"This is a very exciting time for the diocese and for Catholic Charities," Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle, managing director of Catholic Charities, said. "For a long time, we have wanted to help the people who help the poor in our diocese. In awarding these grants, we are doing that, and Bishop Brandt is acknowledging the good work of so many people who are serving the poor."

The Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund was announced by Bishop Brandt at the 2010 Communities of Salt and Light Award Dinner.

Applicants for funding must meet several basic criteria, including working to alleviate poverty and being consistent with the ethical, religious, moral beliefs, tenets and teachings of the Catholic Church.

In addition, the grant recipients are not allowed to distribute the award to a program or recipient not specified as part of the grant application. The recipients must agree to that at the start of the application process and sign a pledge to that fact upon receiving their grant award.

Hollie Uccellini, chair of the Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund Grant Committee, praised the work of the committee, which reviewed each application to ensure it met the criteria that was established when the fund was set up and oversight responsibilities were given to Catholic Charities.

"We then looked at the group of people who were going to benefit from the grant, whether the project was sustainable after the grant funds were spent and whether the need was being met by another nonprofit organization or government agency," she said.

In addition to Uccellini, committee members were Catholic Charities board members Jim Froelicher of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Indiana; George Butler, a Greensburg lawyer and parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, North Huntingdon; and Daughters of Charity Sister Mary Francis Bassick, board treasurer and president of Rendu Services in Fayette County. Bob McHenry and Judy Modecki of Catholic Charities, along with Msgr. Riffle, served as staff to the committee.

Uccellini said that while one person’s individual donation probably can’t feed 100 people in Footedale, the grants show that combined efforts can make a big difference. "With this grant, now we can feed 100 people in Footedale for a year," she said.

Msgr. Riffle said he hopes the Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund’s work helps people in the diocese realize the great needs that exist in the diocese’s four counties.

"There is much work to be done to eradicate poverty," he said. "We look forward to helping more organizations and people in the next funding cycle."

The next grant review is in June. The application deadline for that review cycle is May 1, 2012. For more information, including grant criteria, and to download an application, go to www.ccharitiesgreensburg.org or contact Judy Modecki at Catholic Charities at 724-837-1840.

Summary of Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund grants awarded December 2011

St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Trinity Conference, Connellsville:
The society received $7,000 to help low-income residents with heating costs. The funds will be used to help people pay for their primary heating fuel.

Feed the Flock Community Ministry, New Salem:
An ecumenical ministry of St. Thomas Parish, Footedale; St. Procopius Parish, New Salem, New Salem Presbyterian Church, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and Grandy’s Pizza, all of New Salem; and New Salem Neighborhood Watch, the group will use its $4,200 grant to support a monthly food bank for the New Salem area in Fayette County. The funds will be used to purchase food and sundry items to keep the pantry stocked and to cover monthly food delivery expenses.

East End United Community Center, Uniontown:
The group received a $9,301 grant for its program, Financial Legacy Building in the African-American Community, which provides financial literacy training for young to middle-aged adults with the goal of ultimately reducing the level of poverty experienced by older African-Americans in Fayette County.

The Pregnancy Support Center of Alternatives.Yes, Connellsville:
The group received a $10,000 grant for its Life Skills Center, which helps young mothers and fathers gain important life skills to help sustain their household and families and to improve their job outlooks and future earnings potential. The grant will be used to furnish the interior of an addition with kitchen, playroom and classroom equipment and to renovate the entrance.

The Organization for Neighborhood Enrichment d.b.a. The Absolute Value of One (AVOO), Latrobe:
The AVOO received $9,425 to purchase textbooks for a service-learning program to teach young people the absolute value of every human being and encourage the youth to be engaged in their communities. The curriculum introduces social issues on a global level and directs students to research that issue locally then formulate a plan to address the issue in their community. AVOO currently focuses on hunger, homelessness and poverty.