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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING CATHOLIC CHARITIES ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities began in 1917 when a group of Catholic businessmen petitioned Cardinal Mundelein to create a central Catholic charity in Chicago to relieve the burden on Catholic parishes, struggling to meet the needs of the booming immigrant population as well as the poor and the sick; and
WHEREAS, during the Great Depression, Catholic Charities was a key partner in a city-wide effort to aid families struggling to survive prolonged unemployment. The agency also became known for caring for orphans and children of unwed mothers as well as the mothers themselves; and
WHEREAS, during the 1960s, Catholic Charities began to provide Head Start services; and
WHEREAS, in the 1980s, Catholic Charities became one of the largest providers of foster care and other child welfare services in the area; and
WHEREAS, through the 1990s and into the 21st Century, Catholic Charities expanded its programming for seniors and built affordable residences for this population; and
WHEREAS, during the same time, Catholic Charities partnered with state and federal programs on a new model for distributing food and social services through Women, Infants, and Children centers in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, along with the new initiatives, Catholic Charities continued to provide emergency assistance, counseling, addiction services, and employment and training; and
WHEREAS, today, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest private, non-profit social service agencies in the Midwest, annually assisting more than one million people without regard to religious, ethnic, or economic background; and
WHEREAS, every 30 seconds, someone turns to Catholic Charities for assistance. Catholic Charities offers 150 programs at 164 locations across Cook and Lake counties; and
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities has more than 3,000 well trained and dedicated staff who are aided by more...
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