Catholic Charities: Help for the poor

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Even in the middle of a pandemic and in the aftermath of a hurricane and other recent storms, the importance of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans’ ministry still is ringing true in the hearts of many.

Through generous donations, the annual Archbishop Hannan Community Appeal (AHCA) supporting local Catholic Charities ministries raised approximately $1.8 million in 2021.

“It is the most important fundraising source for us,” said Marianite Sister Marjorie Hebert, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. “This funding is what we use to offset the many programs of Catholic Charities that have no other source of funding or those programs that are not fully funded, even with the several grants we have from the federal government. … Our donors have sustained us for almost 60 years by donating millions of dollars to meet our ever-present needs.”

Results of the 2020-21 campaign were announced March 28 before 100 guests at the home of Archbishop Gregory Aymond. He reminded attendees how the annual AHCA is the primary funding source for CCANO’s 22 ministries for the homeless, elderly, at-risk youth, formerly incarcerated, pregnant women, individuals with developmental challenges and those needing help after disasters.

“Last year, Catholic Charities touched the lives of more than 50,000 people throughout Louisiana,” Archbishop Aymond said. “If we didn’t already have Catholic Charities, we would have to start it,” he added.

At the event, AHCA 2020-21 chairpersons Renny and Jacqueline Simno passed the torch to next year's chairpersons Doug and Vaughn Downing.

“It was something we were excited and willing to do,” Renny Simno said. “It’s a great cause that has helped thousands of people throughout our community for such an extended period of time, and it continues to do that.”

Family ties to AHCA
Renny Simno said many reasons led him and his wife to say yes to being campaign chairs. Among them were the programs’ diversity and the large number of people impacted by Catholic Charities throughout New Orleans and outside of the city. Simno also was inspired by watching his father, George Simno III, and his great uncle, Norris Fitzmorris, become actively involved with CCANO over the years. They invited him about 15 years ago to join the fold to support Catholic Charities.

He said Archbishop Philip Hannan’s visibility in the community also left an impression on him.


“Jacqueline and I grew up in St. Pius X Parish, and Archbishop Hannan had a presence in our parish,” he said. “It was hard to say no to Catholic Charities with Archbishop Hannan’s name so connected to this cause.”

Both Renny’s and Jacquelyn’s Catholic roots run deep. In addition to both attending St. Pius X, Renny, 45, attended Christian Brothers School, Jesuit High School, Loyola University New Orleans and earned a master’s in philanthropy from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. He is currently director of purchasing for Jefferson Parish and had previously spent 18 years in development and fundraising at Loyola University New Orleans. Jacquelyn Faust Simno, 39, is a dentist, who attended St. Mary’s Dominican, the University of Georgia and LSU Dental School.

The Simnos had discussed getting more involved in Catholic organizations when Renny got the call to be 2020- 21 chairpersons from Maria Huete, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans director of institutional advancement. Renny remembered having flashbacks to the community volunteerism of his parents, George and Claire Simno.

His parents chaired the parish fair after he and his brother grew up. The Simnos were extraordinary ministers of holy Communion and received the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion for service in the archdiocese as well as the Loyola University New Orleans Alumni Association’s Adjutor Hominum Award for exemplifying moral character, service to humanity and unquestionable integrity.

“It’s who we are,” Renny Simno said. “We were educated by people who had such an impact on our lives. We spent so many hours in the classroom, and they became mentors, but in many cases, life-long friends. Those relationships, though we may not have recognized it at the time (as students), had a lasting impact on who we became as individuals.”

AHCA is built by volunteers
The Simnos’ only concern – being able to devote the necessary time to make the campaign successful because they had two children at home – was quickly abated once Renny Simno realized what volunteers contribute to the campaign and how closely aligned Catholic Charities’ staff is with them.

“This campaign is very volunteer-driven and has had so many volunteers throughout the years who continue to serve in a volunteer capacity,” he said. “One thing that was great to see was how hands-on the Catholic Charities staff is.”

He discovered their invaluable help in the campaign’s administrative duties, their connection to volunteers, donors and more.
 
It was Archbishop Hannan, now deceased, who introduced the Archbishop’s Community Appeal after Hurricane Betsy in 1965 to address the needs of the poor in New Orleans, Simno said. To honor Archbishop Hannan’s legacy and life of service, Archbishop Aymond and the CCANO board of directors renamed the annual giving drive in his memory in 2012.

“The impact in the community is tremendous,” Simno said of CCANO. “It’s helped a lot of people.”

The nonprofit’s services are rooted in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, while the food and nutrition services benefit people throughout the state of Louisiana. Incorporated in 1938, the organization staffed by more than 400 employees, is one of the largest and most active Catholic Charities agencies in the United States.

Sister Marjorie, CCANO’s current president and CEO, was extremely pleased with the outpouring of campaign support this year, especially after so many concurrent disasters. When she visited Arabi after the last tornado, it reminded her of visiting the area as a young nun after Hurricane Betsy.

“Because we are in the middle of helping with so many disasters, it is truly in the spirit of Archbishop Hannan who developed the program after Hurricane Betsy,” she said. “Thank you to all of the volunteers and donors who selflessly gave their time and resources to support our organization in this effort.”

Out of every dollar raised by CCANO, 93 cents goes directly to those served by Catholic Charities. Donations for the AHCA campaign can still be made at www.ccano.org/ahca.

For details, go to www.CCANO.org. 
 
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