| Dr. Richard Gottfried was someone who dedicated his time to others. He and his wife, fellow dentist Dr. Peg Durachko, owned a dentistry practice together. “Two or three times a week he wouldn’t have normal clients in the morning,” said Peg. “On those days he’d go to the downtown shul to make minyan and then volunteer at the dental clinic at Catholic Charities before meeting me for lunch, and then we’d go back to work at our practice together.” Rich and Peg both volunteered at Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh to serve those who could not afford quality dental care. On October 27, 2018, Richard Gottfried was one of the eleven people killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. “Peg and Rich were committed and passionate and gave back to those who were vulnerable,” said Angie Zambito Hill, Chief Development Officer of Catholic Charities. When Catholic Charities moved to a larger space on the Boulevard of the Allies two years ago it allowed them to expand both their programs and their clinics. When a generous donor offered to donate to name an operatory in Dr. Richard Gottfried’s memory, the board of Catholic Charities unanimously agreed to instead name the entire dental clinic after him. “I am touched and honored to know how much my brother’s devotion to volunteering at Catholic Charities meant to that wonderful organization,” said Carol Black, Rich’s sister and a survivor of the synagogue shooting. “I’ve always known him to be a generous and caring person and am so pleased that his contribution was recognized in this way. Now everyone who goes through that dental clinic will know how much he gave of himself in service to others. I’m proud to be his sister.” When considering what Rich felt about his service at Catholic Charities, Peg reflected on writings he had done during his life about what he valued most. “He wrote here that he is proud of us growing and improving our services for others at our clinic,” said Peg, “and that he wants to be remembered as someone who was available and willing to give what he had to offer, both professionally and personally.” The Richard Gottfried, D.M.D. Dental Clinic at Catholic Charities now features photos and plaques at the entrance discussing Rich’s life and preserving his legacy. “Peg has been intimately involved in this process and has been amazing at bringing awareness to our work,” said Angie. “She has also been invaluable with the framing and display of Dr. Gottfried’s legacy and service. People who come to the clinic stop and reflect now on both the tragedy and his life.” “I’m very proud of Rich,” said Peg, “and I met many interesting patients and wonderful volunteers and employees during our time here. Some of those have lived on through beautiful continuing connections.” Catholic Charities focuses on long-term stability and dignity for the people who walk through their doors. They support clients to become self-sustaining and break cycles of generational poverty. “Having poor access to dentistry and not having a smile you can be proud of is a big barrier to confidence, employment, and social interaction,” says Angie. Through the expanded dental clinic, which has increased capacity, volunteers, and providers, they hope to serve even more people than before. “The new dentists at the clinic are excited and enthusiastic in the way Rich and I were when we started,” said Peg. “They showed me all the new equipment and things they can do now at the clinic that we weren’t able to do before when we volunteered there.” The dental clinic serves people at 250% or below the poverty line, including those who are uninsured or underinsured. Many of the people Peg and Rich saw when they volunteered were people who were working full-time jobs and yet weren’t making a living wage and couldn’t afford dentistry somewhere else. “Volunteering here was particularly meaningful to me because I saw that my patients were proud of their work and skills and were trying to make ends meet,” said Peg. “Our patients were aware that in their job interviews their smile compromised their ability to be taken seriously. Their motivation made me happy to volunteer for them. It’s meaningful to restore a smile, and a lot of people received dental services of a quality they weren’t expecting, then turned around and gave that back to others.” Catholic Charities now offers a diverse range of programs to a wide range of clientele. They are open to clients of all faiths, and 84% of the people the organization serves are not Catholic. They hope to continue working and partnering with other nonprofits to break down barriers to care. Catholic Charities provides services in six counties and served 22,375 during its last fiscal year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Among other things they have a job training program, a drop-in dining facility, a free health-care center, and case managers who build trust with clients and provide swift referrals into appropriate services. Catholic Charities is also growing its mental health services. They provide traditional counseling (both in-person and virtually) for those with formal diagnoses but are piloting early-involvement mental health services to support people with trauma, anger management, post-partem depression, and grief. To learn more about Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh or to access their services please visit their website at ccpgh.org or visit them at the Compassion Corner at 111 Boulevard of the Allies. | 