Catholic Charities Fort Worth sets itself apart from other nonprofits because their focus and strategies are all about getting families out of poverty! Their approach is multifaceted and works to identify and break down all of the barriers that stand in the family's way. Their goal is to get families out of poverty one family at a time. To try and sum up their mission the old adage "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." is a good analogy.
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Catholic Charities Fort Worth is a prime example of what a nonprofit should be. It has been impacting the Fort Worth community since the 1970s when I first became involved with them. There was a large influx of refugee families and CCFW put out an appeal asking for families to mentor refugee families. My parents asked my siblings and me if we'd be willing to help another family assimilate and we unanimously agreed. We helped them find housing, fill out job applications, apply for driver's licenses, register for school, find doctors, navigate stores, learn American customs and many more things that we as English language speakers simply take for granted.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth explained to my family how to mentor another family and that the refugee family would assimilate more effectively if they had an American family walking them through the process. It was a wonderful experience for both of our families.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth focuses on families, with the goal of making them independent, by having support resources in place to help them achieve that goal.
My husband and I are strong supporters of Catholic Charities Fort Worth!
I remember visiting here one time when I lost my job and needed help paying my electric bill and they took care of it right there and there I was so shocked! Thank you so much again
One story I can tell you about is a military veteran who lived with his father and son wanted to get a degree. So father had a job and son a job and would continue his education. Within a few months, the father lost job, which created a burden on the son who was now going to school and working part time. Son came into the Catholic Charities office and asked for tuition help so he could continue classes, but now had to support his father and himself on his small wages. Catholic Charities enrolled him in one of the existing programs, which gave him a navigator to help him learn to manage his income and also helped with his tuition. This young man was now able to continue his education and support both himself and his father. Eventually with financial help and coaching this man obtained his degree and was able to find a job in a local hospital. He was so grateful to Catholic Charities, as, without their help he would not have been able to acquire a degree and therefore a good paying job.
The Markham Family Foundation was formed to help the poor and those in need. While we support various good organizations throughout the world, Catholic Charities of Fort Worth is our largest donation given their incredibly worthy mission and the tremendous success they have helping those in need and help ending poverty for so many. Catholic Charities success has been recognized by other organizations throughout our country and has served as a great example for others fighting poverty. Thus, it’s reach is truly beyond the Fort Worth and surrounding communities which is its primary focus.
Catholic Charities changes lives for the better! I have been a supporter for many years and a volunteer for a few years now. What a blessing it is to serve side by side with them and assist those in need in our communities! They live out their mission and are ending poverty one family at a time.
I've been a volunteer w/CC for almost 3 yrs. This agency is awesome in their mission in serving men, women and children who have such a great need for resources. I vol at the Hope Center. The Ctr is a respite for the homeless, etc. One lady came in w/her dog. I gave her some food from the pantry and a sandwich I had w/me that day. They drop in and we give them cold water and help all we can. The Gabriel Ministry is also based here. So moms and pregnant women also receive help. It's a great feeling to have such a Center as this for the clients who need it so much. It's not called the "Hope" Center for nothing! :)
Mary Turner
After looking for organizations to support in the Tarrant County area a few years ago, we looked at Catholic Charities of FW. After attending several meetings and events including a Know Poverty Hour and a session on the Padua Project, we appreciated that Catholic Charities does not just give handouts, but helps those in poverty to help themselves get out of poverty and stay out of poverty through education and other support. That the organization supports the old adage, "it is better to teach someone to fish than to hand them fish" was the clincher for us.
In my experience of visiting the campus, meeting the staff and attending different events they have hosted, I have verified that CCFW is committed to the human person with a strong emphasis on poverty. They have the right talent, mission and resources to achieve this. I am honored to be mentioned in the same breath as this organization.
