The Matthew 25 Giving Society is comprised of loyal individuals, civic groups and businesses that have taken a leadership role in our community through their multi-year financial commitment to support the work of Catholic Charities.

The goal of the Matthew 25 Giving Society is to ensure that Catholic Charities has the resources and leadership in place to secure a future of sustained service to those in most need in our community.

Each year we celebrate individuals and organizations who gave of their time and talent, and share a common belief in the responsibility to be of service to their neighbor. This collaboration furthers Catholic Charities’ mission to create hope for those in need by promoting self-sufficiency, strengthening families, fighting poverty and building community.

Catholic Charities is grateful and blessed by their kind and generous commitment to helping those in need. 
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​Interested in joining the Matthew 25 Giving Society or would like to know more about Catholic Charities? Contact our Development Office at (505) 724-4693 or loyae@ccasfnm.org.

2019 Matthew 25 Awardees

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2020 Matthew 25 Virtual Giving Event

Tuesday, September 22nd at 4:00 pm.

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Invitation from James Gannon - CEO - Catholic Charities

​I hope you will attend our virtual celebration of the Matthew 25 Society from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22!  At our event, we recognize the generosity of the Matthew 25 Society and honor our "Hands of the Holy Spirit" and "Simon of Cyrene" awardees. This year we are excited to offer a presentation and discussion led by Fr. Fred J. Kammer S.J. of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University in New Orleans. Join us for interesting conversation, recognition of those who have  ​helped Catholic Charities in these very challenging times, and our appreciation for your support. Many are feeling the stress of this time in our homes and businesses. We hope that bringing the Matthew 25 Society to you for an hour will bring our community together and remind us that we are all one in Christ.

We are filled with joy and gratitude as a member couple has offered to double the Society's contributions received between July 15 and October 31, 2020 up to $50,000.00. One dollar becomes two dollars, and collectively, we pray that $50K becomes $100K. 

​What does that mean? For those we serve, that money helps a student continue to learn through online education, provides food for an unemployed family, or gives a case manager the time to provide needed supportive guidance to a head of household seeking to find employment in a city of closed businesses and little work. Your donation lifts Catholic Charities in its mission of being a beacon of hope and dignity to the least among us. 
 
Catholic Charities has always counted on the Matthew 25 Giving Society to give crucial, sustainable support. This year, there will be a greater need for our services and the ability to make up for decreased revenues. If you have an existing pledge, would you consider making a full payment before October 31st, sending in a supplemental gift, or increasing your normal contribution? If you are new to Matthew 25 or have not contributed in a while, please consider initiating a pledge. As a reminder, many donations carry a tax benefit due to the CARES Act. I encourage you to check with your tax advisor regarding potential benefits.
 
Our event will be held via Zoom conferencing software, accessible via email or smart phone.
New to Zoom? Kiley Yuthas in our Development Office at yuthask@ccasfnm.org or (505) 724-4690 can help. 
​Elisabeth Loya, Donor Relations Manager, is available at loyae@ccasfnm.org or (505) 724-4637 to answer questions about the event.

Fr. Fred Kammer
Guest speaker at our Virtual Event - Tuesday, September 22 from 4pm-5pm via Zoom 

Fred Kammer is a priest, an attorney, and a member of the U.S. Central and Southern Province of the Jesuits.  Since March 1, 2009, he has been the director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute [JSRI] at Loyola University New Orleans.  JSRI is a collaborative project of Loyola University and the Jesuit Province offering research, social analysis, theological reflection, and practical strategies for improving the social and economic conditions of the Gulf South, with particular focus on issues of poverty, race, and migration in the light of Catholic social teaching.
​From 2002 to 2008, he was the Provincial Superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus, guiding their post-Katrina recovery and service to the devastated region’s poor and needy.  From 1992 to 2001, he was the President/CEO of Catholic Charities USA, the nation's largest voluntary human service network.   
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Fred has worked in a number of programs for the underprivileged, both as a lay volunteer, an attorney, an advocate, and an administrator.  From 1990 to 1992, he was the Policy Advisor for Health and Welfare Issues, Department of Social Development and World Peace, U.S. Catholic Conference.  Prior to that, from 1984 to 1989, he was Executive Director of Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge.  Earlier, from 1977 to 1983, he was Director of the Senior Citizens Law Project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
 
Fred is also a retreat director and author.  His first book, Doing Faithjustice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought, was published by Paulist Press in May, 1991 (second printing, 1992; third printing, 2005).  His second book, Salted with Fire: Spirituality for the Faithjustice Journey, was published in January, 1995, again by Paulist Press, and republished in 2008 by Wipf and Stock Publishers.  His third book, Faith. Works. Wonders.—An Insider’s Guide to Catholic Charities, was published in September, 2009 by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This New Orleans native received his J.D. from Yale University and M. Div. from Loyola University in Chicago.  ​

2020 MATTHEW 25 AWARDEES

Hands of the Holy Spirit Award
This award honors faithful partners who go beyond what was expected, doing so without seeking acknowledgement of their activities. It reflects the belief held in the eyes of the Church that Charity is accomplished when we allow the Holy Spirit to use our hands to provide relief, to console, to teach, to assist, to counsel and to welcome.

