Catholic Charities gets $1.2 million for emergency services programs

Daniels Fund grant continues partnership with Church built on friendship

By John Gleason

These are dark economic times, but a generous grant the Daniels Fund presented to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver will help the agency reach out to those most in need.
The Daniels Fund gave $1.2 million to Catholic Charities to support capital construction and emergency services programs. 

Programs the grant will benefit include the 70-bed Mission Shelter in Fort Collins; the Guadalupe Shelter for single men in Greeley; the Father Ed Judy House, serving single-parent homeless mothers and their children; Samaritan House, which provides shelter and basic services to those in need; and eight emergency assistance sites that offer food and financial aid.

Each year, Catholic Charities touches the lives of thousands of people of all faiths, working with individuals and families to meet needs, eliminate oppression and to build a just and compassionate society.

The organization is thrilled to be the recipient of such generosity, said Kurt Bartley, chief development officer for Catholic Charities. 

“Bill Daniels has great esteem in the community,” Bartley said, “and it’s gratifying to be associated with Mr. Daniels and the Daniels fund.  It honors our work and can be seen as trust that the work will continue.”

The grant, said Bartley is two-fold: it is a capital campaign gift as well as a gift for homeless services. 

“Starting with this fiscal year, the grant is a three-year gift which will allow us to continue our homeless services,” he said.  “It comes at a fortuitous time as we’ve seen an increase in the number of people coming to us asking for help.”

Specifically, one of the projects to benefit as a result of the grant is a new emergency assistance center at 1205 W. Byers Place in Denver, one of eight such centers the agency operates in northern Colorado.

“It opened last week and offers services such as food, rental assistance and utility assistance,” Bartley said.  “These are the key elements that in many cases can help people remain in their own home.  That is one of the biggest challenges right now.”

The world can be a cynical place at times, Bartley said, but there always seems to be a generosity that shows itself when needed. 

“We make applications for many grants all the time,” he said, “and of course we don’t receive them all.  But then you see the Daniels Fund come forward; a member of our community ready to help.”

Peter J. Droege, vice president of communications for the Daniels Fund, said the partnership the fund has with Catholic Charities traces its way back to the friendship that existed between cable pioneer Bill Daniels and champion of the poor Msgr. C.B. Woodrich, a cofounder of Samaritan House.

“Bill Daniels was a big supporter of Father Woody,” Droege said.  “He would show up (to help) at the annual (Father Woody) Christmas party for the homeless; he was also on the committee of the construction of Samaritan House. It’s this friendship, and this legacy that came from it, which continues today through the grants that are made by the Daniels Fund to Catholic Charities. 

“This organization is but one example of the many wonderful organizations out on the front lines doing tremendous work,” he said. “They deserve support and the Daniels Fund is honored to be part of the work that Catholic Charities does.”

Retired basketball player, coach and executive Vince Boryla, who first met Daniels in late 1968, recalled the philanthropist’s relationship with Father Woody.

“Bill liked not only the things that Father Woody did, but the way he got them done; helping people quietly and without fanfare,” he said.  “And I think he’d be delighted with the presentation of this grant and what it will do for Catholic Charities.”