Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
Mission Mary Magdalen House restores dignity and hope to those experiencing homelessness by providing showers, clean clothing, and connection to community resources.
Vision Mary Magdalen House envisions a Greater Cincinnati where all people experiencing homelessness are afforded the dignity that comes from access to personal care, clean clothing, and good hygiene.
Values At Mary Magdalen House we uphold the following core values:
Dignity: We respect the inherent value and worth of each person
Excellence: We serve with the fullest passion, and aim to do our best in every situation
Equity: We acknowledge and value each individual and advocate for their wellbeing
Respect: We value, listen to, and learn from each other
Mary Magdalen House Staff
Mary Magdalen House is made up of four full-time and five part-time staff, and many volunteers. The volunteers provide critical support and much-needed help to the staff in their work for the poor. Mary Magdalen House depends heavily on its volunteers; we could not provide the services we do without their important assistance.
Jenny Perez
Executive Director of Mary Magdalen House
Before joining Mary Magdalen House as the Assistant Director in 2017, Jenny fell in love with OTR and serving others while working as a Spanish interpreter and medical assistant at Crossroad Health Center. In 2020, Jenny stepped in to the role of Executive Director, excited to continue the work of MMH. She is a Graduate of Cincinnati Christian University in Price Hill, and in her spare time enjoys playing piano for her church and trombone in several ensembles around the Greater Cincinnati area.
Allie Brizzi
Assistant Director of Mary Magdalen House
Allie was a high school teacher and campus minister for 6 years before joining Mary Magdalen House. She attended the University of Dayton for both her undergraduate and graduate degree and fell in love with the Marianist spirituality. Allie has stayed connected to the Marianists in Cincinnati and always heard about Mary Magdalen House from her parish St. Francis de Sales. Allie is thankful for this opportunity to work with and learn from the people of OTR. In her spare time, Allie enjoys walking her dog, rock climbing, traveling to see her family in Pennsylvania, and finding new local places to eat!
Keith Dixon
Resource Coordinator
Keith grew up in Dayton, Ohio and made his way to Cincinnati through his college career at Mount Saint Joseph University and Cincinnati Christian University. His background includes three years at the CRC in Price Hill, and 2 years of teaching Physical Education at St. Francis de Sales grade school. Keith is currently the Purcell Marian High School Boys Soccer coach of three years! In his free time, Keith enjoys traveling, shopping, and working out. He is a huge people person, which makes him a perfect fit for MMH! Keith feels that he was put on this earth to serve and he’s excited to be able to do exactly that with the people of OTR.
Alicia Stollenwerk
Operations Manager
Alicia grew up in Columbus, Ohio but has been in Cincinnati since starting her family in the early 2000s. Alicia comes to Mary Magdalen House with 20 years of non-profit experience! We are so happy to add her expertise to our team. She is excited to be with Mary Magdalen House because she feels like she’s returning to her original passion; working with the homeless population. In her free time, Alicia spends time with her family, is actively involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and stays engaged in her local non-profit community!
Mary Magdalen House would not run smoothly without the hard work of all our maintenance employees! The gentlemen pictured above are the backbone of MMH. They do the laundry, greet our guests at the door, manage the showers, and run for clothes and hygiene items throughout the day.
Jerry Sedgwick
A resident of our immediate area and known by many homeless on the streets of Over-the-Rhine as “Brother” Jerry Sedgwick, he has been the backbone of Mary Magdalen House for almost thirty years. Jerry asks to be acknowledged here simply as “one of God's helpers.” Like Brother Giancarlo, he is a face of welcome to the guests at Mary Magdalen House, and knows the community well.
Brother Giancarlo Bonutti, SM.
Brother Giancarlo worked at Mary Magdalen House for 28 years! He ran the House for most of those years; caring for our guests was his life's work. Always a face of welcome, he knew our guests by name and anticipated their needs because of his familiarity with their particular challenges.
Brother Giancarlo is a member of the Society of Mary (Marianists) whose principle missions are to educate youth and minister to the poor.
About Mary Magdalen House
In 1985, Reverend Dohrman Byers, of Old St. Mary's Church, and his parishioners began examining ways to help the people living in the neighborhood around the Church. Archbishop Daniel Pilarcyzk provided encouragement; it was clear that there was need---the parish wanted to determine the best way to help.
Reverend Byers met with interested parishioners to discern the best course of action. Mrs. Mary Heller and Jim and Joan Gardner led the effort. As they observed the needs of the people in the area, it became clear that a bath house would fill a critical void. The Gardners generously committed to providing the funds to purchase a building for this purpose, and set about finding a suitable one. Many sites were considered. A building very near the Church was for sale, but required extensive renovation. After examining many options, they did purchase the nearby building, at 1221-1223 Main Street. Remodeling began in late 1985 and on March 25, 1988, Mary Magdalen House opened. We haven't lacked for guests ever since.
During his lifetime, Jim Gardner's passion for the work of Mary Magdalen House never wavered. He and the Gardner family provided critical financial support and guidance, championing its work throughout the Cincinnati community. Since Mr. Gardner's passing in 2013, his family has continued his legacy of devotion to the House and its guests.
The story of Mary Magdalen House continues. Our small facility on Main Street became outdated and was often crowded; on many days we were unable to keep up with the demand for our services. In order to accommodate more guests, on November 4, 2017, Mary Magdalen House opened in its new location at St. Anthony Center, located at 1629 Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine!
How is Mary Magdalen House funded? Who operates it?
The Mary Magdalen House Foundation, a non-profit corporation chartered in the State of Ohio, operates Mary Magdalen House. Originally the Foundation was formed by a Board of Directors, comprised for the most part of parishioners of Old St. Mary's Church, including members of the Gardner family. This Board committed itself to meeting the personal needs of the homeless, and to helping them regain a sense of dignity. Today, some twenty years later, members of the Gardner family and others continue the work of the Board with new commitment and excitement as they look forward to serving more guests, more thoroughly and efficiently, at our new location!
