Suzanne Bond wanted to do more to serve those in need. Now she works at Catholic Community Services.

Suzanne Bond is helping strengthen and rejuvenate several programs at Catholic Community Services after joining the CCS Leadership team in 2021 as Executive Director of Special Projects.

Suzanne and her husband of 21 years bought a home in Vail in 2011 and made a permanent move to the Tucson area in March of 2021. She is a proud member of St. Rita in the Desert Parish.

“Catholic Social Teaching drives me in my service to those most vulnerable in our community,” said Suzanne. “As a Catholic, I believe it is our duty to strive for equality for all people, especially individuals that are poor and vulnerable. It’s been a blessing and a great honor to be able to share my gifts with others through my work. There is nothing I would rather do.” 

Suzanne has served in non-profit leadership serving the homeless and extremely low-income populations for over 22 years, including 17 years in leadership roles at So Others Might Eat in Washington, DC. She joins Catholic Community Services with a diverse background, having led human resource, development, social service, property, information technology, facilities, and asset management teams. “I’ve been blessed in my career to have always had CEOs who recognized my natural leadership skills and supported me in preparing for greater leadership responsibilities to help others,” said Suzanne. 

Suzanne states that some of the kindest people she has ever met are people who do not have homes. “I have always been struck by the ability of those, who seem to have nothing, to care for those beyond themselves. These men, women, and children live with incredible and ongoing stress and trauma. Yet, I have been offered a brownie by man who was extremely food insecure because he thought I had missed lunchtime. I had a guest advocate that I should be provided a gym membership by my employer. In DC, I had an entire community of homeless men and women looking out for me while I walked in the community. Once, as a guest of our dining room reached out to grab my arm as I walked in the neighborhood, another guest yelled 'leave that nice lady alone!' It was comforting to have so many wonderful friends. I could tell you a ton of similar stories. These people took their duty to ensure my human dignity very seriously."

At CCS, Suzanne is leading a renewal of the Community Living Program which serves members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, she is supporting the building development and clinical programing efforts for CCS’s new Medical Respite Program.

The Community Living Program’s mission is to enable members with the ability to fully participate in our community. "Our members are a fun group of people, who often have sophisticated medical and social needs," said Suzanne. The staff in this program work incredibly hard and Suzanne is humbled to be a part of this important work. 

The Medical Respite Program will provide a comfortable, safe place of healing for those who don’t need the continued services of a hospital but still have medical needs that are difficult to meet in shelters and on the streets. Suzanne says that “most of us can relate to how important it is to return to a comfortable, nurturing environment after a medical procedure. We are partnering with El Rio Health for medical care and will be located on the campus of the Center for Opportunity. On this campus, we are surrounded by incredible partners such as the Gospel Rescue Mission who will be of a great support to our guests. While they recover, we will be working with our guests and community partners with the hope that we can find permanent housing for those who are interested in having a safe, permanent home."

When Suzanne first moved to Tucson, she was walking into a CVS when a man, laying on the sidewalk called to her. He needed help opening a bottle of water because he no longer had use of his hands. "As we talked, the man told me that he begged God to take him home every day. He was in agony. It broke my heart that I was only positioned to meet some of his most basic needs. I wanted so badly to be able to provide him the services of a medical respite program where he could lie in a comfortable bed, enjoy healthy meals, and be cared for. Soon, this dream will be a reality. I am incredibly humbled to be a small part of this effort.”

CCS is grateful to the many donors who have made this program possible. It’s a big project. Bishop Weisenburger and Bishop Kicanas, among others, have been working with CCS’s Board of Directors to raise most of the funds needed for this project from local donors. CCS also received substantial construction funding from the Arizona Department of Housing. Finally, the Lopez Family Foundation is supporting the project with the long-term lease of property at the Center for Opportunity where the building is being constructed. 

"Our need for community support for both the Community Living Program (CLP) and the new Medical Respite program continues," said Suzanne. "The CLP program operates at a significant deficit every year. The Medical Respite program needs additional support for programing, furniture, medical equipment, staff recruitment and training."

If you are able to support CCS’s incredible programing, please make a contribution online at -- https://www.ccs-soaz.org/donate/form. 

Suzanne is particularly encouraged for the future of Catholic Community Services. It’s a large organization, providing exemplary services to our community. The employees are mission-centered and capable. Suzanne is proud and excited to be a part of the organization’s current and future success.