Power of One
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The Power of One CATHOLIC CHARITIES 2014 CATHOLIC CHARITIES CHERISHING THE DIVINE WITHIN ALL OUR MISSION: INSPIRED BY THE GOSPEL MANDATES TO LOVE, SERVE, AND TEACH, CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROVIDES CARE AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MARYLANDERS IN NEED. OUR VISION: CHERISHING THE DIVINE WITHIN, WE ARE COMMITTED TO A MARYLAND WHERE EACH PERSON HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH HIS OR HER GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL. OUR VALUES: TO LOVE, TO SERVE, TO TEACH, AND TO WORK FOR JUSTICE. Dear Friends in Christ, It is my pleasure to greet you and to reflect on the Christ-inspired works of Catholic Charities in the year just ended. These works, carried out every day by thousands of individuals like you, are critical to our mission as Catholics and help us to see Christ in all and be Christ for all. These services are only possible through the generous support of committed individuals, organizations, parishes, and other partners and include people like you who give of their time, talent, and treasure through- out the year on behalf of those we are called to serve. The scope of the impact of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore — the third largest in the country — is evident in the enclosed report. One by one, the numbers quickly add up — from the number of people served to the amount of money raised on their behalf — they tell a story of compassion and evangelization through the faces of those whose lives are improved. All blessed by the One Spirit who calls us to recognize ourselves in the stranger, in the vulnerable, in the marginalized and least among us. We are so blessed to have Catholic Charities as a means to radiate God’s love and to have each of you with us as we seek to end poverty, one person at a time. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. May God bless you and your families and keep you always in His love. Faithfully in Christ, Most Reverend William E. Lori Archbishop of Baltimore 3 An old man watched as a young girl walked along the shoreline, picked up struggling starfish that had been washed up on the beach the night before, and - one by one - threw them back into the ocean. “Why do you do it?” The old man asked the little girl, puzzled. “There are thousands of starfish washed up on this beach alone. You can’t save them all. It can’t possibly make any difference.” The little girl stared at the dying starfish in her hand and contemplated the old man’s words. After a moment, she threw the starfish into the ocean. Then, turning back to the old man, she smiled and said, “It made a huge difference to that one!” The little girl spent the rest of the day throwing starfish into the sea. One by one. Followed by the old man... who did the same. 4 LETTER FROM WILLIAM J. MCCARTHY, JR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR t is an age-old tale about the power of one. In the following pages are real life stories collected from the lived experience of those touched by our many Catholic Charities programs. They are stories of the power of one to transform hearts, change lives... and make a difference. This is the work of Catholic Charities, I and thanks to each and every one of you — our supporters, colleagues, and volunteers — we are able to do just that. Our ultimate goal? To end poverty one person at a time. It is more than a slogan on a billboard, DEAR it is our reason for being. Poverty - both spiritual and material - takes many forms. Essentially, FRIENDS poverty is living without the necessary resources to survive, thrive, and reach one’s full potential as a child of God. We may not eradicate poverty in our lifetime but, together, we try very, very hard. We may not be able to protect all the weak and vulnerable, but when they cross our path we welcome them as brothers and sisters, give them a place at the table, and empower them with the currency of their own dignity and worth. This is the Catholic Charities difference. Remembering the parable of the Good Samaritan, we are reminded that we are called not merely to admire him, but to act as he did. We may not touch every heart, but we transform more than we know, understanding that even one can make a big difference to countless others. Especially when that transformed heart is our very own and we realize we are all poor and in need... one way or another. Only then do we understand that we are one Body, one Spirit, many parts of one whole and, as such, called to love, serve, teach, and work for justice... for all. These are the values of Catholic Charities and this year we were directly challenged to live those values in a most unexpected way as waves of unaccompanied children from Central America arrived at our border. Driven from their native countries — where terror and murderous violence reign — these brave children made their treacherous journey across desert and wilderness in search of safety and refuge. Catholic Charities welcomes and cares for these children just as the Samaritan welcomed and cared for the stranger at his border. This year, we hope to provide for 50 of these children at a time at our St Vincent’s Villa in Dulaney Valley. Each child will receive a variety of care — including education, healthcare, counseling, recreation, and legal services — as they await family reunification. And our professional staff, trained in treating children who have experienced terrible trauma, will compassionately meet the needs of each vulnerable child. Our Esperanza Center in Fells Point also provides immigrants with important social support includ- ing immigration legal services, language classes, and healthcare. In the past year, they have reunited 481 unaccompanied minors with family members. You will read about one of those families on pages 10 and 11. In a further commitment to ending poverty, Catholic Charities has undertaken a major expansion of one of its programs right here at home. This year, our St. Jerome’s Head Start Program increased the number of children and families they serve in Baltimore City from 276 to 667 and the number of sites from 9 to 15. As you will see on pages 8 and 9, we offer the children of Baltimore the best opportunities for success not only in school, but in life. Our other stories tell similar tales of those in need, uncertain to whom or where to turn until finding help through one of our 80 programs. They are stories of hope and transformation, grace and transcendence. As always, one can never be sure whose cry is most heartily answered...the caregiver or the cared for. Theirs is a shared experience. Both are Christ. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for Me.” Our theme dares to suggest we can end poverty one person at a time. This report shares how the power of one makes that possible. One by one, the numbers add up (pages 16 through 25). Eighty programs. Two hundred locations. Two thousand employees. Thirteen thousand donors. Twenty-three thousand volunteers. And over one hundred sixty thousand individuals and families for whom Catholic Charities makes a huge difference every day. Thanks to the power of one. Thanks to you. In peace, William J. McCarthy, Jr. Executive Director 5 6 THE POWER OF PLACE harles Bennett, age 73 and retired, is a college graduate and Vietnam vet. Over the course of his prolific albeit checkered career, he has been a middle school teacher, band leader, and basketball coach in North Carolina; a personnel analyst and insurance agent in New York City; a university professor in Pennsylvania; C a director of youth services in Delaware; as well as a husband, father and caregiver. He has also been an alcoholic and a drug addict. Sadly, his addictions got the best of him, forcing him from job to job, city CATHOLIC to city. “I took a look in the mirror one day and all I saw was despair. When I think of all the things CHARITIES I could have achieved and didn’t...” His voice trails off. He doesn’t need to finish the sentence. We’ve all 2014 been in that place of regret and disappointment at one time or another. Eventually, Charles ended up in Baltimore where his cousin Earl, disabled by a stroke, needed his help. Taking care of Earl and his wife, Lucille, who suffered from dementia, became his full time job. Charles did everything for them. “By helping them, I began to help myself,” Charles explained. Yet Charles’s problems were far from over. Though he had begun treatment, he still struggled with his addictions. And when both Earl and Lucille died and their house was sold, Charles found himself homeless, a place he had never been before, not even in his darkest days. To make matters worse, in his advancing years he had developed some ailments of his own including heart problems, prostate cancer, and COPD. In his 60’s, he was just beginning to turn his life around, but despair still lingered. Thanks to Catholic Charities, it would not last long. Charles first found housing at Holden Hall, a Catholic Charities residential program for disabled men where Charles received all the care and services he needed to achieve and maintain his sobriety and health. “To say I was relieved is an understatement,” Charles admitted.