 557-7297
CINCINNATI, OH – Santa Maria Community Services is delighted to announce that June 18, 2024, has been declared "Santa Maria Community Services Day" in the City of Cincinnati and the State of Ohio. This special recognition celebrates the organization's 126 years of dedication to enhancing the well-being of Cincinnati residents, particularly those in the Price Hill neighborhoods, and honors President & CEO H.A. Musser, Jr.'s 40 years of service, which began on June 18, 1984.
A Proclamation of Appreciation
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval issued proclamations highlighting Santa Maria’s exceptional contributions to community development and resource provisioning. The proclamations acknowledge the leadership of all past and current leaders, including H.A. Musser, Jr., who has been with the organization for 40 years. They praise Santa Maria’s commitment to innovative programs in Early Childhood Development, Education and Employment Advancement, Financial Stability, Health and Wellness, and Youth Development.
A Legacy of Service
Founded on December 8, 1897, by Sisters of Charity, S. Blandina and S. Justina Segale, Santa Maria Community Services began as a settlement house in Over-The-Rhine serving Cincinnati’s Italian immigrant population. Over the years, Santa Maria has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community, focusing on helping families build self-sufficiency and break the cycles of generational poverty by offering a hand-up rather than a hand-out. Santa Maria moved to Price Hill in 1966 and has remained committed to enhancing the quality of life for families in the neighborhood. Santa Maria has grown and adapted through the decades, addressing the needs of different populations, including the Appalachian migrant population in the 1960s and 1970s and the growing Hispanic community in recent years.
Under the guidance of dedicated leaders like Mr. Musser, Santa Maria has made significant strides in improving the quality of life for thousands of families in Cincinnati. H.A. Musser, Jr. has been instrumental in driving this growth and transformation over the last 40 years. His leadership has helped Santa Maria expand its services and reach, ensuring that the organization remains a vital resource for the community.
Celebrating Santa Maria Community Services Day
Santa Maria Community Services Day on June 18, 2024, will be a day of celebration and reflection. The organization invites the community to join in honoring its long-standing service and the positive impact it has made on Price Hill and beyond by sharing memories on social media and tagging the organization with the hashtag #SantaMariaCincy. It is also an opportunity to highlight H.A. Musser, Jr.'s remarkable 40-year tenure and his contributions to the community by making a gift to the H.A. Musser Fund.
Santa Maria has established the H.A. Musser Fund to support the Youth Development program, where Musser began his career in 1984. Donations can be made at SantaMaria-Cincy.org by clicking the GIVE button and selecting “H.A. Musser Fund” under the “Donation Designation” drop-down menu.
"We are grateful for the support of our community and the dedication of our staff, in particular, H.A. who has dedicated his entire career to helping families in our community and beyond," said Jorge Seda, Board Chair at Santa Maria Community Services. "This recognition is a testament to the collective effort of everyone involved in making Santa Maria a cornerstone of support and development."
Santa Maria will celebrate Mr. Musser’s anniversary at a private event in August and again later this year at their annual fundraising event, Passport to Success, on October 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Aston Oaks Golf Club.
