Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte Renamed Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte

CSS Charlotte rebrands as Catholic Charities to better reflect its mission and association with CCUSA

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May 17, 2013, 09:00 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Effective May 17, 2013, Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., a non-profit social service organization affiliated with Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), will become Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte. The decision to rebrand as Catholic Charities was prompted by a desire to adopt a name that more closely reflects the mission of charity and close association with CCUSA.

Catholic Charities USA is the third largest charity in the United States serving more than 10 million people each year through more than 160 local Catholic Charities agencies and affiliates. In CCUSA's more than 100-year history, these local agencies and affiliates have provided services to more than one billion people, regardless of faith or socioeconomic status.

"Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte has provided vital services helping those in need in the Charlotte area for 40 years," said Fr. Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA. "We are grateful for their service and thrilled by their decision to rename the organization to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte in order to better reflect their commitment and mission to serve the less fortunate as part of the Catholic Charities USA network."

This name change will also mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the diocesan agency formerly known as Catholic Social Services.

"Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's writings on the critical importance of Christian charity in the life of the Church guided us in this name change process," said Dr. Gerard Carter, Executive Director and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte. "Our goal is to 'Renew Our Roots in Charity' in order to closely reflect the biblical foundations of charity and the Church's history of helping those in need."

In December, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI called for stronger Catholic identity for charities, noting that "the service of charity is a constitutive element of the Church's mission and an indispensable expression of her very being."

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte operates three diocesan-wide offices based in Charlotte, and two satellite office locations in Greensboro and Murphy serving more than 15,000 unduplicated clients. The organization will continue to offer the same services and programs as under its previous name including adoption and pregnancy support, counseling, family outreach, refugee resettlement, immigration services, food pantries, economic development, disaster relief, respect life, social concerns education and advocacy.

About Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. To learn more, visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA