As of press time July 28, the Diocese of Rochester’s 2004-05 Thanks Giving Appeal had raised slightly more than $4.4 million from 39,751 gifts and pledges, according to Dave Kelly, TGA coordinator and associate director of the diocesan office of stewardship and development.
Although the TGA did not meet its goal of $5.3 million, Kelly said he considers the appeal to be a success, given that the 2004-05 TGA came on the heels of the Partners in Faith capital campaign. That effort replaced the 2003-04 TGA and raised nearly $56 million in gifts and pledges for various diocesan programs. Kelly added that campaign consultants had warned the diocese to expect a 10 percent decrease between 2004-05 TGA pledges and the 2002-03 level as a result of Partners in Faith.
“We raised nearly 97 percent of the (2002-03) total,” he said, noting that the previous appeal’s goal was $4.5 million. “Our thanks to all of you who worked so hard on behalf of this year’s TGA.”
Twenty-one parishes either met or exceeded their TGA goals, Kelly added.
The annual appeal, which was inaugurated in 1981, serves as the primary fundraising source for the diocese, providing nearly 50 percent of the annual diocesan budget. Appeal funds support such efforts as diocesan Catholic Charities, youth and campus ministries, pastoral-planning efforts and the programs of Parish Support Ministries.
