FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patricia Cole

pcole@catholiccharitiesusa.org
703-236-6218
Amanda Critchfield
Amanda.Critchfield@SunTrust.com
(202) 661-0607

SunTrust Foundation Supports Community Strengthening Work of Catholic Charities USA

Grant will support workforce development, family strengthening, and financial education programs

Alexandria, Va. (July 13, 2015) Low-income adults looking for better jobs, families looking to
build brighter futures, and individuals working toward financial goals will all be supported on their
journey out of poverty thanks to a new grant from the SunTrust Foundation to Catholic Charities
USA (CCUSA).
CCUSA, whose national network helped more than nine million individuals in need on their journey
out of poverty last year, will receive a $230,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation to help build
and strengthen communities nationwide.
The funding will support a workforce development model being pioneered by Catholic Charities in
Jacksonville, Florida, which helps low-income individuals develop the skills they need to compete
for and attain jobs that help them out of poverty. Funds will also go toward a financial education
program entitled Your Money, Your Goals, and to Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors) a bi-lingual
family strengthening program developed for Latino parents.
Our network would not be able to live out its mission of service without the generous support of
benefactors like the SunTrust Foundation, said Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, president and
CEO of CCUSA. This grant will strengthen the ability of our network to respond to the challenges
facing those in need. We are grateful for their support and belief in our network, and are excited
about how it will expand our ability to live out the Gospel and serve those most in need.
The SunTrust Foundation proudly supports Catholic Charities USA and its efforts to provide jobreadiness training and financial planning to low or moderate income families and individuals, said
David Fuller, SunTrust Foundation President. This grant will enhance the work already underway
and provide a pathway to financial well-being for those served by the CCUSA network.
The grant was formally presented to CCUSA in a ceremony at its Alexandria, Va., office today at
11:45 a.m.
About Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USAs members
provide help and create hope to more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. To learn
more about CCUSA, please visit our website at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
About The SunTrust Foundation
The SunTrust Foundation's mission is to provide monetary support to nonprofit organizations and institutions engaged in activities
promoting education, health and human services, culture and art, and civic and community involvement that contribute to the social
and economic development primarily in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
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