About Us

Kelly Bon, MA

Director of Diocesan Social Action Office

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Kelly Bon, director of Diocesan Social Action Office, came to Catholic Charities in 2012, with a passion for advancing social justice. Under her leadership, the program has grown exponentially, in both participation and visibility.

With dexterity, Kelly finds common ground to persuade senators and representatives across the ideological spectrum— at the local, state and national levels— to support programs for social justice, including accessing healthcare, decreasing child poverty, and assisting immigrants. She works directly with policy makers to make sure Catholic Charities has a place at the table when decisions are made. She focusses not just on immediate needs, but she also works for systemic change.

Prior to her current post, Kelly was director of social action for the Catholic Commission of Lake and Geauga counties where she was honored for her work as a graduate of the Leadership Lake County Community Builders Program. Here she led the Suicide Prevention in Seniors committee, which created and distributed over 2,500 prevention resources to seniors in the Lake County area. Additionally, she coordinated with the ADAMHS Board to facilitate free Mental Health 101 and Suicide Prevention trainings via Zoom to parish leadership and volunteers.

Kelly’s ability to successfully galvanize volunteers towards a common goal has received national attention: in 2018 she was awarded the prestigious Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl Award for leadership and creativity— work that has global impact. Additionally, she was chosen as one of only three diocesan directors in the country to organize and implement the CRS Parish Ambassador Corps. In that position, she collaborated with CRS national, supervised the CRS PAC Animator, as well as oversaw the recruitment, training, and development of 50 new parish volunteers.

Kelly is a sought-after speaker and conference leader, especially in the realm of Catholic social teaching, having spoken at numerous colleges and parishes, and with community groups. She also designed and developed simulators for poverty and refugee awareness.

After studying at Oxford University, Oxford, Kelly graduated Summa Cum Laude from Heidelberg University with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in history. She earned a master’s in community and social psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.