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COMMUNITY
By Gregory Kepferle
CEO , Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and President , Charities Housing Development Corporation
“ Everybody has a hungry heart .” Bruce Springsteen ’ s song captures the ache of loneliness , the lack of a place to call home , and the consequences of abandonment . It also expresses the hunger for spiritual fullness and for love that every human shares , rich or poor . And yet a physical hunger also stalks our land .
In this land of abundance how can there be hung er ? According to Second Harvest , more than 1 in 4 residents of Santa Clara County are at risk of
Feeding the Hungry Hearts
hunger . At Catholic Charities we see many of these same people every day . They are not just people who are homeless living on the streets . The hungry include people like Maria and Tom , who are seniors living on fixed incomes whose rents have increased – again , or Antonio and Teresa , children from low-income families in our afterschool program , or George and Carlos , formerly incarcerated adults who can ’ t find work .
Catholic Charities addresses poverty by reducing situational poverty , preventing generational poverty , and alleviating chronic poverty . While we often talk of providing “ a hand up ” to reduce poverty , what many people may not know is the extent that Catholic Charities helps alleviate the conditions
of chronic poverty for those who are hungry . We don ’ t usually talk about our role in alleviating hunger . What is the impact of a hot meal to a hungry person ? Last year Catholic Charities prevented 10,000 people from going hungry . We fed over 10,000 people from seniors , to children , to individual adults and families at 40 different sites , distributing more than 280 tons of food , and serving more than 440,000 meals .
But it is not enough to feed the body ; at Catholic Charities we also nourish the heart . When immigrant moms gather to learn English , people with disabilities gather to enjoy a social outing , citizens returning from incarceration meet in mental health support groups , or community groups meet to improve their neighborhoods , most of
November 21 , 2017 | The Valley Catholic
the meetings include food . Even more important than the food is sharing the human dignity of each person present made in the image and likeness of God . In our listening and our sharing insights while honoring the wisdom of the people we serve , we truly are nourishing hearts , filling them with hope and compassion .
At Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County , we need your help to feed the hungry hearts in our valley . To help feed the hungry , please visit , www . CatholicCharitiesSCC . org .
Marie Galetto
Marketing & Grants Program Manager
It ’ s commonly understood that there is a close connection between gratitude and generosity . Those who are grateful for the blessings in their lives tend to give more to those in need . And , in return , the ability to help others increases that person ’ s happiness .
Gratitude is good for you . It makes you happier and healthier ( mentally & physically !). During this month which is bookended by remembering our loved ones who have gone before us and gathering together with loved ones who are with us , we ’ re all a little
Donor Advised Fund Match - An Impetus for Gratitude
more aware about being grateful and generous . And it ’ s a time , at least for me personally , to think a little more strategically about my charitable giving .
Everyone is inspired to give in different ways and to different causes . While many choose to give gifts of time and talent , often at the end of the year people choose to give the gift of their treasure . At the Foundation , we know that some donors find that the simplicity and flexibility of a Donor Advised Fund ( DAF ) helps streamline , and even enhance , their charitable giving .
Think of a Donor Advised Fund like a “ charitable checking account .” You receive the tax benefit of the donation you make to your DAF in the year of the donation , however , you don ’ t have to grant all of that money to a charity that year , or even in the following 10 or 20 years . Your DAF becomes your “ checking account ” from which you advise grants to 501 ( c ) 3 organizations at your leisure , giving you the time and flexibility to plan your philanthropic strategy while your money grows tax free under the Foundation ’ s experienced management .
We have some exciting news for you : from now through December 2018 , the Catholic Community Foundation is offering a Donor Advised Fund Match ! This means that when you open a Donor Advised Fund with us , we will match your fund 5 percent up to $ 5,000 AND the Foundation will give your parish $ 500 ! That ’ s a free , unrestricted gift of $ 500 for your parish ( that doesn ’ t come out of your new fund ) just for opening a DAF !
During this season of Thanksgiving , find something that inspires you to give . Perhaps this Donor Advised Fund Match can be the impetus to think strategically about your philanthropy and the legacy you will leave behind after you pass to the next life . Whatever and wherever you ’ re inspired to give , do it with a heart and mind full of thanks and giving .
To learn more about the Foundation ’ s Donor Advised Fund Match , please visit cfoscc . org / DAF-match .
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