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San Francisco, CA It was announced today that Archbishop George H. Niederauer will present the 2006 Loaves & Fishes Award for Outstanding Community Organization to the Carl Gellert & Celia Berta Gellert Foundation on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at the 9th Annual Loaves & Fishes Dinner, benefiting the programs of Catholic Charities CYO.
The Gellert Foundation became active in 1959, following the Carl Gellerts’ business success as a home builder that produced many homes in the Sunset, Twin Peaks, Daly City, Seramonte and Hercules. Today, the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation awards grants each year to support youth education from kindergarten to college, hospitals, senior healthcare, parishes and various charities in all nine Bay Area counties.
In selecting the Gellert Foundation as one of his first awardees since assuming his new appointment in San Francisco, Archbishop Niederauer stated, “The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation legacy of supporting education is an outstanding example of investing in the whole community to ensure productive and positive outcomes, from childhood to the aged. Equally commendable is the Foundation’s commitment to promote and inspire the need for each of us to give back to our communities, which will have profound effects here in the Bay Area for generations to come.”
Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation Executive Director Jack Fitzpatrick explains, “Mr. and Mrs. Gellert realized that in order to build a strong community, you need a strong infrastructure. Their generous support includes contributing to hospitals such as Seton and Sequoia, grammar schools like Our Lady of Mercy and St. Thomas More, as well as aging facilities like Catholic Charities CYO’s San Carlos Adult Day. They fully understand the big picture of a healthy community.”
Archbishop Niederauer added, “I am looking forward to participating in this event for the first time as well as recognizing the Gellert Foundation and the other honorees for such notable works. The evening will offer an opportunity to celebrate together some of the most important acts of charity, outstanding leadership and human service performed locally, regionally and globally.”
Clint Reilly, Catholic Charities CYO Board President noted, “The Carl Gellert & Celia Berta Gellert Foundation has helped thousands of children to benefit from a solid Catholic education, which translates to their work place, raising their family, and every other aspect that gives our communities a strong character and conscience.”
Also being honored at the event is American Himalayan Foundation founder Richard Blum for Outstanding Philanthropic Works, and the Alliance of Mission District Catholic Schools for Outstanding Service to the Community.
Created by Cardinal William Levada, Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco, the Loaves & Fishes Award honors extraordinary charitable works in our communities and raises vital funds for the programs of Catholic Charities CYO. More than $5,000,000 has been raised in support of Catholic Charities CYO through the Loaves & Fishes Awards and Dinner. The Loaves & Fishes Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.
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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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