|
February 23, 2008 - Clarion Herald
2007 ACA campaign raises more than $1.5 million
By Christine Bordelon
The Archbishop’s Community Appeal, which supports the work of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, has exceeded its $1.5 million goal this year. The 2007 campaign raised $1,543,000 from 1,441 donors.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome, particularly in post-Katrina,” ACA 2007 chairman Bob Nuzum said. “We’re very excited that we achieved our goal, even a little earlier than in past years, which was phenomenal. We met it in the middle of January.”
Contributions to the 2007 campaign ranged from $1 from individuals to $500,000 or more from corporations and individual donors, Nuzum said. Several individuals made long-term monetary commitments as well.
Nuzum, who has been involved with the ACA for 16 years, said the Archbishop’s Community Appeal has a solid reputation in the community. For one, it funds programs that reach out to people of all denominations in the eight civil parishes comprising the archdiocese of New Orleans.
“Our base is not just Catholic, and our donors and chairpersons are not just Catholic,” Nuzum said, adding that a person of Jewish heritage once chaired the campaign. “We don’t limit our programs to Catholics. It’s anyone needy and homeless.”
The appeal is also noted for low overhead due to a substantial volunteer base.
“We have two main principles,” Nuzum said. “Ninety-three cents out of every dollar contributed goes to fund the programs. Only seven cents per dollar goes to administrative costs. Number two, we use a multiplier effect in one of our main programs – Food for Seniors and Food for Families. Because of in-kind contributions of food, every dollar contributed that is used for the food program is multiplied into $61.”
Nuzum said Archbishop Hughes set the 2008 goal $250,000 higher than 2006. This was determined after a discussion with the ACA committee and Catholic Charities revealed a need to help finance Catholic Charities’ ever-expanding role in response to Hurricane Katrina.
Nuzum said Catholic Charities has shown great flexibility in expanding to meet needs. Before Katrina, Catholic Charities had more than 40 programs, and now it has more than 50. Among the new programs are Katrina Aid Today, Operation Helping Hands and Community Housing Supportive Services.
Other new programs have included After School Assembly and Catholic Charities School Counseling Program. Since the storm, Catholic Charities estimates it has provided crisis intervention and counseling for nearly 900,000 individuals, fed more than 120,000 and provided medical care to over 2,000.
Meeting the needs of hurricane victims with ACA funds is nothing new. It’s reminiscient of the first Archbishop’s Community Appeal initiated in 1965 by New Orleans Archbishop Philip Hannan. At that time, it was response to the community’s needs in the wake of Hurricane Betsy.
Needs don’t go away overnight, and the campaign has continued every year, with the exception of the 2005 hurricane year, to continue to fund the outreach of Catholic Charities, Nuzum said.
But, Catholic Charities has done more than add programs since Hurricane Katrina. It has adapted and phased hurricane-related programs into existing programs to satisfy the current needs of the community.
“Every single program of Catholic Charities has been affected since the storm because the needs are different,” Helen Smith, Catholic Charities Development Director, said. For example, the Hispanic Apostolate responded to the growth of the Hispanic population, and community centers have changed their focus to meet current needs, she said.
Nuzum said he’s proud of the efforts of the 2007 ACA committees – 12 captains and 100 representatives. They began working on the campaign a little earlier this year and took a more aggressive approach.
He’s quick to credit Joe Exnicios, the two-year ACA chairman in 2005 and 2006, with reviving the campaign and keeping it alive after Katrina presented extraordinary circumstances.
“It was remarkable that he raised $1.3 million,” Nuzum said. “It certainly helped and made it easier for me in 2007.”
Nuzum will remain on the ACA core committee for another two years. While the 2007 campaign push is over, it’s never to late to make a contribution. Send donations to ACA, 1000 Howard Ave., Suite 1000, New Orleans, LA 70113 or visit www.ccano.org. |
