New Chief Executive Named for Catholic Charities
MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Barry Schwarz, schwarz@dioceseofvenice.org
941-441-1118 (office), 941-275-5183 (cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Chief Executive Named for Catholic Charities
Bishop Frank J. Dewane Announces Christopher Root Has Been Hired As New CEO
Venice, Fla., April 4, 2024 – Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida, has announced that Christopher M. Root has joined Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. (CCDOV), as Chief Executive Officer.
Christopher Root comes to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, from Families First Network of Lakeview Center, an organization that provides child welfare, foster care, and adoption services, and where he was Director of Administration. Previously, Mr. Root spent decades working with other Catholic Charities organizations, in Northwest Florida, at the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and in Michigan, at the Diocese of Lansing.
“Christopher Root’s commitment to service, and passion for helping others, is abundantly clear,” said Bishop Dewane. “His leadership and guidance will be a blessing not only to the organization and the Diocese, but to so many here in Southwest Florida who need help.”
Root said his dedication to service is rooted in his Catholic faith.
“As Catholics, it is our duty to recognize the human dignity of every individual, granted to them by God, and to share His love with all whom we encounter,” said Root. “I am looking forward to advancing the work of Catholic Charities here in the Diocese of Venice, and providing help, creating hope, and serving all, as our mission dictates.”
In his previous work with Catholic Charities, Mr. Root oversaw broad-reaching programs and services such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and transitional housing, as well as more specialized programs like adoption, foster care, Life Justice, Project Rachel, behavioral health counseling, substance abuse, adult daycare, refugee resettlement, personal assistance programs, and medical and immigration law clinics.
Root holds Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts degrees, both from Michigan State University, and is also a graduate of the Mission to Service Program at the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic Charities USA Leadership Institute. He and his wife, Diana, have nine children, and nine grandchildren.
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About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. – Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., is a nonprofit founded in 1984 by the Diocese of Venice in Florida and serves as a resource to the community offering health and human services, food pantries, counseling, legal assistance, rapid re-housing, education, and disaster response. Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., is located in 10 counties including Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota. The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide help, create hope, and serve all. For more information, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesdov.org
About the Diocese of Venice in Florida – The Diocese of Venice in Florida was established by Pope Saint John Paul in 1984 and today includes 61 parishes, 15 schools and serves an estimated 250,000 Catholics in 10 counties. Presently, the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane is the Bishop of the Diocese. For more information on the Diocese of Venice in Florida visit the Diocese’s website, at http://www.dioceseofvenice.org