Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. - Newsletter, February 2003

A Quarterly Newsletter from Catholic Charities - February 2003

Volunteers and Donors Aid San Gabriel Region

Children are “all smiles” to receive toys donated by Mattel, Inc.

Seven hundred fifty needy families including 1,800 children in the San Gabriel Region were blessed during the Christmas season with food, clothes, hygiene products, blankets and toys for all the children. This was made possible by the generosity of parishioners, businesses, individual donors and the overwhelming energy of volunteers who helped out with the Christmas giving activities in Pomona, El Monte and East Los Angeles, according to Mary Romero, San Gabriel Regional Director.

For over fifteen years, the parishioners of St. Denis Church in Diamond Bar have co-sponsored with Catholic Charities the Christmas Basket Give-Away and Adopt-a-Family Program for needy families in Pomona. Spearheaded by Eve Pasternak, Regional Board Vice-President, the various ministries and parishioners of the parish once again came through with a very successful project. Each year, more families are being touched by the program. Volunteers from Sacred Heart Church, Pomona, joined hands with the volunteers from St. Denis.

In El Monte, the experience was similar. A generous donation of toys from Mattel, Inc. and the Sheriff’s station brought many smiles from the children. Hair shampoo and conditioners from Kevi Williams, as well as food items from the students of Immaculate Conception School, Monrovia, filled the holiday boxes to the brim. Catholic Charities also received a generous donation of blankets from the parishioners of Immaculate Conception.

Food and toy drives by the students of Alverno High School, Sierra Madre, Cantwell High School, Montebello, and the parishioners of St. Alphonsus Church, East Los Angeles, added to the Christmas packages given out in East Los Angeles. “We had quite a few mothers who were teary eyed as they left the center. They said they would not have known how to celebrate the joy of Christmas were it not for Catholic Charities,” said Roberto Ramirez, Brownson House Site Supervisor. And Catholic Charities could not have done it without the many community members who generously gave of their time and resources.

The San Gabriel Regional Office is located at 1307 Warren St., Los Angeles, CA. Telephone: (323) 266-3130. Visit Catholic Charities’ Website at www.CatholicCharitiesLA.org.for a complete list of programs and services offered in the San Gabriel Region.

Reserve Your Spot Now!
It’s never too early to secure your place as a Sponsor for the Seventh Annual Cardinal Mahony Golf Tournament for Catholic Charities to be held on Monday, October 6, 2003 at The Riviera Country Club. Sponsorships range from $10,000 for a Tournament Sponsor to $1,250 for an individual player. Please contact Lana (213) 251-3494 or Christy (213) 251-3498 to “lock in” your spot. Proceeds from the Tournament are used to assist the poor and vulnerable in the three-county area of the Archdiocese.

Double Your Donation
Did you know that many companies have a matching gift program; does yours? If so, send in your employer’s matching gift form with your donation. We’ll take over from there. Catholic Charities will then send the necessary paperwork confirming your donation to your company and they will match your gift. It’s a simple way to turn a $50 donation into $100. Since 1954 when the Matching Gift program was launched (by General Electric), employees have given more than $2 billion, thanks to corporate matching gift programs.