PROVIDENCE — The 2010 Catholic Charity Appeal continues to make progress towards its goal of $7,800,000. To date, $4,076,512 has been raised from 25,304 donors. This amount represents an average gift of $161 to the Appeal.
More than $945,000 was reported by parishes last week and as of April 5, two parishes have reached their 2010 goal: Our Lady of Czestochowa, Coventry and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Exeter. At this time last year four parishes had reached their goal, but as of this week’s report, there are several parishes very close to their target.
As parishes continue to complete their follow-up work with their parishioners, the Stewardship & Development Office is sending out the first of two diocesan-wide direct mail follow-up letters to all past donors and non-donors. The first mailing will be sent during the week of April 19. The office staff notes that this is a change from the original calendar date and will be implemented to give parishes more time to complete their work and mail returns to Letter Concepts in Connecticut for processing. By doing so the goal is to limit the number of parishioners who may have made a gift, but have not had it posted to the parish total before the mailing is sent out.
A second follow-up mailing will be sent out in May. This solicitation will also be sent to past donors. It is hoped that after the letters have been mailed, the 2010 Appeal will have surpassed its goal.
