Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development was inaugurated by the U.S. Catholic Conference in 1969 to fight poverty and injustice in America. This is done through educational programs for the general public intended to make people more aware of poverty and by funding self-help programs for the poor. Since the first national collection was held in U.S. parishes in 1970, the campaign has distributed approximately $200 million to more than 3,000 self-help projects, including many in the Diocese of Venice. In the diocese, the CCHD office reaches out to parishes to present programs explaining the need to help people help themselves. An important part of its educational program is the teaching of Catholic social doctrine. The office also awards grants to self-help programs within the 10-county diocese.