Chef José Andrés – known worldwide for his humanitarian work – and rising country and soul singer Maggie Rose headlined the 2021 Catholic Charities Gala on March 13, held virtually this year due to the pandemic.
But generous community support also headlined the gala, where it was announced that Catholic Charities’ capital campaign has raised more than $99 million toward its $100 million goal. The gala itself also raised $2 million for Catholic Charities that this past year served nearly 193,000 people. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington is the Washington metropolitan area’s largest independent social services agency.
Msgr. John Enzler, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities, said the community’s response to the capital campaign has been marked by “unbelievable generosity,” noting that the campaign was suspended for awhile last year during the pandemic, and people came forward to help “during one of the most challenging times in our history.”
During Catholic Charities’ virtual gala on March 13, Msgr. John Enzler, the agency's president and CEO, invites people to support its capital campaign. (Catholic Charities photo)
The campaign’s chair, Robert Trone encouraged people to step forward to help that fundraising effort cross the finish line, saying, “It is fitting that the campaign is called ‘Our Community, Our Commitment, Our Legacy,” as this very generous response allows Catholic Charities to sustain its work addressing serious societal issues like homelessness, hunger, mental health and unemployment.”
The campaign is earmarking $55 million to invest in existing Catholic Charities programs serving the poor, along with a $30 million investment in its endowment to provide for its programs in the future, and $15 million toward its newly established Newcomer Network helping to transform the lives of immigrants in the community.
After organizing in-person gala celebrations for more than three decades, Catholic Charities turned to a virtual format for its 36th annual gala in keeping with public health recommendations during the pandemic.
Chef José Andrés, the founder of the World Central Kitchen known for his humanitarian work following natural disasters, served as the honorary chair for Catholic Charities’ gala, which featured a conversation, “Food as Hope,” between Andrés and Scott Lewis, who leads Catholic Charities’ food assistance initiatives in his role as the agency’s executive director of enterprises, education and employment.
Andrés, noting his organization’s work in providing food to people after hurricanes, wildfires and now during the pandemic, said, “We’ve been trying to do our small part, like Catholic Charities has been doing here in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, bringing hope one plate of food at a time, and in the process of doing this, I see there’s plenty of empathy everywhere, small moments of love shown through a plate of food.”
In a 2017 photo, chef José Andrés stirs a pot of sancocho to feed Puerto Ricans recovering from the devastation following Hurricane Maria. The photo is featured on the cover of his book, “We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time.” Chef Andrés served as the honorary chair for Catholic Charities 2021 Gala. (Photo courtesy of World Central Kitchen)
The chef and humanitarian noted, “One of my favorite parts of the Bible would be Matthew 25, (where Jesus says) ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.’ That’s what we do. It’s as simple as that.”
During the online conversation, Andrés addressed a variety of issues, encouraging people to get involved in the political process and work on justice issues to help the voiceless, like immigration reform. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, “Let’s get everybody vaccinated, especially the forgotten and the minority communities.”
Andrés emphasized how Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross “to say, ‘I’m doing this because we all need to be part of this kingdom I gave you.’”
The famous chef said he was moved by the passage in the Bible where Jesus cooked fish for his apostles.
“Food is something that brings us together,” Andrés said, noting how Jesus through the Eucharist uses food and drink to unite himself with His people, “sharing His body through bread, and His blood through wine.”
Noting how a stone dropped into a lake can make ripples that spread throughout the water, the chef said he has witnessed that himself in his organization’s efforts to feed those in need, and he encouraged people to support Catholic Charities.
“One meal at a time, one plate of food at a time is not a bad way to start,” Andrés said. “That’s how big things happen, with one small deed of good, and one small effort of love and empathy.”
Earlier, as he welcomed people watching the virtual gala, Msgr. Enzler noted that morning he had presided at the Funeral Mass for Mary Anne Clancy, a former chair of Catholic Charities board of directors who volunteered with her family members at the agency’s food distribution efforts.
“It was tough, because we know what a great gift she was all these years to Catholic Charities,” he said.
Before Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory offered an opening prayer for the virtual gala, he said, “This is a time for us to pause and recognize the critical work of Catholic Charities in addressing poverty, hunger and homelessness in our archdiocese. We are incredibly thankful for all of you who help make this work possible.”
Later, Msgr. Enzler noted, “Why am I here? Why are we all here? It’s to make a difference.” He said a philosophy that has guided his priesthood over the years has been to say “yes” whenever he can, and he said Catholic Charities’ staff, volunteers and supporters also reflect that approach.
Last year, nearly 7,000 people volunteered a total of 110,000 hours for Catholic Charities, and 8,517 people made donations to the agency. Volunteer health and legal professionals working with the agency provided $24.8 million in pro bono services to those in need.
“Inspiring hope is at the heart of what we do as Catholic Charities supporters,” said Kevin Virostek, the current chair of the agency’s board of directors.
Joined by Kevin Virostek, the chair of Catholic Charities’ board of directors, Msgr. John Enzler waves to people watching the agency's virtual gala on March 13. (Catholic Charities photo)
During the pandemic, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington has distributed an estimated 1.2 million meals, through its food pantries and at dozens of large-scale food distributions that have taken place in hard-hit neighborhoods and communities throughout the area. The agency also distributed 3 million pounds of food to local pantries from 2019-20.
Robert Trone – the chair for Catholic Charities’ capital campaign – said, “Catholic Charities’ programs are by far the most effective programs I’ve ever seen in giving back to the community.”
Introducing a performance by Nashville singer-song writer Maggie Rose and her accompanying band, Them Vibes, Msgr. Enzler noted, “I knew Maggie Rose when she was in kindergarten at Our Lady of Mercy (in Potomac), and I was pastor. She had the voice of an angel then, and it continues.”
Rose, a recording artist who has sung at the Grand Ole Opry, grew up in Potomac and is a graduate of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. She noted that Msgr. Enzler presided at her wedding, and she still considers the Washington area as home.
“The work you do at Catholic Charities is so important for everybody, providing food for the community and legal services,” she said.
The singer performed her new songs “20/20” and “Only Human” that she said were inspired by the challenges of the pandemic and a tornado that hit Nashville. Before performing her song “Pull You Through,” she noted its title reflected the “spirit of what you (at Catholic Charities) do, to lift other people up.”
Following her performance during the virtual gala, Rose was interviewed online by Alex Gangitano, a co-chair of Catholic Charities’ Enzler Society of young adults who is a graduate of Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda and is a reporter for The Hill.
“It’s my community,” Rose said of the Archdiocese of Washington. “I grew up seeing all the wonderful work Catholic Charities does.” Reflecting on the agency’s outreach, she said, “It’s what the whole spirit of being Catholic is all about, helping others out to lessen the suffering in the world and doing it with love in our heart.”
Rose’s next album, “Have a Seat,” is coming out in August, and she said the title refers to the need for inclusivity, “gathering around the table and talking to each other.”
Like Andrés, the singer encouraged people to reach out to those in need.
“If you can do something to help your community, especially doing it with your faith as a motivator behind that, there’s a fulfillment that comes through that, and you’re investing in your surroundings and making Washington a better place to live for everybody,” said Rose, who added, “Just get out there and do something. You can make a difference.”
Although the gala was held virtually, the evening included personal touches such as take-home food from Ridgewells Catering and wine from Total Wine & More.
Catholic Charities is also holding a Virtual Lenten Food Drive that people can support as the agency continues its outreach to feed the hungry in the Washington area during this challenging time.
For more information on Catholic Charities DC, visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org and follow the agency on social media @CCADW.
