NORTH FORK, NY — A woman who has devoted years to helping those in need on the North Fork will be honored this week as the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force bestows its 8th Annual Helen Wright Prince Award on Cathy Demeroto.
Demeroto, this year’s nominee, is the executive director of the Center for Advocacy, Support, and Transformation (CAST).
The event will be held Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Peconic Landing in Greenport; the ceremony is free to the community, and no registration is required.
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In 2015, the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force established the Helen W. Prince Award to “call the attention to and honor a community member in Southold who has distinguished him or herself as an extraordinary leader in championing civil and human rights by promoting diversity, unity and fairness in our town,” a release from Southold Town said.
Wright Prince, who died in 2013 at 101, spent most of her life helping children and families in need and decades working at area migrant labor camps, including a labor camp that operated on Cox Lane in Cutchogue, where she created a school.
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The award is presented every October to community members who promote diversity, unity, and fairness. Previous honorees included Prince, who received the first award in 2015, Al Edwards, Merle Levine, Pauline Smith, Sarah Benjamin, and current Southold Town Board members Brian Mealy and Dr. Anne Smith.
Recently, the community was saddened to learn that a beloved familiar face would soon be missing from the CAST canvas on the North Fork: Demeroto announced that she would be stepping down in October — with the search on for her replacement, the board said.
Demeroto wrote a letter to the public, stating that she was leaving with a heavy heart “to focus my time and attention on my family. As some of you know, it has been a challenging year for my family, but we are filled with hope as we embark on the next phase of our journey.”
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She added that it has been her honor to serve CAST and the Southold Town community since taking the helm in 2017.
“In the past seven years, I have led the organization through a global pandemic, a capital campaign and move to a new permanent home, 40-year high inflation, and an affordable housing crisis serving the most vulnerable in our community during a time of unprecedented need and exponential growth in demand for CAST’s essential services,” she said.
She added: “I came to CAST with a vision to expand and enhance programs and services, to find CAST a permanent home, and create a first of its kind community resource center on the North Fork of Long Island. With your support, we have grown staff and revenue nearly tenfold to provide much-needed vital services to thousands of families in need in our community.”
Reflecting on all she has accomplished, Demeroto said she is proud to have created a model Client Choice Pantry; launched a mobile food pantry right before the COVID-19 crisis to help vulnerable homebound or transportation challenged residents; built a successful culinary workforce training program assisting clients seeking higher wage employment and businesses in need of skilled workers; found CAST a new home in the heart of Southold Town and paid off the mortgage in less than one year from move-in date; rebranded CAST as the Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation; increased CAST’s partnerships and supporters; expanded essential services to Shelter Island; launched an arts and culture program; and started a summer and afterschool program for underserved low-income families providing a safe and nurturing space for their children.
“I am very grateful to all of you for supporting me and my team and the important and life-changing work of CAST,” she said. “In addition, I greatly appreciate the board’s support over the years and all the board members who have shared their time and talents with a desire to build a stronger community where all members are thriving. I am confident CAST is in good hands and my wonderful and dedicated staff will continue to serve the community with grace, compassion and professionalism during the transition. With the unwavering and compassionate support of so many, I am very optimistic about the future of CAST and will continue to support the mission and transformative work that lies ahead.”
CAST Board President Mark Sokol said: “As you can imagine, the CAST board is saddened by this news. However, we all understand that family comes first, and we wish her the best as she navigates these challenges. In 2016, When CAST began its last search for a new executive director, we had no idea that we would find someone with the skills, experience, vision and heart that Cathy embodies. It was immediately clear when she took the job that Cathy knew what CAST had to become: a first of its kind community resource center on the North Fork of Long Island.”
Sokol said he has never worked with an executive “with such a combination of skills, character, and heart. Beyond Cathy’s many accomplishments at CAST, she has made everyone who worked with her including the board and her staff better people. There is no doubt that CAST and the broader CAST community will miss Cathy, but the organization that she built will endure and continue to deliver the services conceived and implemented over the past seven years.”
Although Demeroto’s last day is October 18, Sokol said that he has no doubt that her laughter and spirit will shine on at CAST.
The board has already started the process to find a suitable replacement, he said.
“I am optimistic that the good fortune that brought us Cathy in 2017 will still be with us as we seek a new executive director. To make sure we don’t miss a step during this transition, Cathy will continue to be available to the CAST board and team as a consultant,” he said.
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