As a volunteer I have had the opportunity help provide just a few of the many services Catholic Charities have to offer. Which allowed me to see first hand the impact these few items had on a select few ! The areas that I assisted clientele with included: Job interview pointers that allowed a client to become comfortable with this process - one client was hired by the Fort Worth Science Museum and this client still contacts me from time to time to let me know how he is doing. Assisted clients with signing up for Medicaid and Medicare - thus insuring that their families could address health issues. Assisted in the citizenship class and English our second language - very rewarding to see one of the refugees become an American Citizen - a moment that I will remember for a life time - to see one work so hard to achieve a dream that many of us are born with & have no idea what one has to go through to become a citizen........very moving to this day! Provide weekly transportation from local apartment to Walmart for weekly shopping - with out this service these folks would have had a very hard time taking care of their individual needs as well as their families. Provided weekly transportation for the homeless men to a local Catholic church every Friday that allowed these gentleman to clean up - two good hot meals and a warm or cool place to spend the night. As you can see - I have first hand experience in seeing the benefits of just a small number of services that are provided to the community that are trying very hard to either exist in society or become a valued and productive part of their community. There are a number of great non-profit organizations that help the community and while I haven't had the experience to work directly with other organizations - I would find in hard to comprehend that anyone else would be able to serve the numbers and wide range of clientele that Catholic Charities has the opportunity to serve.......if not some some family issues and other life changes I would still be providing a helping hand to this great organization .
I am a Field Agent with the Knights of Columbus Fort Worth Agency. I recently attending the Ending Poverty workshop and was totally impressed with the effort that this organization is providing to assist those less fortunate in our community of Ft Worth Diocese. They meet every aspect of the values that we as Knights of Columbus cherish. As a Field Agent I service the Mid Western and South Western Parishes of the Diocese in the rural areas. I have a large Hispanic and lower income areas. They have committed to assist me in reaching out to these families to offer support in the areas of Education, Dental, and other services through their facility.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth to me is the model of helping people get out of poverty! They are not just there to give a hand out, the also give people a way out of their situation forever. They have a process to help someone in poverty, get out and stay out. The team at CCFW is the most energetic, engaging, fun team we have ever worked with. Proud to support this great organization!
C. Stark
I first became involved in CCFW years ago as a volunteer at the Anne Simon Reeves Center ( a service of CCFW)- a place where moms with AIDS could go for help and to help prevent AIDS from spreading to their newborn. Years later, it was closed because it was so effective, the services were no longer needed. How awesome is that? I soon realized that this is what CCFW is all about- finding SOLUTIONS, not applying temporary fixes to problems. My husband and I believe in the mission of CCFW, and feel their case worker based, hands on approach can truly work to help bring people out of poverty. We are proud to support... join us!
I have recently had the chance of attending a Know Poverty Hour hosted by Alma Miller and it has really opened my eyes about Catholic Charities. I was unaware of all the ways that they help people like me who may be down on their luck and may need help with looking for a job, utility assistance, rides to the doctor or to their job and since meeting with Alma I have decided to commit more time with Catholic charities. I have recently started bringing Know Poverty Hour to my church to different ministries that I’m involved with in hopes of educating my community about what Catholic Charities can do for them or for someone that they know that is in need. I am also in the process of hosting a Gabriel Project Baby shower at my church in hopes of helping Catholic charities obtain their goal of helping unborn babies and their mothers get the help they need. I would recommend Catholic charities to anyone who needs help and I would encourage others to volunteer and help with this wonderful organization.
This a fabulous non-profit that believes in teaching their clientele to fish, not reach out their hands for a fish! They are dedicated to ending poverty one family at a time. They also help re-settle refugees from countries all over the world. They are a fabulous organization in the child care world of fostering and adoption.
Catholic Charities of Fort Worth does incredible work in the community. As a donor and volunteer, I am impressed with their efforts that lead to meaningful changes in people's lives. From helping students in community college improve graduation rates so they can help realize their potential to helping families with interventions that increase the likelihood of moving out of poverty. They provide hope and a sense of self value and worth. As a volunteer in their transportation services, I have witnessed first hand the results of their efforts. From helping clients get to medical appointments so they can maintain preventive care and address chronic medical conditions to helping clients get to where they can avail of services for their special needs to allowing clients to interact with peers at senior centers to improve mental and physical capabilities.
It is an honor to be associated with this fine organization. I hope they get many more supporters so they can continue and even accelerate their impact in the community.
I have been involved in Church ministry, mission work, and civic organizations, but Catholic Charities is in a class by itself when it comes to helping people. When i don't know how to help i can always turn to them and find a well-thought out plan that reaches out but is never patronizing or condescending.
I have been volunteering at Catholic Charities Fort Worth for about 10 years. In addition to spending some time on their Social Enterprises Advisory Board, I have participated in numerous projects along with my team. We have put together furniture for refugee houses, cleaned out warehouse 'stores' spend time with children who are being cared for with CCFW funds and participate for years in a book club at a CCFW funded senior home. I have many touchpoints with this wonderful organization and can vouch that they are founded in love. The people there are the kind of people you want to be your friends, your family, your caregivers and your developers and executives. They have ideas and a mission to end poverty and they get things done!
