Catholic Charities receives honor

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown is among member agencies of Catholic Charities USA, which was named the country’s top provider of social services in Charity Navigator’s Holiday Giving Guide 2008.

Catholic Charities USA also finished second overall on The NonProfit Times Top 100 list of the country’s largest charities.

Charity Navigator, America’s most utilized evaluator of charities, uses a numbers-based rating system to assess the financial health of more than 5,000 of America’s best-known charities. The goal of Holiday Giving Guide 2008 is to help people navigate the charitable marketplace and make intelligent giving decisions.

The NonProfit Times is the leading business publication for nonprofit management and compiles an annual list of the top 100 nonprofits ranked by total revenue. Catholic Charities USA was listed fourth in 2007.

“I am hopeful that the Charity Navigator and The NonProfit Times reports will influence philanthropic giving decisions locally, as well as throughout the country,” said Brian R. Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities Services in the diocese. “Those contemplating gifts to Catholic Charities this holiday season and beyond can do so with the confidence that we are good stewards of the funds entrusted to us. We have a tradition of keeping overhead expenses low, and funneling as much money into direct service that we possibly can.”

Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown has seen an overwhelming increase in the number of people in need over the past several months. The organization anticipates a further increase in requests for basic needs into 2009.

Catholic Charities has seen an increase in the need for material assistance, especially with food and utility payments. The current economic climate has forced people to rely on the social service system for the first time to make ends meet.

Catholic Charities USA is the nation’s largest social services network. Last year, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown served 48,943 individuals.

For more information or to make a donation to Catholic Charities, call (330) 744-8451 or visit www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org.