CCFCS Employee named 2026 RBJ Health Care Hero

Rochester, NY – Catholic Charities Family and Community Services (CCFCS) is pleased to announce Penny Bloom, R.N. has been named a 2026 Health Care Hero by the Rochester Business Journal.

Bloom is the Nursing Services Manager for 13 CCFCS homes supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She oversees care for up to 90 men and women at CCFCS homes in Monroe, Wayne and Yates counties, supervising 5 staff, 2 RNs, and 3 medical liaisons. Guided by both clinical expertise and a deep commitment to the people she serves, Bloom plays a vital role in protecting the health, dignity and quality of life of every resident in her care.

“Penny Bloom demonstrates compassionate care every day,” says Lori VanAuken, President & CEO of CCFCS. “Her leadership ensures that residents receive not only excellent medical care, but also the respect, stability, and attention they deserve.”

“Penny Bloom is the epitome of what a nurse should be,” says Renée Schumacher, CCFCS Vice President of IDD Services. “She is a passionate advocate for the individuals we serve and their families, setting a very high standard for all staff to follow.”

Bloom is a career nurse with a focus on delivering care to people with IDD. She has worked for CCFCS for more than three decades and is also a mentor for nursing students at St. John Fisher, Roberts Wesleyan, and Brockport Universities. Bloom will be honored by the Rochester Business Journal at the Health Care Hero awards celebration at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 9:30am.