PROVIDENCE – Closing in on its goal of $7.85 million, the 2007 Catholic Charity Fund surpassed the amount raised all of last year by posting a total June 15 of $7,371,472 in cash and pledges. Even with these encouraging figures, however, the appeal is now coming down to the wire. With just two weeks left as of June 15, the Stewardship & Development reported that the magic number to reach goal is $35,800 per day.
Catholic Charity Fund Appeal General Co-Chairs Michael Woody and Joanne Speroni-Woody said, “We are extremely pleased with the generous response from so many people across the Diocese but with just a few weeks left, we hope that there will be more people who will join us in this effort.”
The pair noted the importance of the appeal. “Our ministries make such a tremendous impact in the lives of so many people, changing their lives each and every day, but without these funds that job will get much harder,” they said. “We hope that everyone who has made a gift in the past will join us and help us reach our goal.”
As of June 1, the Bishops’ Partnership in Charity portion of the campaign had already exceeded the total raised last year and continues to receive gifts from donors. More than $2.6 million of the money raised to date has been received from donors at the $500 level and above; and of these, a record number of donors – 1,140 – have made gifts of $1,000 or more.
“This is a critical time for the appeal as we truly need parishioners to reflect on their blessings and to consider sharing with those in need,” noted Anthony T. Gwiazdowski, director of Stewardship & Development. “All of our material, and hopefully all that people heard at Mass this year about the appeal, focused on impact: The impact of our ministries, the impact of these funds on the lives of real people, and the impact that each of us can make in the lives of others simply by making a gift. It’s not every day we get a chance to change a life. Your gift to the Catholic Charity Fund does just that.”
Until the campaign’s end, staff and volunteers will conduct phonathons to remaining BPC prospects, and one final direct mail piece will be sent to potential donors. To date, the newly-initiated Diocesan direct mail program has raised more than $1.2 million from more than 11,000 donors. It is hoped that these last two final efforts, along with any last appeals at the parish level, will bring the 2007 appeal over goal. The appeal closes on June 30, but gifts with a June 30 date will be posted through July 6.
