PRESIDENT'S LETTER:
Dear Friends:
Fiscal Year 2007 spanned a period that reflected sea
change that exists around us. In the midst of myriad
societal issues, we were able to put into action our
slogan, Providing Hope - Building Opportunity in the
lives of more than 100,000 people in Central Florida.
We helped people in a variety of ways:
• Disaster assistance for the victims of the “Ground Hog Day” tornados in February 2007
and follow-up aid continues
• Through CCCF’s Emergency Family Assistance locations, we helped a growing number of
families and individuals feeling the financial pinch of the slowing U.S. economy
• CCCF professional counselors and adoption specialists gave hope to individuals and couples
• Senior citizens found comfort and friendship in a community of care
• Sick and injured homeless men or women found physical and spiritual healing with the help of Pathways to Care’s medical personnel and social workers
2007 was an extremely busy year for CCCF…
Catholic Charities has a vision of both what it can be
and should be to help those in need in Central
Florida. With our eye on the future, we are
concentrating on perfecting our existing core mission
areas “to create a more capable social service agency
focused on meeting today’s community needs and
positioned to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Additionally, we’re taking on new initiatives in the
areas of housing, health care, and programs for
women and children, elderly services and the
homeless. These new missions for Catholic Charities
are the direct outcome of the plans developed in the
SYNOD process of 2005-6 that we refined in 2006-7.
Our mandate is fairly straight forward as we prepare to:
• Build and staff new Outreach Centers based on development of three prototype service center models (parish-based, housing-based and a stand-alone Community of Excellence model, providing all services and housing on a single campus). Daytona is the target for our first center with a Spring 09 opening.
• Provide Housing and Health Care – providing low-income, affordable housing and health care support services for elderly, the homeless, and women and families in transitional status. Our first efforts are St. Joseph’s Garden Court, an 80 unit low income elderly housing facility in east Orlando, and two free medical clinics (Osceola and Sumter Counties) – all opening in 2008.
• Offer expanded Homeless Services – rebuilding lives in our partnership with Pathways to Care, a 40-bed homeless medical respite center, while developing follow on transitional care services and programs…and housing opportunities.
• Create a Disaster Prep Center of Excellence in conjunction with the other Florida Catholic
Charities and Catholic Charities USA, to provide preparedness plans and response services for our 90 parishes and the communities in which we live, primarily directed at the under served, across the nine counties of the Diocese.
Of course, we would not have been able to deliver
these important programs without the dedicated hard
work of our staff and corps of volunteers and CCCF’s
partnership with the Heart of Florida United Way and
other partner agencies. The vision to continue
Catholic Charities national, state-wide and local
recognition for service excellence in Providing Hope
and Building Opportunity will continue with your help
and prayers.
Yes, we have been busy… and we are ready for 2008…
Captain Arne J. Nelson, U. S. Navy (retired)
President and CEO, Catholic Charities of Central Florida
