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Fund-raising drive off to hopeful start
archived from: 2013-03-08
by: BOB De WITT

Initial phases receive nearly $40 million in pledges

Nearly $40 million has been pledged to date in Our Campaign for The Church Alive! as donors respond enthusiastically to the historic fund-raising drive for the Church of Pittsburgh.

The goal of Our Campaign for The Church Alive! is to raise a minimum of $125 million over the next five years in more than 200 parishes of the diocese in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties for strategic endowment, capital and programming initiatives, according to Bishop David Zubik.

The campaign has now received pledges totaling $39,010,035, including $30,880,000 in commitments received by Bishop Zubik.

The 11 parishes taking part in the initial phase of the campaign, from January through April 2013, have raised $7,106,593, more than halfway to their cumulative targets. Our Lady of Grace Parish in Scott Township announced it has surpassed its target of $1.5 million.

Another $1,023,442 has been pledged by priests and deacons not involved in the initial parish phase.

“I am so grateful for the strong support of all involved in Our Campaign for The Church Alive!” Bishop Zubik said. “Our pastors are engaged, our volunteers committed and the case for support is being well received by donors. They understand this is not simply a campaign to raise money. It is an effort to grow The Church Alive!”

Of the more than 800 families and individuals who have decided about participating in the campaign, 79 percent made a positive decision to contribute.

The initiative will meet the extraordinary needs of parishes and the diocese by investing in the future of our Catholic family’s spiritual, educational and charitable ministries.

The campaign will help address the urgent needs in the life of our church — to sustain and strengthen parishes, invigorate evangelization, revitalize sacramental life, support education and formation in the faith, train pastoral and lay leaders, and serve the poor and marginalized.

Our Campaign for The Church Alive! is focused on the parishes. For every dollar raised in a parish campaign, 40 cents will be returned to the parish to fund its locally determined priorities. The remaining 60 percent of funds raised will be devoted to ministries and programs benefiting the entire Church of Pittsburgh.

When a parish surpasses its target, it will receive 60 cents of every dollar raised over its target, and 40 percent will be invested across the diocese. Parishes continue to be assigned to phases. In January, 11 parishes began the initial four-month phase of the drive. The next stage begins in May with 47 parishes, then two more phases will launch in parishes in September 2013 and January 2014.

As the campaign begins in each parish, individuals and families will be asked to make five-year pledges. Businesses and charitable foundations also have an opportunity to provide support.

All funds will be overseen and allocated by an independent nonprofit charitable foundation.

The diocesan-wide ministries and programs receiving support include need-based tuition grants for Catholic schools, religious education, technology for secondary schools, evangelization programs, Catholic communications, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, seminarian formation, and support for retired priests and other senior citizens.

Our Campaign for The Church Alive! also supports the work of Catholic Charities, assisting with programs such as emergency financial aid, support for single mothers in need and the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center. For more information on the campaign, visit www.ChurchAlivePgh.org.

De Witt is director of campaign communications and administration for Our Campaign for The Church Alive!

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