We first became involved as donors and volunteers with CCFW in 2006 shortly after we moved to Texas and have admired the organizations ability to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and pivot when change is needed. The "Padua Project", a collaboration between CCFW & the University of Notre Dame is a bold commitment to help end poverty, one family at a time. We are most impressed with their approach to programs based on research not anecdotal evidence of what actually works to help people improve their life situations. Their work to eradicate poverty has created hope for thousands while treating those in need with respect and dignity and reminding us that often the only difference between success and deep struggle in life is the ability to grab a safety net when you stumble.
I first learned about Catholic Charities as a student in Catholic School. I first volunteered as a teenager. As a teacher and school administrator, they have presented to my students. As a donor, I've seen all the amazing things they do throughout the community. I am so proud to be a Catholic Charities supporter. This is an organization that truly is doing everything they can to empower people change their lives for the better!
I'm a Business Owner that was invited to a Catholic Charities of Fort Worth 'Know Poverty Event'. I was invited by CCFW employee looking for Job Placement opportunities for her clients @ CCFW. I was blown away @ the importance of the work that CCFW was doing in my community and surrounding communities. I'm a Catholic and semi regularly attend Mass, and I never heard what great work they do in my community! I joined as an Ambassador, strictly volunteer, to host 'Know Poverty' events in my community. Getting 10,000 families out of poverty is ambitious, but I know CCFW will do it with our SUPPORT! Mark Renzi
As a modest donor, I've never seen anything like FWCC. With their Padua Project they are committed to finding a long-term solution to "ending poverty in America." Let that sink in a moment! They work in tandem with Notre Dame University and The University of Chicago, using hard data analysis to evaluate implemented programs. If a program is not effective; they can kill it quickly and reallocate resources to more effective programs. If a program is working; they can "double down" quickly to expand its reach and results. All this while being ferociously "client centered." One of the most innovative, effective and ambitious non-profits I've ever seen.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth is changing the community, the city of Fort Worth, and ultimately the vision of the poor in the US. They assist the under-served, the abused, the poor, the forgotten, the refuges, people on the verge of giving up hope. They help everyone! They help individuals and families with their unique need. From our first visit and tour of Catholic Charities, my husband and I became strong supporters. It started with an invitation from a new friend to attend the Hope Luncheon, which led to our visit and our strong support.
CCFW has embarked on a bold commitment to help end poverty, one family at a time. We are most impressed with their "hand up" rather than "hand out" approach to programs. Their work to eradicate poverty and transform our community is innovative and has created hope for thousands. Their goal is large, but their plan and execution has them making a real difference in numerous families across the US.
Catholic Charities of Fort Worth is changing lives everyday and always looking for new ways to grow and expand.
As I volunteer and mother of 3 teenagers who have consistently volunteered over the years with projects at Catholic Charities Fort Worth, we have witnessed first hand the differences that their programs have made for people.
They truly care and want people to succeed. Children in high risk situations are being cared for and loved, single parents are given help finding jobs, and they are educated on how to save money. Families are given the tools they need to make their situations better. All these things are big steps to eradicating poverty.
My children love volunteering at the various programs because they see the good they are doing to help others in need.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth is like one big family waiting to give you a hug when you walk in.
The love and compassion they show their clients is exactly how
we are called to be and I love the examples they have shown my teenagers. I wish everyone took a day to volunteer here. It would not be your last because making a difference in the lives of others makes our lives even better.
Getting through college can be tough ... unexpected financial bills, family challenges, transportation issues, finding the time and focus to get through college and balance it with other life responsibilities. Catholic Charities Fort Worth “Stay The Course Program “uses highly skilled navigators to assist selected Community College Students both to stay in college and to work towards their college graduation. As a parent, grandparent, and retired teacher I know personally and professionally the transformational value of education! Proud to support Catholic Charities Fort Worth . B.Shelton
Catholic Charities Fort Worth is an incredible charity that truly lives out its mission to end poverty in north Texas. The staff are amazing and their level of service and excellence is truly remarkable. Such compassion to the clients too. I've had such a good experience volunteering here and I hope to for many years to come! I highly recommend getting involved with them!