Ministries of Mercy at 1213 16th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 US -
Catholic Charities To Receive $100,000
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Catholic Charities To Receive $100,000
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For Immediate Release
August 26, 2008
Contact: Frank V. Murphy III. President
Sheila Lopez, Chief Operating Officer
Catholic Charities - DOSP
(727) 893-1314 ext. 202
Catholic Charities To Receive $100,000 From Sunshine Lady Foundation
Doris Buffett ‘passes it on’ to People In Need
Doris Buffett, founder of the Sunshine Lady Foundation, Inc., has announced that a $100,000 challenge grant will be made available to Catholic Charities’ Friends In Need and Pinellas Hope programs. This generous challenge grant of $100,000 requires Catholic Charities to raise a match of an additional $100,000 by the end of the year. This challenge is all or nothing. All funds will be earmarked for the Friends In Need and Pinellas Hope programs. Assistance in the form of rental and utility support, medical or other basic family needs to clients so they may remain housed and become financially independent.
Catholic Charities needs your help in raising the additional $100,000 to receive this grant. Donations are 100% tax deductible and can be made via check payable to Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc. and mailed to ~ 1213 16th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, with a major credit card by calling (727) 893-1314 extension 210 or by emailing ccfund@ccdosp.org. Please designate your donation to the Friends in Need and Pinellas Hope programs.
Doris Buffett said “I chose Catholic Charities because they empower individuals to better themselves and their situation."
Sheila Lopez, Catholic Charities’ Chief Operating Officer, said “The donation couldn’t have come at a better time. I was almost speechless when I learned of Ms. Buffett’s donation. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Tampa Bay’s working poor through a hand up, providing assistance at a most critical time thus preventing homelessness.”
Every day requests come in from families who are experiencing financial difficulties due to a job loss, family illness or other economic hardship. The individuals defined as working poor typically do not earn enough money to have a rainy-day fund. If offered by their employer, the working poor typically do not earn enough to be able to afford the costs of healthcare coverage and, therefore, do not have health insurance for themselves or their family members.
Services provided through the Friends In Need program are exactly what Ms. Buffett means when she says “just pass it on.” The program passes on to clients a helping hand with necessary services to ensure they do not become homeless. Case workers follow up to ensure that families are stably housed. Since Friends In Need started in 2006, Catholic Charities has served 525 families within the agency’s five-county service area including Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas with an 82% nonhomeless recurrence rate.
Pinellas Hope is a temporary tent shelter facility for street homeless men and women. Started in 2007, the program has served more than 577 clients and transitioned more than 49% out of homelessness. On-site case managers assess client’s needs and connect them to essential support services to transition them out of homelessness
“I believe inequities arise when choices are limited.” said Ms. Buffett “My goal is to reduce those disparities and enable people with the power of choice.”
The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1996 by Doris Buffett, who continues to serve as president. The foundation works to establish and enhance efforts to end domestic violence. It also supports education, scholarships and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of St. Petersburg serves with charity and compassion to promote the sanctity and dignity of all people with God. As a member of Church, Catholic Charities offers hope by helping those in need including Catholics and those of other faiths, and unites with others in service.
Catholic Charities makes a commitment to serve all people with respect, compassion and cooperation in the spirit of a unifying God. Friends in Need and Pinellas Hope programs were established expressly to assist people served by the Diocese with last resort financial assistance for basic needs and support, as well as those who are street homeless.
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Websites:
http://www.sunshineladyfdn.org/
http://ccdosp.org/
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