The gateway built by the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) for Chaldean and Iraqi refugees and immigrants, who make their way to America in pursuit of a better life, and others in need, has once again been expanded.
“We thought what we had built would be good for nearly 20 years,” said Martin Manna, president of the Chaldean Community Foundation and Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce speaking to the crowd of guests attending Friday’s official opening for the expanded facility.
He was referring to the original building in 2011.
It was then that a handful of visionaries, who wanted to keep the faith, culture and traditions of their homelands alive while helping members of the Chaldean and Iraqi community with services they might need to succeed, launched CCF. Initially, their goal was to provide services such as workforce development, immigration, housing, language learning, behavioral health, access to healthcare and other basic needs to about 400 people a year.
Instead, their reach grew to 40,000, and within four years staff and clients were busting at the seams.
