As colloquialisms go, “reaching out’ is relatively new. It has actually been awarded entry in Merriam Webster as a ‘verbal phrase’, the meaning of which is ‘to make an effort to do something for other people’.
Catholics in the United States are fortunate. Several agencies exist to facilitate their ‘reaching out’ to others across the world who are in need. These organizations not only enable the successful transfer of funds, they also assure and attest to their proper use. And, because they are legitimate
501© (3 ) entities, contributions to them are recognized as charitable deductions for income tax purposes.
One such agency is Cross Catholic Outreach. We reported on Cross Catholic four years ago. It’s a pleasure now to provide an update. Since its founding in 2001 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Cross Catholic has been responsible for the transfer of $4 billion in total aid assistance to Church affiliated organizations in 90 countries. It has received the endorsement of more than 150 US bishops, archbishops and cardinals.
As its website states: “Our mission is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Your gift empowers us to serve the poorest of the poor by channeling life-changing aid through an international network of dioceses, parishes and Catholic missionaries. This cost-effective approach helps break the cycle of poverty and advance Catholic evangelization.”
At present, the donors of Cross Catholic are affecting the lives of recipients in more than 30 countries. Their aid is multi-faceted and includes assistance in the areas of food, water, housing, health, education, microenterprises, vulnerable children, disaster relief and agriculture.
What is special about Cross Catholic is its Project Catalog. Working with partners overseas, they identify specific cases of need. These could range in dollars needed from one individual requiring medical assistance to dollars required by a community in need of a bore hole. Donors in the United States can select the project they choose to support and through Cross Catholic monitor and share in its successful development.
The National Catholic Community Foundation is pleased to note that Cross Catholic Outreach fully avails itself of NCCF’s charitable gift annuity service. It is a privilege to partner with such an organization in the cause of advancing the Kingdom.