Catholic Charities Campaign Gets Boost
On October 17 Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa announced its capital campaign, Mission of Hope: Changing Lives With Love, has raised $9.7 million in support of its $16 million goal thanks in part to a $1.5 million challenge grant from the J.E and L.E. Mabee Foundation.
Since Bishop Edward J. Slattery launched the initial phase of the campaign on March 25, 2006, the campaign has received an outpouring of generosity including three gifts of $1 million from The William K. Warren Foundation, The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and Joe and Kathy Craft; and two gifts of $500,000, one from Alan Staab and Sharon Voskuhl and one from an anonymous donor. The Herman G. Kaiser Foundation, Hille Foundation and Mary K. Chapman Foundation also pledged significant gifts to the effort, which has received contributions from every member of the Catholic Charities Board.
According to Tim Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, “This critical capital campaign is the first in our 55-year history and will create a solid foundation of support for generations to come.
The purpose of the campaign is for a 77,000 square foot central campus that will house nine unique programs designed to provide the poor and needy with innovative and long-term solutions to the many complex problems they face. Programs include: Mother Teresa Medical Clinic, St. Elizabeth’s Lodge (transitional housing for families), Madonna House (residential services for pregnant women), emergency assistance (food, clothing, prescriptions and limited financial assistance), refugee resettlement, immigration, and adoption and counseling.
The central location will benefit clients who will no longer need to travel to widely separated locations to receive the help they need. The classroom space planned at the new campus will allow for them to participate in key courses, including financial planning, GED, ESL, citizenship, and diabetes prevention.
Robert J. LaFortune is serving as Honorary Campaign Chair along with Mr. and Mrs. Minshall.
The campaign is scheduled to conclude in April of 2007. An appeal to meet the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation challenge grant is planned for early next year. For more information about Mission of Hope: Changing Lives With Love, contact Kevin Sartorius at (918) 585-8167 ext. 109
Updated 11-21-2006
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