Catholic Charities USA Hosts Centennial Year Poverty Reduction Summit in Cleveland

Conference Engages Community, Recognizes Effective Programs

CLEVELAND, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA, the 170-member national human services organization committed to cutting poverty in half by 2020–joined by Catholic Charities Health and Human Services–convened one of 10 Centennial Summits today at John Carroll University in Cleveland as part of the organization's 100 year history. The event brought together civic leaders, elected officials and all interested parties to address the devastation of poverty in the country.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO)

Among the speakers during the day-long summit were Father Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA; Brian Corbin, executive director, Catholic Charities Services; Len Calabrese, president, Catholic Community Connection; Sr. Judith Ann Karam, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System; James McCafferty, Cuyahoga County Administrator; Sr. Diana Stano, OSU, PhD, president, Ursuline College; Denise Zeman, president and CEO, St. Luke's Foundation of Cleveland;  Candy Hill, senior vice president of social policy and government affairs, Catholic Charities USA;  William M. Denihan, chief executive officer, Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County; Mayor Edward FitzGerald, Lakewood Ohio; Sharon McDonald, Deputy Chief of Special Projects and Student, Family and Community Engagement, Cleveland Metropolitan School District; The Honorable Peter Sikora, Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division; Patrick A. Sweeney, Legislative Consultant; Councilman Matt Zone, Cleveland Ward 17 and Patricia Hvidston, senior vice president for development and communications, Catholic Charities USA.

"In a country like ours, even in these tough times, it is simply unacceptable that close to 40 million people live in poverty," said Rev. Snyder. "Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic Charities USA seek a sustained national commitment that will ensure a reduction in poverty. Together, we can lift each other up. Only collectively can we begin to change the face of poverty."

The summit also included an awards presentation honoring two Catholic Charities programs that are effectively working to reduce poverty in their communities. The innovative programs were recognized for best practices in Catholic Charities USA's poverty issue areas: health, housing, hunger, economic security, education/job training. Each agency received a $25,000 award to invest in further development of their program.

• Eating Healthy – East Chicago - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Gary: This nutrition education program was developed specifically by Catholic Charities for families in East Chicago, IN, with young children who depend on food pantries for a regular portion of their diet. For these families, there is often a problem with using food pantry food nutritiously. Some individuals have little knowledge of nutrition; others are unfamiliar with correct food preparation, or they don't have equipment with which to prepare nutritious meals. This program was developed after many clients of the Catholic Charities' Food Pantry in East Chicago expressed an interest in learning the basics of nutrition in order to provide healthy, well-balanced meals for their children.
• Fatima Family Center - Catholic Charities Community Services Corporation, Cleveland: Originally established in 1973 as a pastoral counseling and outreach ministry of Our Lady of Fatima parish, Fatima Family Center is located in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood and prominently anchors this community with a 26,000 square foot facility developed by Catholic Charities. Fatima was developed as a family center model and was designed to provide programs and services for all ages, infant to older adult. Through the use of this family center model, this Center has a long history of supporting youth and families and offering programs that are designed to develop the full potential of individuals in the community through education, socialization, and personal and physical development.

The Cleveland summit is part of a nationwide series that will culminate in Washington, DC, on September, 26, 2010. The summits provide a forum for thought-leaders, major influencers and citizens-at-large to come together and act on poverty.

Catholic Charities USA's members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 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. For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA