Cardinal’s Appeal Surpasses $20 Million Goal

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The 2015 Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal has exceeded its goal with $20,176, 875 in pledges as of Aug. 13, with 166 parishes in the archdiocese also over goal for the annual campaign.

The $18,443,031 paid to date is ahead of last year’s total at this time.

The goal of the 2015 campaign was $20 million. Regina King, the first-year director of the Appeal, said, “The people really understand where the money goes and how much the Archdiocese needs it.”

This year, the largest area of giving supported by the Appeal was the $6 million dedicated to archdiocesan pastoral programs, including Adult Faith Formation, Family Life/Respect Life, Hispanic Ministry, Black Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Outreach, Liturgy and the University Apostolate.

Those programs represented needs that parishioners had identified as priorities in the Making All Things New pastoral planning process, Ms. King said.

The other major areas that benefit from the Appeal are Support for Needy Parishes, $4.5 million; the Departments of Education and Religious Education, $3 million; Works of Charity, $2.5 million; Retired Priests and Religious, $2 million; and Preparing Clergy, $2 million.

Ms. King had served as director of major gifts for the Appeal for three years before she was named Appeal director in February. She noted that planning for this year’s Appeal campaign had been mapped out under Channon Lucas, the former Appeal director who is now a vice chancellor of the archdiocese. Ms. King and her staff executed the plan.

Ms. King said serving as overall director gave her more of an opportunity to visit parishes and gain more of a first-hand appreciation for their priorities.

“You understand what’s important to them in funding,” she said. “You learn why they give to the Cardinal’s Appeal, sometimes for reasons you wouldn’t think of.”

Ms. King added, “It sort of inspires me—this is why I’m here, this is why I’m doing this.”

She also was able to visit beneficiaries of Appeal funding such as the June Masses for golden jubilee married couples organized by the Family Life/Respect Life Office as well as the retired priests residing at the John Cardinal O’Connor Clergy Residence in Riverdale.

Even though the Appeal has surpassed its annual goal, there is still an opportunity to support its work, Ms. King said. Another mailing is scheduled in September, and the campaign will continue through the end of the year. Information: (212) 371-1000, ext. 3300.

Parishes that have exceeded their goal have the added benefit of keeping 60 percent of additional funds raised.

While the average gift to the Appeal has improved this year, the total number of donors is less than 2014, Ms. King said.

Even in a year that could be viewed as challenging due to impending parish mergers of Making All Things New, which took effect Aug. 1, Ms. King said she was heartened that many parishioners “still step up and still give.”

“It shows how important the Cardinal’s Appeal is,” she said.

Bettina Alonso, the executive director of the archdiocesan Development Office, told her that the archdiocese’s parishioners would continue to respond generously to the Appeal.

“You have to ask,” Ms. King said. “You don’t realize that people want to give.”