Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

2019 Appeal chairs John and Ruthanne Daly of Buffalo look to achieve the goal set forth on the board.
2019 Appeal chairs John and Ruthanne Daly of Buffalo look to achieve the goal set forth on the board.

Western New York: Catholic Charities launches 2019 Appeal; $1.4 million already collected

Submitted

Thu, Jan 17th 2019 02:15 pm

Catholic Charities on Tuesday announced the launch of the 2019 Appeal. The goal for the 2019 fundraiser once again is $11 million, of which $1.4 million has already been raised. The theme for the Appeal 2019 is “Help your neighbor find HOPE.”

“We thought it was important to share the good news of our early progress with the Appeal. We see it as an encouraging sign to the community and donors that there continues to be enthusiastic support for the critical programs and services that Catholic Charities provides to the most vulnerable populations across Western New York,” said Dennis C. Walczyk, president and CEO of Catholic Charities.

The annual Appeal helps fund 70 programs and services administered by Catholic Charities across 61 sites in the eight counties of Western New York, along with a number of programs and ministries that benefit all parishes through the Fund for the Faith. Programs and services provided by Catholic Charities benefited more than 152,000 people in 2018.

The chairs of the 2019 Appeal are John and Ruthanne Daly of Buffalo. John is managing principal of Trautman Associates, an architectural engineering firm, while Ruthanne is a fifth-grade teacher in the Kenmore-Tonawanda School District. They also operate O’Dalaigh Real Estate LLC, a family-owned development firm.

“We have great faith that the community, and in particular our supporters in parishes across Western New York, will once again demonstrate their generosity to Catholic Charities to help us achieve our 2019 Appeal goal,” John Daly said. “With our collective strength, we can ensure that the programs and services provided by Catholic Charities will help our neighbors find hope, now, and in the future.”

Catholic Charities expanded services in 2018 at various new sites, including the opening of the Glynn Family Services Center, which now brings all services provided in Niagara Falls to one location. In November, Catholic Charities announced the opening of its Workforce and Education Services site on the East Side located near the Northland Training Center. Also in 2018, Catholic Charities relocated its Cheektowaga office to the AppleTree Business Park to enhance family and community services.

Workforce and Education Services client Evone Hardy shared her experience since coming to Catholic Charities in December to earn a high school equivalency (HSE).

“Everybody is nice. Everybody is welcoming. It’s like a family,” said Hardy, who attends classes five days a week. “The classes are great. I’m the oldest in my classes, but I like to give encouragement to the younger students to help them stay motivated.”

The mother of three children is working on her HSE and then plans to pursue a fashion degree in college. “All my children are grown,” Hardy added. “They all have their high school diplomas and then went to college. I’m the last one. I came in motivated.”

The 2019 Appeal will run through June 30. Parish Appeal volunteers will follow up with donors especially during Appeal Week and report their progress to Catholic Charities during First Report Sunday on April 7, and at the culmination of Appeal Week 2019 on Palm Sunday, April 14. Throughout January and February, Appeal volunteer workshops and events will take place across the region in the following locations:

•Genesee/Orleans/Wyoming counties workshop, Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Batavia Country Club, 7909 Batavia Byron Road.

•Niagara County workshop, Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 2671 Townline Road, Ransomville.

•Chautauqua County workshop, Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 10880 Bennett Road, Dunkirk.

•Cattaraugus/Allegany counties workshop, Saturday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, 115 E. Main St., Allegany.

•Erie County Workshop, Monday, Feb. 4, from 9-10:30 a.m., Montante Administrative Center, 741 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

•Erie County Workshop, Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m., Nativity of our Lord Church, 43 Argyle Place, Orchard Park.

The patron saint of the 2019 Appeal is Saint Faustina, “a Polish Roman Catholic nun born in 1905 who lived her life in imitation of Christ’s mercy. Known as an apostle of the Divine Mercy, St. Faustina died in 1938 and was canonized in 2000.”

The Appeal 2019 volunteer leadership team also includes vice chairs Jon and Heather Williams, Corporate Chairwoman Lisa Wardynski and Parish Chairman Rick Cronin.

To make a donation to the 2019 Appeal, contact Catholic Charities at 716-218-1400 or visit ccwny.org. Follow Catholic Charities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities has helped individuals and families in need since its founding in 1923. That need is varied and widespread – from emergency assistance to mental health counseling and treatment, and from specialized services for older adults to help with job training and education.

Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. In all situations, Catholic Charities delivers support to meet immediate needs, and then assesses clients for other needs to ensure long-term success.

As a steward of the contributions it receives, Catholic Charities earns highest-possible ratings from Charity Navigator for transparency and sound fiscal management and is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity. Catholic Charities also receives highest ratings from the Council on Accreditation for quality service.

Hometown News

View All News