The impact of hope; annual Hope Appeal benefits the soul, mind and body

It’s a campaign about people who give and receive, about the generous support that thousands have made this past 12 months to sustain ministries in our diocese.

The 2022 Hope Appeal campaign results are being shared this weekend in parishes through the annual Impact Report. The campaign raised nearly $4.9 million, of which almost $724 thousand was returned to those parishes that exceeded their goal for their own ministerial use, benefit of the annual sharing program. After campaign expenses of $187,900, $3,957,905 will support a host of vital ministries throughout the diocese in the new fiscal year.

Beth Hoey is the executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. While working toward financial objectives that support diocesan and parish ministries is an important aspect of her mission, her focus is always on people first.

“More than 17,500 people,” she states, citing the number of donors to the campaign. “There’s a reason this is called the Impact Report. People give so generously, so humbly, not ever knowing the impact they make, and we want them to know it makes a difference.”

She adds that a gift puts the donor there, spiritually and emotionally, when their donation “makes a moment happen. When a young person is inspired, when sacraments are received, moments like that,” she says. “You, as a donor, are there and you’re not alone.”

In parishes this weekend, copies of the condensed 2022 Hope Appeal Impact Report should be available. The report details how the funds are invested to help in three general areas: Advancing Social Justice, Empowering Parish Communities and Cultivating Catholic Leadership. The full report will be mailed to every household that donated to the 2022 campaign.

The report is also available on the Hope Appeal website; go to syracusediocese.org/hopeappeal/ and click on “2022 HOPE Impact Report.”