Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties

Alexandria, VA—Catholic Charities San Bernardino/Riverside CEO Ken F. Sawa was among a contingent of non-profit leaders who will meet with Obama Administration in Washington, D.C. October 13 -14, 2011 for events including a roundtable discussion and a White House policy briefing. Catholic Charities agencies across the country are committed to deepening the conversation about how to better serve the millions of Americans living in poverty. Mr. Sawa is in Washington representing the concerns and issues which affect those in poverty in the Inland Counties.

White House Director Jon Carson of the Office of Public Engagement said, “Catholic Charities is an incredible network of social service organizations that support our neighbors in need. We’re looking forward to having leaders from around the country here at the White House for a day of discussion and collaboration as we work towards our shared goals.”

On Friday, October 14th, 160 leaders from Catholic Charities agencies across the country will travel to the White House for a policy briefing to exchange ideas on human services, housing, immigration and the economy. This meeting comes on the heels of the release of Census Bureau data showing historic numbers of Americans living in poverty.

Ken F. Sawa, CEO of Catholic Charities said, “I am honored to bring the voice and urgency of the people of the Inland Counties to the White House. We all know family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who have been directly impacted by the financial crisis and are struggling to simply get by. It’s clear the status quo is simply not working. We look forward to partnering with the White House to explore strategies to improve the lives of millions of Americans while creating a more compassionate and just society.”

Catholic Charities is one of the Inland region’s largest and most accomplished human services organizations, providing critical services to people in need and positively impacting families and communities. For more than a quarter of a century, Catholic Charities has alleviated the suffering of tens of thousands of struggling families and increased their stability, safety, and health. The Action Statement of Catholic Charities is to provide compassionate social services that respond to the suffering of the vulnerable and those in crisis in our local communities.