Catholic Charities of Fort Worth announces plans for expansion

by PegNews wire

FORT WORTH — With a 130-percent increase in children and families served over the past five years and an economic forecast that promises even greater need, Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth today announced plans to double its capacity to serve the working poor. The charity kicked off the public phase of “Building Hope,” a capital campaign to raise $13.6 million for the construction of a new facility to serve Tarrant and 27 surrounding counties.

In a special ceremony on Wednesday, 100 students from Fort Worth’s Holy Family elementary school kicked off the campaign by planting “flags of hope” where the new building will stand. Chesapeake Energy presented a $10,000 check to the “Building Hope” campaign, and Catholic Charities announced sizeable donations from the Harbison Fischer Company, and the Amon G. Carter Foundation. In addition, the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese donated four acres and one million dollars to the campaign.

To date, Catholic Charities has raised over $9.3 million, including a million dollar challenge gift from the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa.

“For every person served by Catholic Charities last year, there was another desperate cry for help that we couldn’t answer,” said Heather Reynolds, CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth. “It’s heartbreaking when you think that some families are just one ‘yes’ away from losing everything.”

The 70-thousand square foot building will stand at 201 Thornhill Drive in Fort Worth, across from Town Center Mall, combining services from three Catholic Charities locations, offering greater access to public transportation and giving the organization room to grow and strengthen its programs.

“We’re only $4.3 million away from our dream of Building Hope in this community, and I challenge everyone to take part in this important effort,” said Reynolds. “Think about the legacy that you can leave by helping us change the lives of children and families in need.”

Established in 1910, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth provides financial assistance to families in crisis, foster care licensing and training, emergency shelter, child abuse prevention, elderly housing and pharmaceutical assistance, refugee resettlement, and medical intervention efforts aimed at reducing infant mortality and the spread of HIV to newborns. In 2007, the organization provided services to over 112,000 individuals and families.

Source: Catholic Charities