Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (CCFWSB) recently received a $9,517 grant from the Mary Louise Lowe Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

The grant will be used to support CCFWSB’s more than 20 programs in the 14 counties of northeast Indiana. Focused in the four core areas of stability, pro-life, migration and counseling services, CCFWSB is committed to helping those in need become financially, materially and emotionally self-sufficient, according to a news release from CCFWSB.

The Mary Louise Lowe Charitable Fund was created by the late Mrs. Lowe to support charitable and religious organizations that were important to her.

“We are very grateful to the Mary Louise Lowe Charitable Fund of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for their continued support,” said Dan Florin, CEO of CCFWSB. “Because of their commitment to our mission, more people in northeast Indiana can receive the hand up they need.”  

Catholic Charities is a private 501(c)3 incorporated in the state of Indiana to act as the coordinating and administrative agency for the charitable activities assigned to it by the Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend; to plan for, initiate, direct, support and coordinate Catholic social-services programs for the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical welfare of persons in need; to seek and determine the causes of social problems in order to better promote preventative social-action programs; to participate in community planning and organization, and work cooperatively with other individuals and groups in the field of social work.

The service area for Catholic Charities includes the 14 counties of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, encompassing 2,236 square miles, with a population of 1,247,850. Currently, Catholic Charities has offices in Fort Wayne (Allen County), Auburn (DeKalb County) and South Bend (St. Joseph County).

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, CCFWSB served almost 20,000 individuals at a fiscally responsible rate of 88 cents of every dollar dedicated to client services.