CCHD Helps People Overcome Poverty, A Letter from Archbishop Donoghue

Published: November 11, 2004

Dear Friends in Christ,

Many Americans enjoy prosperity, yet there are 35 million in the United States who live below the government-established poverty line. One in every eight Americans is going hungry, worrying about making the rent payment, foregoing medical care, and struggling to break free from poverty. There is much we can do, both as individuals and as a Catholic community, to work with other Americans to address the root causes of poverty.

We can reverse the downward trend by rekindling the spirit of community with those in need and by joining the “Catholic Campaign for Human Development” (CCHD) to break the cycle of poverty. Last year locally CCHD received 40 applications for funding and only half of the proposal requests received an award. Your generosity for the collection taken on November 21, 2004 will assist local and national community and parish groups to support low-income persons as they work together to solve community problems, increase educational opportunities, and even create jobs.

Twenty-five percent of monies collected is used to award grants locally to parishes and groups in our Archdiocese; the other 75 percent is sent to the national CCHD office for the larger community. Last year the people of the Archdiocese sent $118,000 to the national CCHD office and four groups in the Archdiocese received $82,000 for the following projects: People of Hope, Georgia Avenue Coming Together, Sagal Somali Radio, and Newtown Florist Club. Sixteen local grants totaling $33,000 were awarded to parishes and community groups in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

I ask that you continue your generous giving so that local initiatives such as housing for the needy, support for immigrants, and intergenerational involvement in neighborhoods can be continued. Please support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to break the cycle of poverty.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend John F. Donoghue

Archbishop of Atlanta