Who We Are and What We Do
Dorothy Grillo
Dorothy Grillo was appointed Southeast Regional Director for Catholic Relief Services in May 2006. Based in Atlanta, she is responsible for coordinating and directing CRS programs and services to U.S. Catholics in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina and Tennessee. "My work as Southeast Regional Director is truly a labor of love," says Dorothy. "I have admired the work of CRS for years. I'm delighted to be part of a team working to help U.S. Catholics live their lives in solidarity with the poor around the world."
Ms. Grillo grew up in Long Island and graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, NY. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville. She is also licensed as an independent social worker in South Carolina.
Early in her career, she worked as a psychotherapist and consultant for a private clinical practice in Cincinnati, OH, while teaching courses in social work at the University of Cincinnati. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities USA, and of the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity Foundation.
Before joining CRS, Ms. Grillo was Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Charleston, SC, where she led a campaign to build a new residence for retired priests. During this period, she also served as Director of Social Ministry for the Diocese of Charleston. In 1999, she became Diocesan Director for CRS and in 2000 she traveled to Togo and Benin in West Africa to observe CRS' work in the field first-hand.
She is married to Roy Stewart, a musician and composer of sacred music. They have one daughter, Jessica.
Simone Blanchard
Simone Blanchard is a Program Officer with Catholic Relief Services Southeast regional office located in Atlanta, GA. In her current role, Simone travels throughout the Southeast educating Catholics on international advocacy issues, fair trade, catholic social teaching, global solidarity and the many educational curriculums and programs available through CRS. She has served with CRS since June 2006. Recently Simone traveled to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras touring fair trade coffee cooperatives and meeting small-scale family farmers.
Simone holds a masters degree in International Affairs and Development from Clark Atlanta University and has lived and studied in the Dominican Republic. She has previous experience in corporate community relations, marketing, community organizing and domestic disaster relief. Simone has worked for a variety of organizations including The American Red Cross, IBM, Retail Employees Credit Union and Consensus Organizing Institute. Simone comes to CRS from Catholic Charities Atlanta where she was the Director of Parish Social Ministry and Disaster Services for five years.
Simone is married to Brett Blanchard and they have one amazing daughter, Sophia.
Aida Ocaña
Aida Ocañ,a born in the Republic of Panama, is a Relationship Manager in the Southeast Regional office of Catholic Relief Services located in Atlanta, GA. She primarily provides outreach to the Latino community.
She supports CRS programs throughout the nine states in the Southeast and educates Catholics on global issues to help them live their faith in solidarity with the poorest of the poor overseas.
Immigration, Peace in Colombia, Operation Rice Bowl and Food Fast are some of the core CRS programs she is involved with.
She recently toured CRS projects in Agua Prieta, Mexico visiting Just Coffee, a fair trade coffee cooperative, and a CRS immigrants' shelter.
Aida's previous professional experience involved working for the international banking industry and also, with the Hispanic Ministry Office in the Diocese of Knoxville, TN.
She holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Business Administration from Santa MarÃa La Antigua University in the Republic of Panama and is a Board member of the Latin American and Caribbean Community.
She is married to Ettienne Williams, a computer scientist. They have a daughter, Aida Pauline.
Aida Ocaña
Aida Ocaña nació en la República de Panamá y actualmente trabaja para la oficina regional del sureste de Catholic Relief Services (CRS por sus siglas en inglés) ubicada en Atlanta, Georgia como Gerente de Relaciones para la Comunidad Hispana en dicha región.
Ella trabaja con la comunidad hispana católica en nueve estados en el sureste de los Estados Unidos y educa a los católicos en temas globales para ayudarles a vivir su fe en solidaridad con los más pobres y necesitados en el extranjero.
Los programas de CRS en los cuales Aida se especializa son inmigración, construcción de paz, solidaridad global, Paz en Colombia, Operación Plato de Arroz y Food Fast.
Aida recientemente visitó los proyectos de CRS en la región de Agua Prieta en México y tuvo la oportunidad de conocer una cooperativa de comercio justo llamada Just Coffee, además visitó uno de los albergues de CRS para los inmigrantes que han sido deportados de los Estados Unidos.
Aida trabajó con la comunidad bancaria internacional y anteriormente, en la oficina diocesana del Ministerio Hispano en la diócesis de Knoxville, TN.
Obtuvo su licenciatura como Ingeniera Industrial en la Universidad Santa María La Antigua en la República de Panamá. Es miembro de la junta directiva del Latin American and Caribbean Community (LACC por sus siglas en inglés).
Aida está casada con Ettienne Williams y tienen una hija, Aida Pauline.
Martha Gaynoe
Martha Gaynoe is Program Officer/Advocacy with the Southeast Regional office of Catholic Relief Services. She supports CRS programs among Catholics in 9 Southeast states, with a focus on how to get youth and young adults in the United States living in solidarity with the poor overseas. She recently toured CRS projects in Ghana and Honduras. Her education includes an undergraduate degree in English Education from Auburn University, a Master of Religious Education from Loyola of New Orleans, and a certification in spiritual direction from Spring Hill College. Martha comes to CRS with former experience as a Catholic high school teacher, campus minister, youth minister, Director of Religious Education, regional conference coordinator and mission trip coordinator to developing countries.
Cullen Larson
Cullen Larson is Program Officer/Advocacy with the Southeast Regional office of Catholic Relief Services. He supports CRS programs among Catholics in 9 Southeastern states, with a focus in public policy advocacy on issues affecting the poor overseas. He recently toured CRS projects in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel. His education includes an undergraduate degree in theology and philosophy (Loyola University, New Orleans), master of public administration (University of Georgia), and law (Emory University), and has recently completed a Master of Pastoral Studies degree (Spring Hill College, Mobile). His professional career includes law, local government and economic development work, and before joining CRS, Cullen was Executive Director of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. His international experience includes service in China as an economic development instructor, and helping to establish a parish partnership with a rural parish in Haiti. He has served his parish in Cumming, GA, as pastoral council chair and as a speaker for adult faith formation in Catholic Social Teaching.
Senait Tedla
Senait Tedla recently joined Catholic Relief Services Southeast regional office as the Office Coordinator. Senait will be responsible for the administrative systems, physical intrastructure and general communications for the regional office with all of its internal and external constituencies.
Senait brings over 5 years of experience to CRS from working with different non-profit organizations. Prior to joining CRS, she has worked for CARE USA as a Donor Relations Specialist and as an Administrative Assistant and Case Manager for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Senait is a native of Eritrea and has lived and studied in India and the United States. She holds a masters degree in International Affairs and Development from Clark Atlanta University and a masters in Economics from Puna University. Senait currently resides in MacDonough, GA with her husband.
