RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is marking its 100th year in 2017 as a faith-based, nonprofit social service organization open to all in need; and
WHEREAS, In 1917, as the nation was in the depths of World War I, Cardinal George Mundelein tapped a group of prominent Chicago Catholic businessmen, including Dennis Francis Kelly, president of retail giants Mandel Brothers and The Fair Store, Edward Flines, president of Edward Hincs Lumber Company, Charles A. Comiskey, founder and owner of die Chicago White Sox, and Robert M. Sweilzer, Cook County Clerk to fundraise for the Archdiocese; and
WHEREAS, This group was formally chartered in 1.918 and laid the groundwork for what is now Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, During the Great Depression, Catholic Charities was a key partner in a Chicagoland effort to aid families struggling to survive prolonged unemployment; and
WHEREAS, Along with helping people access private and public relief programs, the agency became well-known for feeding the hungry, caring for orphans and unwed mothers and their children; and
WHEREAS, By 1945 a group of 48 individual program sites were under the auspices of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, During the latter half of the 20th century, Catholic Charities had grown and changed to reflect societal needs; and
WHEREAS, Through the 1990s and into the 21st century, the agency increased its programming for seniors and built many affordable residences for the elderly while partnering with state and federal programs; and
WHEREAS, Along with new initiatives, Catholic Charities has continued to provide core services for basic human needs, including emergency assistance, counseling, addiction treatment, employment and training; and
WHEREAS, Today Catholic Charities is one of the largest private, non-profit social service agencies in the Midwest, assisting approximately one million people annually without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background; and
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities offers 150 programs at 160 locations across Cook and Lake counties in Illinois and covers human needs from "cradle to grave"; and
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities has embodied the Catholic Church's mission of charity with compassionate, competent and professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities based on the value and dignity of human life; and
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities and charitable nonprofit organizations like it save taxpayers millions of dollars through their services and contribute significantly to the quality of life of all our citizens; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-ninth day of March, 2017, do hereby congratulate Catholic Charities on die occasion of it 100th Anniversary and do hereby declare April 10, 2017 as Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Day throughout the City of Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Monsignor Michael Boland, Administrator, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. /
Aldck-man - 14lh Ward