Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces the launch of the 2013 Catholic Charities Appeal. The theme of this year's Appeal "Charity Transforming Reality," calls to mind the impact, change and difference people can make in the lives of others through their generosity. Archbishop Charles Chaput is encouraging the faithful within the Archdiocese to support the Appeal by setting a $10 million fundraising goal.

The Appeal is the single largest fundraising initiative in the Archdiocese directly supporting Catholic Social Services, which provides help and creates hope for nearly 3,500 people every day-over 200,000 people each year.

"The Catholic Charities Appeal is critical to the good works of the Church in Philadelphia. It allows us to help transform the lives of thousands of men, women, children and families by tirelessly reaching out to those with spiritual, emotional, physical or material needs during a time when they often don't know where to turn," said Archbishop Chaput. "As Christians, it is our job to put these people first in our hearts and in our generosity. We can make a lasting and profound impact on our region and its people by transforming the lives of many through this Appeal. Today, we begin this process by taking a step forward to make this ambitious fundraising goal a reality."

Despite the current national financial climate, last year's Catholic Charities Appeal saw a dramatic growth in the number of donors with a nearly 67 percent increase in gifts received. Of the more than 56,000 donations, nearly 50 percent of the gifts came from donors who either returned after having been away for a year or more, or who had not previously donated.

The Appeal is the major source of private funds supporting Catholic Social Services programs in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including senior centers, educational and afterschool programs for at-risk children and youth, residential support for persons with disabilities, and homeless shelters and community food cupboards.

"The valuable partnership between the city of Philadelphia and Catholic Charities Appeal allows hundreds of thousands to be cared for every year and it provides hope for the most vulnerable among us," said Thomas Scheaffer, Director of Policy & Evaluation in the Deputy Mayor's Office for Health & Opportunity and the City's OST System of Systems Project Lead. "I commend the unwavering efforts of Catholic Charities Appeal to promote community participation and involvement in an effort to better the lives of so many children, homeless, abused, hungry and the aged men and women in our city who need our help."

Founded in 1958 by John Cardinal O'Hara, the Catholic Charities Appeal funds more than 80 programs throughout the five counties of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The services that the Archdiocese provides reflect a belief in the sanctity of human life, the dignity of the individual, and the central role of the family in life and society.

# # #

Editor's Note: For information about The Catholic Charities Appeal please contact 215-587-3651 or visit www.catholiccharitiesappeal.org.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747