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San Francisco, CA – It was announced
today that Archbishop George H. Niederauer will present the 2007
Loaves & Fishes
Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Works to B.J. and Bebe Cassin
and the Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation on Saturday, April 21,
2007,
at the 10th Annual Loaves & Fishes Dinner, benefiting the 33 programs
of Catholic Charities CYO.
The Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation (CEIF) is
dedicated to ‘transforming urban America one student at a time’. Concerned
that many young people living in under-resourced urban areas are not receiving
the education they need and deserve, founders B.J. and Bebe
Cassin have
invested several years and significant financial support in the Cristo
Rey and Nativity/Miguel educational models, which provide innovative,
comprehensive and accessible Catholic education to underserved children
in at-risk communities. Since 2000, CEIF has supported the opening of
16 Cristo Rey High Schools and 38 Nativity/Miguel middle schools. These
schools not only provide thousands of low-income youth with a quality
education but also give them the tools and professional skills they need
to ultimately break the cycle of poverty. Locally, the De Marillac Academy
in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district is a Nativity/Miguel school.
In selecting B.J. and Bebe Cassin and the Cassin Education Initiative Foundation as a 2007 honoree, Archbishop Niederauer stated, “B.J and Bebe Cassin and The Cassin Educational Initiative Fund have selflessly provided support and hope to thousands of children who need it most. Their generous works reflect genuine concern for the ‘least of our brethren’ and are a true inspiration in the fight to end the cycle of poverty in the Bay Area and beyond.”
Also being honored are the Nibbi Family and Nibbi
Brothers Construction for Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy, the life and works
of Leo T. McCarthy for Outstanding Service to the Community, and the Auxiliaries
of Little Children’s Aid for Outstanding Community Organization. This year’s honorees are especially focused on assisting families and children in need – from
providing educational opportunities for inner-city youth, to building
affordable housing for low income families, to advocating on behalf
of poor families and foster children to providing direct aid to
abused, troubled and homeless children. The Loaves & Fishes Awards Dinner launches Catholic Charities CYO’s Centennial celebration, which honors 100 years of the agency’s work as a critical safety net for families, children and those in need. 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 33 programs of Catholic Charities CYO. More than 6 million has been raised in support of Catholic Charities CYO through the Loaves & Fishes Awards and Dinner.
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[Photo 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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