One of the 2017 Catholic Charities local CCHD grant recipients is the St. Marguerite Sewing Project of St. William Church in Murphy. The grant helped purchase sewing machines and supplies to teach sewing skills. Project teachers (all volunteers from the parish and the surrounding community) and students also make clothing for low-income children. Project Coordinator Sister Terry Martin, CND, sees the project as an opportunity for volunteer service for those with sewing skills, and an opportunity for students to learn sewing skills, express their creativity, develop confidence and learn a trade, which can be a source of income. She is pictured with Joseph Purello of Catholic Charities and project team members Joann Moore, Rosemary Wright, Carolyn Sams and Kay Morgan. (Photo provided by Joseph Purello)
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte annually offers local Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants to non-profits in the Diocese of Charlotte that are targeting the root causes of poverty and related social concerns. Many of the CCHD grant-funded projects work in partnership with, or under the auspices of, diocesan parishes. All grant applicants and projects are reviewed for their conformity to Catholic social doctrine and receive a local parish endorsement. Funded projects build community, empower people economically, and support those who are marginalized in society.
This annual grant program distributes grants from funds obtained through the 25 percent of the November CCHD parish-based collection that is retained for use in the diocese. Last spring, 14 local CCHD grants totaling $38,700 were distributed to organizations from 13 cities located in eight of the diocese’s 10 vicariates.
The 2018 grant application and guidelines can be found at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs. The email submission deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday, Feb. 15.
CCHD, a program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops founded in 1969, works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD has a complementary mission to expand knowledge of domestic poverty and has designated January as Poverty Awareness Month. PovertyUSA.org is the online educational initiative of CCHD that seeks to educate and promote understanding about poverty in the U.S. and its root causes.
Visit PovertyUSA.org for resources such as prayers, a poverty quiz, K-12 educational resources, a Poverty USA Tour video about the struggles of living at the poverty line, and an interactive map of the U.S. that illustrates the extent of poverty at state and county levels.
— Joseph Purello, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Joseph Purello is Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s director of Social Concerns and Advocacy.
CHARLOTTE — Thanks to the Diocese of Charlotte’s Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign, families have another source of help to be able to afford the cost of a Catholic education for their children.
The $69 million FFHL campaign, which is funding capital needs and endowments for parishes and ministries across the diocese, among other initiatives, is expected to bring in $3.75 million to establish an endowment for tuition assistance to diocesan schools – and some of that help is available now.
The campaign has raised $69,994,560 in pledges, with $43,333,213 received in payments through Nov. 30, 2017. The pledge redemption period will continue through mid-2019.
The new tuition assistance endowment will be administered through the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte. Available income from the endowment will be distributed to qualifying diocesan schools each year for student financial aid.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or individual. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.
Although the program will not start officially until the 2019-’20 academic year, a limited amount of funds will be available to schools in need of funds to provide assistance to participating Catholic families with the most significant need in 2017-’18 and 2018-’19.
The per-school allotment is determined based on total funds available and the total qualifying need submitted by the schools.
To qualify for the tuition assistance funds, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds available for that school year. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students who have withdrawn, will have to withdraw, or have been unable to enroll because they could not afford the cost.
According to Bill Weldon, diocesan chief financial officer, $49,372 has been awarded to four diocesan schools for the 2017-’18 school year.
“As the endowment grows, we anticipate awarding approximately $200,000 annually,” he said.
The four diocesan schools receiving money this year are: St. Michael School in Gastonia, $30,236; Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem, $2,579; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $6,915; and St. Leo School in Winston-Salem, $9,642.
The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments being funded by the FFHL campaign.
“FFHL funds have already been going to the parishes, capital projects and endowments across the diocese, but this is the first distribution from any of the seven endowments,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “FFHL has had a significant impact on the work being done in parishes and in ministries across the diocese that provide services to parishioners.”
Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan superintendent of schools, expressed her appreciation for the endowment.
“I am deeply grateful that the diocesan administration realized the need for tuition assistance for our families and included a provision in the Forward in the Faith, Hope, and Love campaign for this endowment,” she said. “I know our principals are also appreciative of this additional assistance which can be made available to families with financial need.”
Since it was established in 1994, the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte has grown to encompass 255 endowments and more than $48 million in assets.
—SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter