1. The Mental Health Wellness Annual Benefit Luncheon was held on September 20 at Ivy Tech Bloomington. This event included a panel discussion with several therapists and an intern on the various therapies offered. It included visits with Amina, the therapy dog and highlighted all the important impacts the agency is making in support of good mental health. Thanks to the support of sponsors and friends in the community, over $23,000 was raised. Learn more at www.ccbin.org

Judy* came to Becky's Place Shelter in April after a recommendation from her Department of Children's Services (DCS) Case Worker. She had an open case with them due to extensive drug use, mental illness, and neglect.

During her stay, she found employment and started saving her money. She applied for housing and was accepted at Clover Park Apartments in July. She worked with both her Becky’s Place and DCS Case Workers to achieve her goals. Judy started at home visits with her children and also began therapy with her children to work on reunification.

Becky's Place helped Judy with setting up her apartment so that she and both of her daughters could be comfortable. We also provided school supplies for the children as well. Judy stated that this will be the very first year she will be able to be involved in the children going to school and has high hopes that this is the start of a wonderful life together with her and her daughters. Learn more about what is happening at Becky's Place by visiting www.BeckysPlaceBedford.org

*Name changed for privacy

Laverne, a dedicated Senior Companion, recently decided to retire from the program. She worked as a Senior Companion for 15 years and served as a Volunteer Leader on the Northside of Indianapolis. She was responsible for the interviewing new clients, and providing matches with companions who were in her station. A match is a companionship between a Senior Companion and a senior in the community who needs additional assistance. A station is a small group of Senior Companions who meet monthly to receive additional education on various subjects to better help their companions.

Laverne also assisted more than 10 clients through the years. Two clients stand out to her. First, there was Sam, a gentleman in her housing unit that had been blind for many years. She spent over 2 years with him, helping him with bills, reading mail, and preparing home cooked meals. Second, there was Betsy, who was in her late 90’s. Laverne helped her with laundry and cleaning up, but most importantly, she became a good listener for Betsy. 

Laverne officially retired as a Senior Companion on Aug. 15, 2023. She will be greatly missed by everyone in the Senior Companion Program. Click here to learn more about the Senior Companion Program. 

St. Elizabeth once again participated in the tenth annual Give for Good Louisville on September 14th. The one-day event, hosted by the Community Foundation of Louisville, raised over 9.9 MILLION DOLLARS for local charities!



With gracious donations and sponsorships, St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities raised more than $27,000! Generous donors matched $8,900 in gifts while Schmitt Furniture and Lanesville Knights of Columbus provided a total of $450 in donations for the number of unique donors.

In honor of 10 years of Give for Good and her decade serving on the board, Jennifer Yennes-Vizhnay vowed to raise $10,000 for St. Elizabeth. This year, her campaign was called “Freeze the Day” and included various challenges with ice and cold water. She challenged donors to give $10,000 to see her jump into the Ohio River. Not only did Jennifer meet her goal of $10,000, she raised $10,247 beating her total from 2022 by over $3,000! Check out the video on our YouTube channel!



Learn more about the work of St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities at stecharities.org

As a result of the hospital in Tell City closing their labor and delivery program beginning in January, Catholic Charities Tell City is stepping in to fill a gap in resources by providing NEW car seats and Pack 'n Plays for families in need who otherwise could not afford these important baby items. Additionally, the agency is working on a means of transportation for families who will now have to travel to either Jasper or Ferdinand to have their babies. To help and to learn more, visit our website.

A Transformative Journey

Pamela’s life has been intertwined with Catholic Charities, and her journey reflects the transformative power of support and opportunity.

As a young girl, Pamela found solace and growth at Ryves Youth Center, an oasis of resources, mentors, and engagement. The Center provided her with more than just hot meals and resources; it granted her a sense of belonging and tools to flourish. From partaking in basketball leagues and chess games to studying, reading, and even exploring the world of computers, Pamela’s memories of Ryves Youth Center are filled with moments of empowerment and enrichment.

One memorable moment in Pamela’s journey is the Bonus Points Store. This initiative rewards youth for their contributions to the Center’s programs. Pamela states, “It taught me servant leadership, while servants were leading me.” Another memory Pamela shares involves the Christmas Store, allowing her to handpick gifts for her loved ones during the holiday season and experience the joy of giving.

Now an accomplished adult, Pamela recognizes the debt of gratitude she owes to Catholic Charities. She has continued to bring her own children to the Center to volunteer and be involved in the various activities and programs. Her dedication is showcased through her extensive involvement and achievements, including serving as chair of a Catholic Charities committee, the Ryves Community Optimist Club, keynote speaking, tech support, event hosting, program design, grant writing, and active participation in community events like Ryves Family Night and the Christmas Party.

Pamela’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that the impact of one’s generosity ripples through time, making a lasting difference in the lives of countless others.

To learn more about Catholic Charities Terre Haute visit our website at ccthin.org

St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities Reverse Raffle

Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023

Location: Plantation Hall at Huber's Orchard & Winery

Details: Mark your calendars to join us for our Annual Reverse Raffle. Click here for more information.

Catholic Charities Terre Haute Cheers for Charity

Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023

Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm

Location: Mussallem Union - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Details: Join us for an evening of live music, wine and bourbon. More information and registration can be found here.

Becky's Place Run for Hope 5K

Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023

Time: 9:00am

Location: The Depot- Downtown Bedford

Details: Join us for a fun morning and support a good cause by participating in our annual Thanksgiving 5K or 1 mile Family Fun walk. More information and registration can be found here.

Archdiocese of Indianapolis Legacy Gala

Date: Friday, February 9, 2024

Time: 5:30pm

Location: JW Marriot Indianapolis

Details: Join us for dinner and open bar, awards, auction, music from The Bishops. To sponsor or purchase tickets visit www.archindy.org/LegacyGala

Qualified Charitable Distributions

Do you own an IRA? Are you 70 ½ or older? Maximize your giving impact and personal tax benefits at the same time! Consider supporting your favorite parish, school, or agency through an IRA qualified charitable distribution (QCD) gift.

For those eligible, this is often the most tax-advantageous way to charitably give each year, even if you don’t itemize:

• Tax-free giving – directly from your IRA to your favorite Church ministries (up to $100,000/year)
• Count towards RMD - satisfy your required minimum distribution for the year (for those 73+)
• Lower taxable income – even if you don’t itemize deductions, as QCDs don’t count as income
• Planned giving - conducive to annual giving all-at-once or strategically throughout the year

Learn more at www.archindy.org/IRAdonation or call (317) 236-1482 for questions or help. Please contact your IRA custodian for any specific forms/steps they may require.

Dennis Craig

Catholic Charities Bloomington

Interim Clinical Director

www.archindy.org/cc