Partners donations generous, but short of $5M goal

By William T. Clew
The Catholic Free Press
The annual Partners in Charity appeal will end Saturday, Aug. 31, the end of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, and as of Thursday the fund drive was $273,215 short of its $5 million goal.
The appeal has received $4,726,785 in gifts and pledges.
 Any gifts or pledges made by the end of the weekend will be added to this year’s total, according to Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship and Development.
Last year Partners in Charity exceeded its $5 million goal. It received $5,076,252 in gifts and pledges.
 “We are so grateful to our donors who so generously gave during this 2019 campaign,” Mr. Gillespie said. “It is an expression of good faith and good will in the midst of many challenges. A Catholic lay evangelist once said: ‘Good faith can withstand any challenge or trial.’’’
This year the Partners in Charity appeal ran at the same time as the first leg of the diocese’s capital campaign, Legacy of Hope, which is ongoing. Mr. Gillespie said it appears some donors chose to give to the capital campaign rather than the annual appeal. There were 262 donors who gave to Partners in Charity last year but did not do so this year. Instead, they gave to Legacy of Hope. Their gifts and pledges to Legacy of Hope totaled $1,558,322.
This year’s appeal had received 14,451 gifts and pledges by Wednesday, Mr. Gillespie said. Last year, at the end of the fund drive there were 16,454 donors.
More people have given on line this year, he said. Some 740 on-line gifts have totaled $362,691 so far. Last year there were 661 on-line gifts totaling $335,191. There have been 567 new donors this year who have given a total of $115,640. Last year there were 663 new donors who gave a total of $106,385.
He said that 3,281 donors who gave last year have not given this year, potentially costing the fund drive $573,593.
Sixty-four of the 99 parishes and missions in the diocese have equaled or exceeded their goals. Last year 64 also made or topped their goals.
 “I am always inspired by the positive reactions and expressions that I receive in my capacity as director of Partners in Charity. Our doors are always open and when hearts are touched the response becomes great. Our priests have been so supportive in promoting the appeal at all of our parishes. Bishop McManus continues to be inspired by the goodness of so many of the people here in our diocese, and he is most grateful,” Mr. Gillespie said.