Catholic Charities USA Centennial Leadership Summit to Showcase National Solutions to Reduce Poverty

Norah O'Donnell, MSNBC Correspondent, to lead panel discussion

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA, the 100-year-old social service network dedicated to reducing poverty in America, will convene its final Centennial Leadership Summit on Sunday, September 26, 2010, from 9am-4pm at the Hilton Washington, uniting policy-makers, thought leaders, community and corporate leaders, and social service providers  to focus on innovative solutions to the national  crisis of poverty. The day-long event during the organization's 4-day Centennial is the culmination of a year-long series of summits held in major cities across the country.  

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Rev. Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, will present the opening keynote address, Time to Think and Act Anew, outlining bold ideas to reduce poverty in America as Catholic Charities moves into its second century of service. Immediately following the keynote, Norah O'Donnell, MSNBC White House Correspondent, will lead a panel discussion on the national response to Fr. Snyder's address. Members of the panel include Joshua DuBois, Executive Director, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, Professor, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and Janet Lawson, Director, Ford Volunteer Corps, Ford Motor Company.

Candy Hill, Sr. Vice President for Social Policy and Government Affairs, Catholic Charities USA, will deliver an afternoon keynote address, Creating Communities of Opportunity and Renewal, transforming conversation into action and connecting service to national legislation.  Patricia Read, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs, Independent Sector, will lead a panel discussion with contributions from Anna Babin, President and CEO, United Way of Houston, TX; Tiziana Dearing, CEO, Boston Rising, and former President, Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Boston; Ed Orzechowski, President & CEO, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, DC; and Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York.

Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910 "to bring about a sense of solidarity" among those in charitable ministries. Since 1910, Catholic Charities USA has encouraged professional social work practice, provided opportunities for training and networking, and served as a national voice and expert on poverty issues. The Centennial is a time to reflect on past accomplishments and renew the commitment to serve those in need.

For more information about Catholic Charities USA's Centennial activities, visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/centennial

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA