Bishop Lennon kicks off the 2016 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal with announcement that 2015 Appeal exceeded goal and raised $12 million to help the poor in Northeast Ohio
(Feb 5, 2016) Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, announced today that the Annual Appeal for 2015 exceeded its $11.3 million goal and raised $12 million, the most in recent history. Funds raised were pledged by faithful donors across Northeast Ohio to provide services and programs to the region’s most vulnerable people.
The Annual Appeal, for health and human services delivered in the eight counties of the Diocese, supplements other funding sources for Catholic Charities programs and services to the people who are elderly and infirmed, individuals who are hungry and homeless, children and families at risk, and children and adults with disabilities.
The total pledged for the 2015 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal was $12,125,186 through the generosity of 50,577 donors, representing the most dollars pledged in recent history. Due to rising needs in the community and reduction in other funding sources, the goal for the 2016 Appeal has been increased to $11.5 million, the third year in a row that the goal has been increased.
The Annual Appeal kicked off at a news conference at Matt Talbot for Men at Parmadale, a residential and intensive outpatient treatment center for adult men struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. Matt Talbot for Men has recently relocated to the campus of Parmadale, located at 6753 State Road in Parma, to meet the expanding treatment needs associated with the heroin epidemic in Northeast Ohio. Matt Talbot for Women, located at St. Augustine Health Campus on Cleveland’s near west side, delivers comparable substance abuse recovery services for women.
Bishop Lennon released this statement in advance: “Love powers our mission, the theme for this year’s Annual Appeal, expresses our willingness to care for all people who are poor and marginalized, regardless of their race, religion or disability. We are grateful to our faithful donors who are very caring to people in need, and who generously share their blessings with others. For over 100 years in the Diocese of Cleveland, Catholic Charities has been the hands and feet of Jesus by reaching out to people who need our help and by upholding the dignity of every individual.”
The 2016 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal begins in all parishes in the Diocese on the weekend of February 6-7 and will continue through the end of the year. Donations can also be made securely online at www.catholiccommunity.org/2016Appeal or by calling 216-696-6525 ext. 1049.
Every year, Catholic Charities assists nearly 400,000 people in need throughout the eight-county Catholic Diocese of Cleveland through more than 150 programs and services available at 60 sites. For more information on Catholic Charities, visit www.ccdocle.org.
Media Contact: Linda Corcoran, 216-696-6525 x1042 or lcorcoran@catholiccommunity.org