by Kaitlin Jackson
$141,000 in matching gifts bolster effort to help achieve this year’s $11 million goal with activities planned across the city and region
The second annual Catholic Charities day of giving, now called HOPE Day, to benefit the 2019 Appeal, will be held Friday, May 17 throughout Western New York. The first $141,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar in the ongoing effort to reach the annual Appeal’s $11 million goal.
To date, the 2019 Appeal has raised $7,694,354.62 or 69% of goal since it began in January. Last year’s inaugural Day of Giving netted $409,075, including $100,000 in matching funds. Donations can be made securely online at give.ccwny.org/hope or by calling 716-218-1400.
“We are respectfully asking the community to help our neighbors find hope by making a contribution to the 2019 Appeal supporting Catholic Charities and the Fund for the Faith on HOPE Day,” said Dennis C. Walczyk, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities. “We appreciate every gift and are thankful for those who have already donated. HOPE Day offers a rallying point for our supporters, and a chance for first-time donors to champion our mission and double their impact.”
With gifts from donors who wish to remain anonymous, the first $141,000 raised on HOPE Day will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
Special activities have been planned to promote HOPE Day to encourage giving. These include a phone-a-thon to be conducted by the volunteers of the Appeal Corporate Committee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; a dress-down day by Catholic Charities’ employees across the region; and, announcements by parishes during Masses on Mother’s Day weekend.
Catholic Charities Montante Administrative Center at 741 Delaware Ave., and the Catholic Charities facility at 525 Washington St. in the city of Buffalo will feature large HOPE Day graphics, and the Montante Administrative Center will be illuminated in the organization’s logo colors
“With HOPE Day following Mother’s Day and, as a mother myself, I cannot think of a better way to honor mothers and families than by making a HOPE Day gift,” said Lauren Maguire, director of Appeal advancement. “Many programs and services supported by the Appeal directly impact mothers and families in all stages of life – from our food and emergency assistance programs that ensure the basic needs of families are being met, to our senior day program which provides safe and nurturing care to older adults and their caregivers.”
Funds raised during the Appeal will help support the 70 programs and services provided by Catholic Charities at 61 sites throughout Western New York, along with a number of ministries that benefit all parishes through the Fund for the Faith.
Catholic Charities impacted the lives of more than 152,000 individuals – Catholic and non-Catholics alike – in 2018.
The theme of this year’s Appeal, which began in January, is “Help Your Neighbor Find Hope” and the patron saint is St. Faustina. The Appeal ends June 30.
