from Joseph Norton, Charities & Missions Chairman
This blast on charities and missions will attempt to answer some of the common questions received about our Order’s charitable efforts. First, what is the difference between a charity and a mission? It is probably easiest to view a mission as something that involves purposeful action and a charity as benefiting from our time, talent, and treasure. It may be your mission to support a charity or cause, and all missions are not charitable. Why do we track our charitable and mission works? It is a critical piece of information that supports our standing as a 501 (c) 8 organization at the national and local level. The record of our Missions and Charities work is also a key component for our outreach, marketing, recruitment and retention efforts. We also track activities, because in the pursuit of funding and grants, volunteer contributions are essential in securing funds. Are there areas or activities to focus missions and charities work? Please remember category accuracy is not as important as the value and time tracked for an activity.
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Education: Irish related would better fit in Irish Culture. Scholarships, school supplies, equipment, and upkeep
Hunger: provision or funding of food or meals for those in need, “soup” Kitchens, Shelters, Holiday Turkey & Ham giveaways, and the support thereof
Ministries: provision or funding for Bibles, Rosaries, religious orders, toys for tots, Mass flowers, Pro-life, sympathy flowers, get well flowers, usher, lector, eucharistic minister, Sunday School Teacher, Faith Formation.
Charitable Causes: Non-sectarian, golf outings, special funds, memorials & benefits (support, accidents, death, health, disaster, Hunger is separate)
Veterans: VA hospitals, VFWs, American Legion, Dinners & Benefits
Vocations: Seminaries, Convents, Abbeys, Monasteries, Churches, Priest and religious appreciation meals, Project St. Patrick, priest & religious “honor”/ Safety” guards
Community: Of the order and where we live. Parties, breakfasts, Donations to Fire & Police departments, Picnics, Scouting, Camping
Irish Culture: Fests, Feis, Irish History, theatre, Trad Seisiúns, Speakers, GAA, Parades, Irish Associations, FFAI, Study Abroad
Can we count the volunteer hours of friends and family we get to volunteer with us? Our focus is the activities and donations of our members – we rely on their adherence to our Pledge as it relates to themselves and their own actions. While trusting and appreciative of non-member efforts, we really have no way of knowing if other organizations are claiming their time. How do I donate to Hibernian Charities and where do the donations go? Checks can be made out to HIBERNIAN CHARITIES, and you can direct your donations by writing the direction on the “MEMO LINE” Project St. Patrick(vocations) Hibernian Hunger, Irish History, Irish Study Abroad, and Disaster Relief are the five main directions of funding. If the memo is left blank, your donation will be held in the Hibernian Charities General account and be disseminated as the board sees fit.
