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San Francisco, CA – It was announced
today by Dinner Chairs Craig and Maureen Sullivan that
Archbishop George H. Niederauer will present the 2008 Loaves & Fishes
Awards for Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy to Levi Strauss & Co.;
for Outstanding Philanthropic Works to George M. Marcus;
and for Outstanding Community Organization to the All Stars Helping
Kids and founder Ronnie
Lott. The presentation
will take place at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco
on Friday, April 11, 2008 at the 11th Annual Loaves & Fishes
Awards Dinner & Gala,
benefiting over 30 programs of Catholic Charities CYO.
Archbishop Niederauer explained, ”Through their genuine concern
for and effective action in improving the lives of those in need in our
community and beyond, this year’s honorees epitomize the spirit
of the faith traditions of charity and generosity.”
The 2008 honorees have displayed a dedication to giving
back both locally and globally, focusing their efforts especially
on interfaith collaborations, the arts, support of those with HIV/AIDS,
children,
low income families and those in living in poverty.
The Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&CO.) tradition of sharing its prosperity
with the community began in 1854 when Levi Strauss himself donated $5
to a San Francisco orphanage. More than 150 years later, the company’s
legacy of philanthropy through the Levi Strauss Foundation has grown to
include a commitment to help alleviate poverty among women and youth by
strengthening worker’s rights, helping people build financial assets,
and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS both in the Bay Area and around
the world. In the Bay Area, Levi Strauss Foundation has supported the
launch of the Mission Asset Fund, which helps immigrant families save
and invest in homes, businesses and education. The company sponsors the
San Francisco AIDS Walk and Macy’s Passport, which raise funds for
local AIDS service groups. LS&CO.’s annual Community Day engages
800 employees in volunteering at various local non-profit organizations,
including Holy Family Day Home and Catholic Charities CYO’s
Mission Day Care.
Founder and Chairman of The Marcus & Millichap Company, philanthropist
George M. Marcus has shown a commitment to positively
impacting the lives of all Bay Area residents via his charitable efforts
with a number of
local social service, healthcare, environmental, education, interfaith
and arts non-profits. In particular, his concern for enhancing
the overall lives of local children and the elderly has led him to
be a fervent supporter
of International Orthodox Christian Charities, Avenidas, and
the John Burton Foundation for Children without Homes. Marcus is also
a Regent
of the University of California, a member of the Board of Trustees
of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and works with various other
local
organizations, including the Community Breast Health Project,
the SFSU Foundation, and Peninsula Open Space Trust.
For 19 years, All Stars Helping Kids (ASHK) and
founder
Ronnie Lott have consistently responded to the needs
of the most vulnerable in the
Bay Area by generating critical funds for organizations that
work to break the cycle of poverty through education, and also
provide enriching
opportunities
for at-risk youth. Lott’s belief that everyone—from corporations
to professional athletes and individuals—can transform the lives
of underserved children, motivated him to start ASHK. The organization
raises resources to directly benefit community youth programs
and advocates for solutions to various issues plaguing children
in low-income communities.
The KIPP Heartwood Academy, the BUILD entrepreneurial program
for underserved youth, Eastside College Preparatory school in
East Palo Alto, CYO Camp
in Occidental, CA, and the San Francisco Food Bank are only a
handful of the many programs ASHK directly supports.
Created by Cardinal William Levada, Archbishop Emeritus
of San Francisco, and Clint Reilly, former President of the Catholic
Charities CYO Board
of Directors, the Loaves & Fishes Award honors extraordinary charitable
works in our communities and raises vital funds for the agency’s
programs that help families, children and those in need. More than $8,000,000
has been raised in support of Catholic Charities CYO through the Loaves & Fishes
Awards and Dinner. # # #
[Photos available]
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Catholic Charities CYO is one of the largest non-profit providers of social services in the Bay Area.
Our mission is to serve and advocate for the poor, the sick, the distressed, children, youth, families,
immigrants and seniors, regardless of their faith. All money contributed to Catholic Charities CYO
directly supports our programs in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo Counties.
Founded in 1907 to care for the orphans of the San Francisco earthquake, Catholic Charities is an
agency of the San Francisco Archdiocese, yet operates as an independent non-profit organization,
and does not in any way contribute to or receive funds from the church.
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