Common Good Foundation

No one can flourish in poverty. Many charities that reach out to families and communities who struggle with the effects of poverty and hardship, know this all too well. Now the effects of the coronavirus is only putting more pressure on already strained situations and compounding the need for extra resources, both materially and financially. The Common Good Foundation, on your behalf as Catholic Care in action, can provide assistance to groups working in the community, to make a difference.

Who we are

The Common Good Foundation is the rebranded version of what was originally the Hamilton Catholic Foundation formed by Bishop Gaines in 1983 and then renamed Catholic Care some 20 years later. Though the Foundation has changed its name several times, its focus has always remained the same - to help provide the resources to enable individuals and groups within the Hamilton Diocese to seek out and assist those that are in need. Fundamentally, we act as a bridge between those who can provide resources through donations, pledges and bequests and those who actually require support by way of funding or assistance.

The restructure of the Foundation undertaken last year, to reduce our costs in administration, now ensures every dollar raised through donations will be funding programmes in local communities, and not used for management purposes, excepting of course actual costs in fundraising.

Each year the Foundation distributes accumulated funds from our return on investments and the generous donations received from appeals and monthly donors to charities working with those in our community. The Foundation also receives an annual allocation from the Tindall Foundation (via the Catholic Bishops Conference) to distribute on their behalf to worthy causes. We are particularly keen to support programmes aimed at helping people help themselves. Over the past 9 years these charities have included those working in the areas of mental health, elder care, the homeless, foodbanks, youth and children, refugees and immigrants, rehabilitation of prisoners, pregnancy counselling, the abused and victimised, poor families and welfare budgeting, to name a few.

Our mission

The mission of Common Good Foundation is closely aligned to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We believe in preserving human dignity, in providing for the needs of the poor and vulnerable, in assisting local communities to resolve local issues and promoting the concept of the common good, as we are all created in the image of God.

Broadening our focus to include Parish-based initiatives

While we will continue to assist Catholic Family Support Services and other recognised charities, it is envisaged funds raised during our annual appeal will be allocated to parish or chaplaincy based initiatives that address the needs of the poor, marginalised

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching (from NZ Bishops’ Conference website)

Human Dignity - Every person is to be valued and be worthy of respect, having been created in the image of God. Human Equlity - we each have different talents, and those are to be used for the common good. Respect for Life - Human life at every stage is precious and worthy of protection. Right of Association - people achieve fulfilment by association with others Right of Participation - people have a right to participate in society and to become full members to it, through work, education or even political participation. Solidarity - as one human family working together for justice for all.

Protection of the Poor and Vul

nerable - the needs of the poor and vulnerable (as intsructed by our faith) must come first. Stewardship of Creation - we also have responsibility for the environment, our personal talents and the resources given to us by God. Subsidiarity - local issues are resolved by local people and communities who are closer to the problems. A case of helping people to help themselves - giving them a leg up! Common Good - (as defined by Pope Saint John XXIII) “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and easily” (Pacem in Terra) The good is common because only together as a community, and not simply as isolated individuals, is it possible to enjoy, achieve and spread this good. All people are obligated to work towards making the common good a greater and greater reality.

or disadvantaged within the greater community of each parish. In this way, the Common Good Foundation will have an impact in smaller communities in every corner of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. It is Bishop’s express wish for funding help to be well distributed and to reach those on the periphery of society. The Common Good Foundation is the conduit through which applications can be received by completing the application form on our website: www. commongood.org.nz/supportothers/grants The next funding round opens on 1st of September (closing on 30th September) so this will give you time to develop a project and prepare your application. All information can be found on the Common Good Foundation website.

How you can help

Together we can make an impact. Every dollar received helps make a difference and will be used for the purposes of helping those in need. For the Foundation to be truly effective, we need the financial assistance of caring donors who wish to promote the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in their local communities. This is Catholic care in action!

We are truly appreciative of the funds received over the years from our committed donors and invite you to join the campaign to help others.

Previously Common Good Foundation/Catholic Care held several appeals during the year. This is now being reduced to just

Ways to Donate: 1. Donate online

www.commongood.org.nz/ donate

2. Donate by Direct credit or automatic payment

Common Good Foundation Account no: 02-0342-0062180-00 Reference: your name

3. Donate by cheque

Common Good Foundation PO Box 4353, Hamilton East Hamilton 3247 All donations are tax deductible. Please send us your name and address in an email to: admin@commongood.org.nz so we can send a receipt. As a caring donor, you will help the Common Good Foundation provide grants to social service providers and parish-based initiatives who care for the vulnerable throughout the Hamilton Diocese.

As all the grant funding is subject to accountability, we will also often receive notes of thanks expressing how the funds have made a difference for the people they serve. One such group, the Sunshine Services Inc in Gisborne who run a disability van,

With Thanks

one. Our Annual Appeal will be held on Caring Sunday (late July) and we ask you to give generously. Look out for the brochures when they come out in the parishes.

also bringing elderly residents to Mass at St Mary’s, submitted this comment along with a letter of appreciation from one of its customers.

“By contirbuting to the general running expenses of our organisation, it enabled us to continue to provide a high level of professional servece to the elderly and diabled people of Gisborne. Many of these people would not be able to leave their homes without our specialist door to door service.”

The Board Members of the Common Good Foundation

Chris Grace (Chair) Betty-Ann Kamp (Deputy Chair) William Durning Julie Hardaker Brendan Cullen John Coulam Mark McCabe