Patricia Robinson

​Patricia and her husband Peter are long-time Catholic Charities volunteers and advocates who have supported our work in the community in a number of ways over the years. Most recently, Patricia worked with Catholic Charities to set up a special fund in honor of her late brother, Tony. This gift is targeted to address a specific need in our community: many people attempting to access safe and stable housing do not have the savings necessary to pay a deposit on an apartment or home. Tony's Gift fills the gap by committing funds for the next 10 years to help homeless households, counter the disappearance of government funding, and help folks that have challenges and are not readily put into neat categories of eligibility. Catholic Charities is grateful to partner with Patricia in honoring her brother's legacy, and we are grateful for this and all the other support she has so generously given over the years. Her impact on our community makes her a deserving recipient of the Hands of the Holy Spirit Award.

Southwest Franciscans

The Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe Provence have long been our partners in addressing some of the most difficult challenges in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other New Mexico Communities. They are tireless volunteers, dedicating thousands of collective hours to supporting the work of Catholic Charities in the community. During our Companions on the Journey effort to support recent arrivals in New Mexico, friars were there to counsel parents concerned for their families' future. When our Adult Education program obtained over 200 laptops for remote learning, a friar spent hours helping get them all set up and ready for student use. Friars have helped us assemble furniture, move donations, counsel those in crisis, and performed endless other acts of service in the community. Their unflagging dedication to supporting all aspects of our work make Catholic Charities proud to honor Southwest Franciscans as Hands of the Holy Spirit Award recipients. 

Simon of Cyrene Award
This award recognizes individuals who have helped Catholic Charities by carrying some of the burdens faced in providing assistance to those in need. It represents the assistance Simon of Cyrene provided to Jesus by carrying the cross after He fell on the road to His crucifixion. One recipient is chosen by each of our Centers of Excellence and Administration.
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Nominated by the Center for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Assistance
Connie Chavez

Connie Chavez served Barrett Foundation for seven years, the last four as Executive Director. Through Connie’s leadership Barrett Foundation implemented many key initiatives to improve the lives of the women and children experiencing homelessness.
In 2016 Barrett started the first Women’s Respite Program in the state for homeless women being discharged from the hospital who need a place to rest and recover. She established long-standing partnerships with organizations that provide programs to benefit the homeless population we serve such as Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless, CLN Kids, UNM Medical School, St Vincent de Paul Society and many others, including the APS Title I McKinney-Vento homeless program, which conducts an on-site after-school tutoring program. Under Connie’s guidance Barrett Foundation was able to overcome financial struggles, expand staffing, and increase the number of programs supporting clients.​

Connie empowered and encouraged all of the Barrett staff, from the kitchen manager to shelter support to case managers and office administration, to take an active role in advocating on behalf of clients.
The Barrett Foundation has many housing programs one of which is their Permanent Supportive Housing program, Socorro. Catholic Charities collaborates with Barrett to be able to provide this program for many of the most vulnerable among the homeless population.
It has been my distinct pleasure to know Connie and her team at Barrett in this work and in her distinctive presence within the community. Connie will always be a voice for the poorest and most vulnerable and she is, like Simon of Cyrene, a carrier of the cross and a mutual friend of the burdened of our community.
She continues to be a leader within the Albuquerque community at her new position at Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation.
For these reasons, the Center for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Assistance, has nominated Connie Chavez for the Simon of Cyrene Award. ​

Nominated by the Center for Immigration and Citizenship Legal Assistance - CICLA
​ John Cunningham

John has been a quiet but diligent and dedicated volunteer at Catholic Charities. For years, he has volunteered his IT assistance to multiple programs throughout the agency. He brings expertise but also a willingness to assist in any way he can. John spent countless hours building a system for this program that we would never have been able to afford. This program was essential from the moment it was  implemented and was eerily timely. After working to  develop it for more than a year, he launched the program in February of 2020. The following March, we were forced to work from home. Without John’s program, our staff would  not have been able to readily shift to remote service.
John’s spirit of service is rare and we are blessed because of it.

Nominated by the Center for Educational Opportunity and Career Pathways
​Charles Ashley III

Charles Ashley III is CEO & Founder of Cultivating Coders, a New Mexico based company that provides technical training and curriculum in web and mobile application development to K-12 schools in tribal, rural and overlooked urban areas that lack resources in coding and computer science education. Prior to his current role, Charles was a Marketing & Strategy Consultant for several clients including Harmonix Technologies, VARA Wines and DeVry University. He previously served as Film Liaison & Marketing Manager for Bernalillo County's Economic Development Department in New Mexico and was Manager of Marketing for CNM's STEMulus Center. Charles is equal parts successful businessman and compassionate community advocate. Charles is the type of person who can identify a better way to do something and then execute on it. For this reason, he’s hopeful that his compassion for educational opportunity, combined with his business acumen, can contribute to the positive growth in overlooked communities.

