October 30, 2002

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org

Breaking the cycle of poverty: Catholic Campaign for Human Development

        The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the anti-poverty program of
the United States Catholic Church. Established by the Catholic Bishops of the United
States, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has a two-fold mission.
First, to raise funds to support organized groups of poor and low-income people to
develop economic strength and political power, and second, to educate Catholics about
the Church's social teaching and poverty in the U.S. and to promote a greater sense of
solidarity with the poor.

        The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is supported by Catholics in the
United States through an annual collection. The collection will be held in the parishes of
the Archdiocese of Portland on the weekend of November 23-24. Last year Catholics in
western Oregon contributed $176,596 to support the efforts of CCHD.

        For more than 30 years the Campaign has been a vehicle for social change,
addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering those it serves. The Campaign
has made significant contributions to western Oregon. In last year's funding cycle the
Catholic Campaign for Human Development announced National grants totaling
$160,000 to five projects and local grants totaling $50,000 were awarded to eleven
projects in western Oregon. For this year's funding cycle (2002-2003) national grants
totaling $254,000 have been made to nine projects in western Oregon, and $43,150 in
local grants were awarded to ten projects in western Oregon.

The Criteria for funding include:

> At least 50% of those benefiting from the project must be from the low-income community.

> Members of the Poverty group must have the dominant voice in the project.

> Projects must work to bring about institutional change by attacking the basic
   social, economic and political causes of poverty and powerlessness.

> Projects may have a focus on community-based ecologically sustainable
   economic development with business efforts that ensure family wages,
   meaningful work and participatory respect in the work place.

> Projects should empower low-income people to gain access to community
   decision-making structures.

        Grants are awarded on the basis of need, not religious affiliation. Nationally, many
CCHD grantees have grown from small community-based groups to national
organizations that tackle major social and economic problems, and advocate for just
policies and laws affecting the poor.

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2002 - 2003 CCHD Funded Projects Fact Sheet

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