The Waterworks' New Millhouse Deck in Fairmount Park was the site of the 2003 Catholic Charities Appeal Kickoff celebration held last evening, Monday, May 5th. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, Bishop Robert Maginnis, General Chair of the Appeal, Marianne Ritchie Gordon, M. D., Special Gifts Committee Chair and approximately 600 guests from the five-county area were on hand to kickoff this year's Appeal. Entertainment was provided by Our Lady of Hope Choir, Philadelphia Steel Kings Band and David Coppa and Scrapple.

A special award was presented to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in South Philadelphia for the highest parish participation (64.5%) in last year's Appeal. Top Honors for the Appeal's poster contest went to Megan Goldschmidt, a fifth grade student at Saint Denis Parish in Havertown. Her artwork is being used as the Appeal's official campaign poster, distributed to all 282 parishes in the Archdiocese.

For 2003, the Appeal needs nearly $10.3 million to fulfill the various needs of the seventy human services programs it supports. $9.3 million was raised during the 2002 Appeal Since Cardinal Bevilacqua became Archbishop of Philadelphia in 1988, more than $125 million has been raised through the Catholic Charities Appeal. Agencies funded by the Appeal have helped more than 3 million people throughout the five county area regardless of race, creed, age or ethnic origin. The administrative costs of the Appeal are among the lowest in the nation. 95 cents of every dollar goes directly to fund programs.