Officials for the World Meeting of Families this year in Philadelphia announced today, Feb. 20, that $30 million in cash and in-kind donations has been raised to support the four-day event Sept. 22-25, capped by the visit of Pope Francis.
The congress will welcome top speakers and participants, Catholic and non-Catholic, from across the United States and the world to discuss ways of strengthening and supporting families and the challenges they face.
Independence Blue Cross CEO Daniel Hilferty, as co-chair of the Executive Leadership Cabinet of the World Meeting of Families, first revealed the fundraising results in a speech to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Feb. 19.
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The $30 million in pledges puts the fundraising effort at 67 percent of the estimated $45 million budget to host the event. Expenses will include security and safety measures, technology, transportation, labor and infrastructure enhancements including telecommunications cabling and pedestrian-control barriers.
World Meeting planners expect to clarify costs for the event after they receive a formal itinerary from the Vatican of the papal visit, perhaps by the summer.
“Wonderful generosity and great enthusiasm for the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis have defined our initial fundraising efforts,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. “From those supporting this event, we have often heard about the fundamental importance of the family in strengthening our communities at-large, and regardless of faith, all have expressed a desire to support the institution of the family, which is the cornerstone of our society.
“There is also great excitement about the visit by Pope Francis and how his presence in Philadelphia next September will bring people of all faiths together in conversation, service and ultimately, love,” the archbishop said.
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the regional economic impact of the congress and the papal visit to be more than $418 million.
The World Meeting of Families is a nonprofit organization operating independent of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Planners expect to release detailed information on the names of donors after the conclusion of the event.
Sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting is held every three years in a different city. St. John Paul II began the practice in 1994 in Rome. The event seeks to strengthen the bonds of family across the globe and highlight the family’s value to the good of society.
The World Meeting will be held for the first time in the United States and precede the first papal visit of Pope Francis to this country. He is also expected to visit New York City and Washington, D.C., during his trip.
Learn more about the congress in Philadelphia, including daily catechetical resources on the congress’ theme, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” at our special section on CatholicPhilly.com.
Feed my brothers and sisters…call on the Pope to call a stop to this ridiculous waste of money…stop and use it to feed our brothers and sisters. No one of the most needy will be fed by a Conference; Feed them, clothe them in the name of Francis himself. For God’s sake….