Catholic Charities Centennial

100 Years

Catholic Charities is excited to celebrate this momentous achievement in September 2024 as we acknowledge our past and look forward into the future.  For a century, community support has enabled Catholic Charities the ability to meet the unique needs of those we serve. We are grateful to our donors and volunteers for their support and help over the last 100 years. As we look to the future, we will continue to provide unmatched care to those we have the privilege to serve.

Catholic Charities Centennial Fund

The Catholic Charities Centennial Fund will provide continued help and hope, allowing each of our programs to expand their services and grow into the future. Thank you to those who have helped us meet the ever-changing needs of our clients by joining the Catholic Charities Centennial Circle!

Centennial Circle Members

Influential Leader Society ($5,000+)

• Athene
• Barbara Q. Decker and Larry Willis
• Ann DiDonato and Mike Fitzgerald
• Gary and Jane Glenn
• Joe and Betsy Happe
• Joyce and Terry Lillis
• Clinton and Sarah Luth
• Joan Miller
• Chris and Linda Nelson
• Chris and Jan Welp

Centennial Champion ($1,200 or $100/month)

• Bankers Trust
• Jim and Bernice Bergman
• Dan and Mary Buscher
• Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa
• Most Reverend Joseph Charron
• Thomas and Linda Cross
• Mike and Kellee Curran
• Lois DeBaere
• Tim and Rochelle Grochala
• Steve and Sara Heddinger
• Eric Heininger and Tiffani Milless
• Iowa Catholic Radio
• Stephen and Carie Kramer
• Bob and Mary Lawler
• Steven and Gwen Liston
• MercyOne
• Tom and Katrina Moreland
• Polk County Board of Supervisors
• Tom and Joan Quinlin
• Janice Reed
• Gerald Scott
• T-Mobile
• Katie Walsh
• Mike and Debbie Walsh
• Robyn and John Wilkinson
• Dan and Gretchen Wilhelmi
• Mark and Cathy Witte

Helpful Hero ($600 or $50/month)

• Marcia Anker
• Charles and Susan Beard
• Randy and Donna Burkhart
• John and Barbara Cortesio
• William and Marilyn Corwin
• Jim and Celeste Egger
• Julie Hale
• Barbara Hendrickson
• Deacon Bob and Dale Howe
• Cletus and Eileen Janni
• Joseph and Mary Kay Kerns
• Tom Leto
• Bob and LaRue Maddox
• Dave and Anne Merschman
• Antonia Mosqueda
• Doug and Paula Pearson
• Paulette Reveiz
• Luis and Ronna Rivas
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Women (Audubon)
• Joe and Kristin Stopulos
• Rod and Eileen Swoboda
• Bob and Sally Wingert

Founding Friend ($250 or $19.24/month)

• Louis Albertson
• Jeffrey and Kimberly Andrews
• Michael and Joyce Babbitt
• Ball Team, LLC
• Vernon and Dottie Bauer
• Andrew and Dorolyn Baumert
• Julie Bolejack
• Steven and Julie Van Brocklin
• George Brucks
• Jeanne Carpenter
• Frank J. Carroll
• Frank and Marilyn Cebuhar
• Steve and Teresa Chamley
• Chris Coleman
• Roger Craig
• Michael and Linda Croat
• Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Fr. Wm. T. Cummings Assembly
• Bill and Sheila Curoe
• Thomas and Amy Doud
• Phil and Amy Doud
• Pat Duffy
• Pat and Pattie Fraizer
• Duane and Bev Frideres
• Reverend John Frost
• James and Vera Gallagher
• Dennis and Nancy Galeazzi
• Joe Gioffredi
• Joseph and Christy Graziano
• Fr. Ken Gross
• Scott and Valery Hanson
• James and Rita Hughes
• Jeremy and Kristina Hulshizer
• Mary Iacovazzi
• Peggy and Todd Janus
• Judith Jensen
• Joe and Jo Kobes
• Deacon Greg and Vicki Kolbinger
• David Kouri
• Ronald Krebs
• Anne LaDu
• Joseph and Ruth Lakers
• Mary Langdon
• Fred and Mary Linder
• Bill and Gail McCabe
• James and Ann McCarthy
• Joe and Diane McCarty
• Lynn and Julie Nelson
• Kevin and Mariette Nikolai
• Monsignor Stephen L. Orr
• Timothy and Grace Pettit
• Richard Retz
• Dan and Rhonda Schwarzkopf
• Donald and Sharon Sedlacek
• Mary Sheldahl
• James Streck
• Harvey Sprafka
• Catherine Swoboda
• Rick and Tina Thompson
• Mike and Julie Tigges
• Lora Van Lent
• Thomas and Mary Wardyn
• Jim and Laura Wenman
• Patricia Zawistowski

---

Our History

Catholic Charities was founded in September 1924 by Bishop Thomas W. Drumm. Since then, we have grown and expanded our social service ministry to serve those most in need in central and southwest Iowa. From basic needs of food and shelter to empowering programs which lead to self-sufficiency, our programs provide a wide range of support to assist those in our community with care and compassion.

Legacy Leaders

Over the past 100 years, our organization has been led by many notable leaders. We are grateful for their leadership, guidance and passion for our mission of empowering individuals and strengthening families.

We thank all of our past Executive Directors:

• The Rt. Rev. Msgr. M. B. Schiltz
• Rev. Peter J. O’Leary
• Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis P. Larkin
• Fr. Paul Hans
• Charles Roth
• Lawrence Breheny
• Nancy Seymour
• Nancy Galeazzi
• Shelly Starbuck (interim)
• Barbara Q. Decker

Our Impact

No one knows when adversity will leave them feeling hopeless. From basic needs of food and shelter, to empowering programs which lead to self-sufficiency, our programs provide a wide range of support to assist those in our community with care and compassion. We care for the dignity of the person, regardless background. Over the last 100 years, we have made a true impact in the lives of those we serve and in our community.

Throughout the last 100 years…*

*Since program inception.