John and Brenda Fitzgerald received the James A. McTague Humanitarian Award at Catholic Charities Emerald Ball on March 16. The award, created by the Advisory Board of Catholic Charities of Collier County Diocese of Venice, in honor of James McTague who served Catholic Charities in Miami Venice and Naples, as well as Catholic Charities USA in Washington DC.

 Outstanding in his many years to community service is the completion of his 17th Annual Undy Sunday. This project was created in 1997 by John along with Jim McTague to donate underwear and socks to needy children .Through John’s leadership this project has grown and now includes 50 participating churches and synagogues and many volunteers. In the past 17 years nearly 600,000 under garments have been given to disadvantaged children in 24 Collier County elementary schools.

 The Fitzgerald’s moved to Naples in 1993 and have given many devoted years to Catholic Charities of Collier County and the Diocese of Venice. Brenda has a long history of volunteering with the AIDS ministry, Catholic Charities and St. John the Evangelist Parish. They have 3 children.

 John graduated from Marquette University in 1953 and has a 35 year business career including multiple years as President, Director, partnership and /or owner of such diverse companies as Triwec Transformer Company, Arch Creek Nursing Homes, Atlanta/LaSalle Capital Corporation, a private venture capital company, Security Bank, National City Unites, and as John is quick to point out, he once he d a very small ownership share of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

 Always dedicated to his community John is an Honorary Trustee of Benedictine University; Director and President of the Fitzgerald Brothers Foundation which supports the developmentally disabled; Director,, Secretary, Chairman of Program Planning Committee as well as Past President of Catholic Charities of the Palm Beach Diocese. John served on the Advisory Council to the Archdiocese of Miami and Pension Advisory Board of the Archdioceses of Miami, St Petersburg and Venice.

Former McTague Humaitarian Awardees Dr. Joe and Judy Sullivan join Father John Ludden and several distinguished guests just prior to a fabulous Ritz dinner.

John and Brenda Fitzgerald flanked by the 2013 Emerald Ball Co Chairs, Dr. Francisco and Ruth Smith.

One of our special guests was Adrianna Campbell. Adrianna was a rental and utilities assistance client whose testimony was heart warming.

Some seventy guests, Emerald Ball sponsors and friends gathered at the home of Laura and Peter DeGennaro to officially kick off the 2013 Emerald Ball season. Laura and Peter were warm and gracious hosts as they welcomed their guests to their spacious 5th Avenue condominum. Father Robert Kantor and Father John Ludden led the guests in an opening prayer of gratitude and reflection on the mission of Catholic Charities.

Many thanks to the DeGennaro’s!

Tis is our third season of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. It is a collaborative between Catholic Charities of Collier County, the Legal Aid Society of Collier County, Redlands Christian Migrant Association and the Internal Revenue Service.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers prepare simple federal tax returns for people whose incomes are $50,000 or less. The VITA site at Guadalupe Social Services this year is operating on every Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 6^th, 2013, will be the last day of operation.

To date tax refunds have exceeded $210,000.

Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities of Collier County, Diocese of Venice, Inc. began operations of the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen on January 3, 2103. Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities will assume responsibility for the Soup Kitchen, Clothing Room, and Shower Program in January 2013.

The Soup Kitchen has been providing the impoverished people of Immokalee a hot meal Monday through Friday since 1982. About 35,000 hot meals are served each year by a group of about 150 volunteers.

Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities also began operating

A warm and nutritious meal

Bishop Frank Dewane Blesses the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen

Guadalupe Social Services Program Director, Ninfa Drago (left) and her staff and volunteers at the Casa Maria Opening

District Director, Armando Galella, welcomes the Trustees of the Naples Children's Education Foundation to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen

the Clothing Room and Shower Program. The Clothing Room provides clients with clothing and household items. The Shower Program provides clients with shower facilities and fresh towels, clothing, and toiletries to maintain their hygiene as well as their dignity.

Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities also offers a Food Pantry, a Financial Assistance Program, Citizenship and Immigration Services, School on Wheels, and special efforts such as Back-to-School Assistance, Undy Sunday, and Holiday Food and Gift Programs.

“The plight of poverty is an ongoing issue in Immokalee. Many people in this community lack basic necessities such as food and clothing, and a place to take a shower,” said Galella. “The Guadalupe Center recognized that need three decades ago with the opening of the Soup Kitchen, Clothing Room and Shower Program. Catholic Charities hopes to keep these important services available to the community well into the future.”

For more information, please call Armando Galella at Catholic Charities of Collier County, Diocese of Venice, Inc. at 239-455-2655.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice (which includes Collier County) again received a four-star efficiency rating – the highest possible – from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. What follows is part of the letter of transmittal.

Based on the most recent information available and using our new, two dimensional rating system (CN 2.0) we have issued a new rating for your organization. We are proud to announce Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. has earned our third consecutive 4-star rating. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization adheres to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Only 9% of the charities we rate have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.

Visit www.charitynavigator.org for more information.