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| 2002-2003 Annual Report |
 Monsignor Gregory A. Cox Executive Director |
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 Dear Friends of Catholic Charities:“The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating a problem in a way that will allow a solution.” This quote from Bertrand Russell proposes to us a method to solve our dilemmas. The resolution to a problem is begun through the appropriate wording and understanding of the presenting issue. Difficult social issues have always been a part of our everyday lives, and Catholic Charities has strived to state those concerns in a manner which leads to their conclusion. The 2000 US Census reports that an estimated 1.7 million people in Los Angeles County are poor. One in three single parent families lives in poverty and approximately 650,000, or 25%, of all children in LA County are poor. Over a quarter-million needy families with children in LA County, including 129,000 with children under 5 years, live at or below the poverty level. There are an estimated 100,000 children on childcare waiting lists in the county. Housing is the single largest expenditure for impoverished people in Los Angeles County because the average poor family spends over half of its income on rent. In addition, approximately 85,000 are homeless on any given night in Los Angeles. Poverty and homelessness are significant problems. The dedicated staff, volunteers and benefactors of Catholic Charities address such issues of poverty with solutions and hope. Catholic Charities’ Community Service Centers provide emergency assistance – such as food, clothing, temporary shelter, utilities assistance, transportation and medical referrals – to homeless and very low-income individuals and families. They also offer comprehensive case management and social services – such as job training and employment referrals – in order to empower people in poverty to become self-sufficient. To further assist clients in their efforts to be independent, Catholic Charities operates a childcare program called ADESTE, which provides quality, affordable, before-and-after-school care for children of working-poor and medium-income families. Community Services and ADESTE are two of the many programs of Catholic Charities that assist our clients in achieving viable solutions for a better quality of life. Catholic Charities is grateful to everyone who supports our work. Your prayers, time and financial assistance not only benefit the people we serve but they are appreciated by the staff who provides the services. Because you care enough to support the programs of Catholic Charities, you give our staff the opportunity “to state the social problems in a way that will allow a solution.” Sincerely,  Rev. Monsignor Gregory A. Cox Executive Director |
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