Posted April 29, 2010







By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

May 2 is Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday, the annual springtime fund-raiser that supports social service and special education programs sponsored by the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Second collections will be taken up in all 267 parishes of the Archdiocese at weekend Masses May 1-2 for the benefit of the appeal.

This year’s goal is $10 million.

Assisting Cardinal Justin Rigali in overseeing the appeal are Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, the general chairman, and Deacon John K. Hunter, a permanent deacon at St. Hilary of Poitiers Parish in Rydal, Montgomery County, who serves as the executive director of the archdiocesan Office for Development, the office that manages the appeal.

The appeal traces its roots back to 1915 with the establishment of the Catholic Charities Bureau. The first coordinated appeal began in 1958.

Ninety-five percent of the money raised through the appeal is spent on behalf of the intended recipients and is separate from the appeal’s operating budget. The remaining 5 percent is earmarked for the administrative, marketing and promotional components of the appeal.

The Catholic Charities Appeal is separate from the Archdiocese’s $200 million capital and endowment campaign, “Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope.”

The Archdiocese continues to depend on funds raised for current operations through the Catholic Charities Appeal. Donors are asked to maintain current annual gift levels in addition to campaign investments.

In addition to Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday, donations to the appeal may be made in a variety of ways, including directly to the appeal office and online.

Appeal donations may be inspanidual or on behalf of a family; as memorial or honorarium gifts; as bequests and planned gifts; as pledged gifts or gifts of securities through the United Way; and various other participating employee campaigns, as well as through matching employee-employer gifts – consult your company about matching your donation.

For more information, visit the Catholic Charities Appeal web site, www.catholiccharitiesappeal.org; correspond by standard mail to the Catholic Charities Appeal Office at the Office for Development, 222 N. 17th St., Suite 708, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103; or call 215-587-3651.