Nonimated by the Center for Community Involvement
​Bob Wood

 Some say the story of Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry his cross, is a mystery. By contrast, the story of Bob Wood, who volunteers to lighten the burden of others, is not a mystery.
For seven years, Bob has been a constant and reliable resource for the elderly in Albuquerque.  Many of these elderly are homebound and want desperately to stay independent while remaining connected to their community.  Bob is a volunteer driver for Catholic Charities’ Senior Transportation Services. Drivers are some of the most difficult volunteers to recruit and we are blessed to have Bob’s support on Albuquerque’s west side, which is one of the most underserved areas of the city.
Here is some feedback we have received from some of his passenger’s
– Bob is kind, patient and very polite and one rider even remarked that he is “truly cut from a gentle man’s cloth.”  We see Bob as a model for the ideal volunteer. He is prompt to return emails and phone messages and is an excellent communicator by reporting senior concerns or unusual events about his trips.

He understands the importance of our ongoing training and provides the information required for our updates and reporting.
The COVID-19 Pandemic created a heavy load in our Senior Transportation service. Within a week, drivers quickly became scarce. Of course, this was understandable but regrettable for our seniors needing transport to important medical appointments. Instead of going on hiatus during this challenging time, Bob stepped up and increased his service availability, sometimes driving twice a day! One last positive note - when Bob is not driving a senior, you can find him on the road delivering needed food boxes to people who are not able to leave their homes.
We are extremely grateful for his life giving commitment in serving others. Thank you, Bob for being our Simon of Cyrene.  ​
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Nonimated by the Center for Refugee Support
APS Refugee Point of Contact Team (Brandon Baca, Edmund Mwamba,  Chantal Muhumure, Farida Ibrahim, Mohammad Ismail, Mbarak Hussein, Dina Raheem and Parwin Hussaini)

Under Brandon’s supervision, this team of refugee advocates support refugee youth of all ages in APS.  They provide interpretation, advocacy, connection, community education and support to refugee parents and families.  Their approach is collaborative and supportive – since they started at APS, they have worked hard to include and engage other refugee support programs in the City in order to provide the most holistic and complete support possible to refugee youth in APS.  
They have always generously shared their time, input, ideas, and energy with our Catholic Charities’ staff so that we could together provide programming that is meaningful and significant to our refugee families. ​

 Their advice and counsel has led to the success of our programs and our participants.  The benefit to refugee youth and their parents has been significant and long-lasting – these students now have a voice and connection to their teachers and schools in a way that was impossible before the APS refugee team began their work.  We look forward to ongoing and consistent engagement with this team, and truly feel that they have carried the burden so that our refugee youth could have more opportunities to thrive. 

Nonimated by the Administration
​Sandy Stewart

 In 2019, Sandy began volunteering with HR Director Rose Pace as an HR assistant, greatly relieving Rose’s work burden with paperwork and filing help as well as many other tasks. A few months into the HR placement, Sandy overheard Dolores Nunez, CAO, chatting in the hallway about the St. Nicholas Ball, Catholic Charities’ annual fundraising gala. Having previously worked for a nonprofit, Sandy had a lot of experience with auctions and larger fundraising events. She offered her help to Dolores, who asked her to be the Volunteer Chair for the event. Sandy helped with everything for the gala, from communicating with volunteers to helping decorate the venue! After lots of hard work on the St. Nicholas ball, we finally talked Sandy into accepting a (temporary) paid position at Catholic Charities, filling in an open Executive Assistant position in the Administrative office. During that time, she helped with Board of Directors meetings, editing communications, and endless other tasks and projects around the office.     

 Since the Executive Assistant was filled permanently in February 2020, Sandy has transitioned back to volunteering for the organization. Pre-COVID, she had returned to work in the HR department helping Rose. When the office closed, Sandy continued to meet with the Admin team at least once a week to help plan special events such as the St. Nicholas Ball. She is our go-to for any project, big or small, and has even agreed to Chair the St. Nicholas Virtual Gala this year! Through it all, she has been such an incredible professional asset and the best friend and team member we could ask for. We are deeply grateful that she chose to come work with us, and for her dedication to supporting Catholic Charities. Thank you Sandy!

Nominated by Children's Learning Center
Dianne Wagemann for CHI St. Joseph's Children

Dianne Wagemann and the CHI St. Joseph's Children's team have provided extensive resources for the professional development of our Children's Learning Center staff. Access to the Wemagination resource center has also offered staff and children opportunities to experiment with new creative projects and reclaimed play materials. The team at CHI St. Joseph Children's have been crucial to supporting the professional development of the CLC staff while working remotely, offering training and professional tools that could be utilized while not working in-person at the Center. They have helped our staff become better teachers, in turn allowing us to provide the highest possible level of care to our students. 

This year's Matthew 25 Appreciation Event is on Tuesday, September 22nd.
​Please call Elisabeth Loya at 505-724-4637 for more information

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