Ozanam News 2012 Annual Report

C R onsolidated eport ANNUAL 2012 Statement of Activities for the year ended September 30, 2012 “ONE PERSON, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME” By Pamela F. Johnson, Managing Editor Across the United States, in 2012 members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provided service to more than 15 million people in need of food, shelter and medical assistance, to name a few. Our theme in this annual edition is as, “One Person, One Neighborhood, One Community at a time.” This is an appropriate title as we move forward in providing those in need with resources to transform their lives for the better. Our nearly 150,000 members are the catalyst for this transformation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is part of an international organization of friends united by a spirit of poverty and humility. We are more than 750,000 members strong worldwide in 149 countries providing service, dignity and a voice for the most vulnerable and less fortunate. In 2012, volunteers of the Society across the U.S. were honored and recognized locally for serving those in need in their respective communities. Vincentians, as we are called, were given homage by their local churches, television and newspapers, community and civic groups alike. For their hard work, monetary and honorary awards were made to the Society on behalf of our volunteers. These gifts of gratitude include communities declaring “St. Vincent de Paul Day” in recognition of the hours of hard work and services performed, summer camp scholarships, as well as food pantry, housing and medical assistance. Veterans around the country have also received assistance from the Society. Last year, the Veterans Administration in Lane County Oregon presented the Society with a $137,000 grant to help veterans in the area who are struggling with housing and facing eviction, while in Pinellas County, Florida, the Society received a $1 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer outreach, case management and assistance with VA benefits. And, at the end of the year, the SVdP in Detroit was selected to receive a $1.5 million grant on behalf of the state’s Department of Human Services to assist lowincome households. This is just a glimpse of the efforts of the Society across the country to provide assistance to those who are suffering. The national Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run and grant programs were once again huge successes last year. Proceeds from the annual Walk/Run netted more than $1.8 million last year. This program provides councils and conferences with an opportunity to raise funds in their communities and to provide awareness of the Society, as well as resources to those having difficulty making ends meet. The grant program was created to provide financial assistance to local entities that may otherwise have difficulty securing funds to assist the needy in their communities. These funds come from the general public and the generosity of members of the Society across the country. Some $80,000 in grant monies was awarded to eligible conferences in 2012. continued on page 16 SVdP 2012 Annual Report