Catholic Charities was awarded two grants made available by funds provided by The Community Safety Net Fund. The Community Foundation awarded the agency a grant of $87,500 to provide rent assistance and $75,000 to provide utility assistance to families in need. The Safety Net funds allow us to provide short and long term solutions to meet people’s basic needs, prevent homelessness and serve the most vulnerable populations in Jacksonville. We appreciate and thank The Community Foundation for making these funds available to us to assist the increasing needs of families in our community.

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Catholic Charities USA President to Serve on the Newly Created President’s Council of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Washington, DC—Today in the Oval Office of the White House, Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA became one of the first to be named to the newly created President’s Council of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. President Barack Obama, by Executive Order, created the new office to be headed by Joshua DuBois. The Council will advise the new office and offer advice on policy issues to the President.

Father Snyder will work with the staff of the Oval Office and 24 other religious and community leaders of diverse political, religious, and community backgrounds from across the country. In serving individuals, families and communities, Catholic Charities work tirelessly to promote a consistent ethic of life. As a member of the Council, he will represent a rich tradition of service to the most vulnerable and marginalized and advocate on behalf of the dignity of all human beings.

“I am honored to accept President Obama’s appointment,” said Father Snyder. “Representing centuries of collaboration between Catholic Charities agencies and the government, our network looks forward to continuing this partnership, especially in these critical times. For almost 300 years Catholic Charities have been faithful to our mission of advocating on behalf of, convening groups to improve the lives of and directly serving the poor—the most vulnerable in our society.”

Following in the historical role of past Catholic Charities leaders like Father John A. Ryan and Msgr. John O’Grady, Father Snyder will bring an organized voice representing the poor and voiceless to this national conversation at this critical hour,” said Brian R. Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities Services in Youngstown, OH.

Father Snyder is the president of Caritas North America, vice president of Caritas Internalionalis and appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council of Cor Unum, which oversees the charitable works of the Catholic Church worldwide. He serves on the boards of Independent Sector, Catholic Health Association and The NonProfit Times named him as one of the top 50 leaders of nonprofit organizations in 2008.

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Catholic Charities USA Warns Against Fraudulent Email

Catholic Charities USA has issued the following statement on our Web site about fraudulent emails that are circulating. Please consider posting a similar warning on your agency’s Web site. Fraudulent emails that are misappropriating the name of Catholic Charities USA and its affiliates are being sent to extract money and/or personal information from unsuspecting recipients and are circulating on the Internet. There are numerous variations of these emails, which are labeled with any one of the following subject titles: GRANT NOTIFICATION; THE CATHOLIC CHARITY; THE CATHOLIC CHARITY FOUNDATION; FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CASH GRANT PROGRAM; Donations for Hurricane Gustav Recovery Efforts. These emails each list different contact persons and contact information (including email addresses) so that recipients of the emails may respond to purportedly collect funds after the recipient provides detailed personal information and/or is asked to travel to receive such funds. In addition, in at least one instance, the Web site of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida has been misappropriated in the actual fraudulent email. In order to combat and prevent the continued distribution of these emails, Catholic Charities USA issued a warning to each and every email address listed on these communications and is fully prepared to pursue legal action if the transmission of these fraudulent emails does not cease immediately. This warning has been posted on our Web site at: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1495

Catholic Charities USA President Named to The NonProfit Times’ Power and Influence Top 50

Dear Catholic Charities USA Member, I am pleased to announce that Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, today was named as one of the nation’s top nonprofit executives of 2008 by The NonProfit Times.

Father Snyder was recognized in the newspaper’s 11th annual "Power and Influence Top 50" for having influenced the nonprofit sector during his career, as well as during the past 12 months. “The organization has focused on poverty issues since Father Snyder took over in February 2005. He is showing excellent leadership in both the high-touch services and as a strong policy advocate in the states as well as on Capitol Hill,” NPT stated. Father Larry is providing the Catholic Charities network with visionary and strategic leadership, challenging us to new standards of excellence in our service delivery, while initiating bold advocacy approaches.

The Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America’s goal to cut the poverty rate in this country by 50 percent by 2020 is a clarion call to all of us. Active and highly visible both on the national and international fronts, The NonProfit Times’ prestigious recognition of Father Larry is something we celebrate and feel is very deserved “I am honored to be listed among these leaders,” said Father Snyder. “Such recognition speaks to the respect and high regard in which the entire Catholic Charities network is held and is a tribute to the work they do each and every day to provide help and create hope for more nearly 8 million people in need a year.” Please welcome me in congratulating Father Larry.

