Chicago, IL, (September 14, 2006) — Twenty-two Chicago area community organizations will share in a record $490,000 in grant money from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) during an award ceremony on September 20, 2006, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Old St. Mary's Church at 1500 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago. The recipient organizations, local and national anti-poverty and social justice groups, will be recognized for their efforts to support and mobilize individuals of all faiths to combat poverty and address social injustice.

"With support from CCHD, we have been able to make substantial progress toward our goal of strengthening low income and refugee families through social justice organizing," said Jennifer Arwade, Executive Director of the Albany Park Neighborhood Council, which has engaged more than 6,000 residents in leadership development activities.

The ceremony will acknowledge the generosity of Chicago-area Catholics who responded to the Campaign's 2005 Annual Appeal. More than 98 percent of archdiocese parishes participate in the Appeal, with the 2006 collection set for the weekend of November 18 and 19. Recipients are chosen from hundreds of eligible organizations for their commitment to initiatives designed to support affordable housing, address immigrant and worker issues, and improve care for the elderly and disabled. More than 50 percent of the grant money is targeted for immigrant-related issues, reflecting the church's ongoing support for immigration reform.

At the ceremony, members of the Latino Union of Chicago will speak about how CCHD funding has helped enable them to leave street corners and establish cooperatively-run ‘Worker Centers’ that offer tools to promote their work and improve wages via educational programs and legislative reforms. The Our Lady of Mercy Dance Group will also perform at the ceremony.

Another grant recipient, The Resurrection Project (TRP), serves the Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards neighborhoods, has built and sold 140 affordable homes, rehabbed 12 buildings (providing 156 units of affordable housing) and educated over 5,000 families on financial literacy to transform neighborhoods while creating community leaders. "CCHD funding is essential to the economic development efforts the organization is making as it continues to build a strong and vibrant community," said Raul Raymundo, CEO of TRP. The Community Renewal Society (CRS) also works to empower seniors, give them a voice and improve their lives. "The CCHD grant allows us to continue a program that enables seniors to live healthy, happy and productive lives", said Dr. Florence Townsend of CRS.

CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Their mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and transformative education. Representatives of CCHD, including the Very Rev. John Canary, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the funded groups will be available to speak to the media after the program.

The following Chicago-based organizations (unless noted otherwise) will be in attendance to receive their share of the $490,000 grant money:

• Access Living, $15,000 for disability issues
• The Albany Park Neighborhood Council, $35,000 for immigrant issues
• Blocks Together, $10,000 for violence prevention issues
• The Chicago Worker’s Collaborative, $30,000 for workers’ issues
• Community Organizing and Family Issues, $20,000 for education issues
• The Community Renewal Society, $15,000 for seniors’ issues
• The Developing Communities Project, $15,000 for education issues
• The Illinois Hunger Coalition, $10,000 for immigrant issues
• The Interfaith Leadership Project of Cicero, $30,000 for immigrant issues
• The Jane Addams Senior Caucus, $35,000 for seniors’ issues
• The Lake County Center for Independent Living of Mundelein, $30,000 for disability issues
• Lake County United of Libertyville, $15,000 for housing issues
• The Latino Union, $15,000 for workers’ issues
• The Little Villa Environmental Justice Organization, $15,000 for environment issues
• The Logan Square Neighborhood Association, $30,000 for housing issues
• The Northwest Neighborhood Federation, $20,000 for violence prevention issues
• The Progress Center for Independent Living of Forest Park, $10,000 for disability issues
• The Southwest Organizing Project, $20,000 for violence prevention issues
• The TARGET Area Development Corporation, $30,000 for violence prevention issues
• The Resurrection Project, $35,000 for economic development issues
• The West Humboldt Park Family and Community Development Council, $10,000 for economic development issues
• WomanCraft, Incorporated, $40,000 for economic development issues