For Immediate Release February 19, 2014

Saipan and Hawaii Catholic Charities Agencies Honored for Innovative Anti-Poverty Programs Alexandria, Va. Two Catholic Charities running innovative anti-poverty programs in the Pacific region received national awards today. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) presented CCUSA Social Innovation Awards to programs run by Catholic Social Service Karidat and Catholic Charities Hawaii, recognizing their efforts to offer bold ideas and pursue new solutions to the problem of poverty in local communities.

Pacific Region Catholic Charities Agencies Receive National Recognition

Contact: Patricia Cole pcole@catholiccharitiesusa.org 703-236-6218

The Handcrafting Hope Project of Catholic Social Service Karidat provides victims of sexual assault and violence with the support and guidance to turn recycled materials into individualized works of art. The handcrafts are sold at local stores, with 80 percent of all revenue going towards the women seeking to build assets and gain a fresh start in life.

The CCUSA Social Innovations Awards recognize socially-innovative programs being run by Catholic Charities agencies in communities across the country, and come with a $5,000 prize to be reinvested into the program. The awards are judged based on a strict set of criteria by a panel of judges from around the Catholic Charities network.

Hale Wai Vista is a affordable rental project operated by Catholic Charities Hawaii that provides families living on the island of Oahu with a place to call home that is within their price range. The complex not only offers housing, but a unified center to access other supportive services, including health services, literacy workshops, legal aid, and nutrition services. Hale Wai Vista has units to house over 200 families looking to get their lives back on track.

The agencies received their awards at a CCUSA Partners in Excellence event being held in Honolulu, Hawaii, part of a series of events held to support local agency efforts. These gatherings bring together Catholic Charities leadership and staff from around the region for a time of learning and sharing of best practices. Two CCUSA Social Innovation Awards have been presented at each of the Partners in Excellence events, with two more gatherings scheduled for later this year.
About Catholic Charities USA Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is leading a national movement to end poverty in America. In communities across the country, Catholic Charities member agencies are helping individuals and families in poverty achieve their full potential. Together we are dedicated to creating a life of opportunity and self-sufficiency for each of the 46 million of our brothers and sisters struggling to make ends meet.

CCUSA was founded in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. as the National Conference of Catholic Charities. For more than 100 years, CCUSA has guided and supported the vast network of Catholic Charities agencies nationwide in a common mission to serve, advocate, and convene. For additional information, please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org