You can read the special report online at http://www.nptimes.com/08Aug/080801%20SpecRep.pdf.

Sincerely, Janet Valente Pape Chair, Catholic Charities USA’s Board of Trustees

Catholic Charities USA Receives Seal of Approval from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance

Alexandria, VA-Catholic Charities USA has been recognized for meeting all standards for charity accountability with a seal from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (the Alliance), a national charity watchdog. The Alliance looks beyond the financial numbers and evaluates national charities on a set of standards including governance and oversight, fiscal responsibility, truthfulness in representation, and the willingness to disclose information to the public.

“We are proud to receive this widely-recognized and extremely reputable seal that symbolizes our commitment to accountability,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. “And we’re pleased that our donors know they are making a sound giving decision when demonstrating their generosity to helping those in need.”

The Alliance (www.give.org) was formed in 2001 through the merger of the National Charities Information Bureau with the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Foundation, which housed the Philanthropic Advisory Service. The merger partners offer over a century of combined experience in charity evaluation.

Earlier this month, Catholic Charities was recognized as a “Slam Dunk” charity for donors by another watchdog, Charity Navigator, which listed the organization as the eighth most fiscally responsible charity in the nation. For more information, visit www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/topten.detail/listid/23.htm.

Charity Navigator Finds Catholic Charities USA a "Slam Dunk" For Donors

Recognized as 8th Most Fiscally Responsible Charity in Nation

Alexandria, VA-Catholic Charities USA is a "Slam Dunk" for donors looking to maximize their investment, according to Charity Navigator, the country's largest independent charity evaluator, which this week recognized Catholic Charities USA as the eighth most fiscally responsible charity in the nation. In addition, Charity Navigator awarded Catholic Charities USA its highest rating-four stars-for both organizational efficiency and organizational capacity.

"At Charity Navigator we've scrutinized the financial health of more than 5,300 of the best-known charities in America. Catholic Charities USA stands out not just as one of the most fiscally healthy, but also for their strong commitment to respecting the rights of donors," said Trent Stamp, president of Charity Navigator. "Their inclusion on our top 10 list of Slam Dunk Charities signals to the public that Catholic Charities USA is worthy of its trust and support."

Catholic Charities USA, which as founded in 1910, serves as the membership association of one of the nation's largest social service networks, providing networking opportunities, national advocacy, and media efforts, program development, training and technical assistance, and financial support. For more than 275 years, Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide have provided vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

"Quality, accountability, and compassion are the foundation of our efforts to help local Catholic Charities agencies improve the lives of those in need," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. "We are honored that our financial stewardship and our commitment to donors and those we serve have been recognized by such a reputable independent evaluator of charities. We commend Charity Navigator for helping donors make intelligent giving decisions that will result in a positive lasting impact. "

Charity Navigator aims to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace in which givers and the charities they support work in tandem to overcome the nation's most persistent challenges.

Pope Names Catholic Charities USA President to Pontifical Council Cor Unum; Rev. Snyder to also Serve as President of Caritas North America

Pope Benedict XVI this week named Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the dicastery which oversees the Church's charitable activities around the world. Established in 1971, Cor Unum serves in the name of the Pope "for humanitarian initiatives in cases of disaster or in an integral promotion of humanity."

"I am honored to have been invited to serve the Church and Catholic Charities in this way. I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about the wide range of the Church's charitable work in the world but also to share more broadly the incredible work being undertaken by Catholic Charities agencies all over this country," said Father Snyder.

As head of Catholic Charities USA- the national membership association of more than 1,500 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions that serve more than 7.4 million people a year-Father Snyder is responsible for the overall direction of the Catholic Charities movement and the administration of Catholic Charities USA located in Alexandria, VA. He also serves as chief spokesperson for the organization and maintains key relationships with Catholic and other national and governmental groups.
In June, Father Snyder will assume the presidency of Caritas North America. Caritas North America, a regional body of Caritas Internationalis, is comprised of four member organizations-Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and Development and Peace in Canada.

Father Snyder is currently in Rome, joining Caritas Internationalis members from around the world for the 18th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis that is being held June 3-9. Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.