Alexandria, VA—Helen and Joe Glunz of Grayslake, IL, who volunteer for Catholic Charities of Chicago, have been named finalists for Catholic Charities USA’s 2008 National Volunteer of the Year Award. Thanks to the Glunz’s dedication, generosity, and support of Catholic Charities’ Family Self-Sufficiency Programs in Cook and Lake counties, more than 1,700 parents and their children found homes and help to lead lives of independence and dignity over the past year.

“Joe and Helen have devoted themselves heart and soul – with great compassion – to providing substantial funding and other support to enhance our programs, so poor and homeless families can achieve employment and housing,” said Rev. Michael M. Boland, administrator, president, and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The devoted parents of 10 children, the Glunzes have always understood the importance of strong families, so their hearts went out to families they saw trying to struggle out of poverty and homelessness into lives of self-sufficiency and dignity. Wanting to make a difference, in 2001, the Glunzes, whose family has run a wine making and distribution business in the Chicago-area for 100 years, decided to organize major financial support for Catholic Charities’ work with homeless families in Cook and Lake counties by founding, chairing, and planning an annual wine-tasting fundraiser—A d’Vine Affair.

Each year, Joe spends at least three to four days a week for months organizing the event, which is held at Union League Club. He personally invites the 50 vintners whose wines are sampled and purchased, and arranges the guest lectures given by wine authorities. He and Helen co-chair their excellent volunteer event committee, overseeing the sponsorships, raffle and auctions with the help of Catholic Charities’ event coordinators. In its first year, the event raised $18,000. The Seventh Annual Event, held this past January and attended by 379 guests, brought the “d’Vine” total raised since the event’s founding for Catholic Charities’ Family Self-Sufficiency programs to $340,000.

Last year, the following families benefitted from A d’Vine Affair.
• Over 220 formerly homeless single-parent households, consisting of more than 600 family members, achieved family stability, permanent housing, successful employment, financial independence, and human dignity through Catholic Charities’ comprehensive Lake County Family Self-Sufficiency five-year program.

• Nearly 200 families in the agency’s 121 scattered-site New Hope Apartments; a rigorous two-year program in Chicago and suburban Cook County that sets families on the road to employment and permanent housing.

• Seventy-six mothers in recovery, working to regain their sobriety and their children in Catholic Charities’ three-phase Forever Free program;

• Over 150 homeless families and individuals in desperate needed of emergency short-term shelter, food, clothing, and social services in the Chicago Interim Housing program; and

• Many others who needed a longer stay at our Samaritan House for women and children fleeing domestic violence.


About Catholic Charities USA’s National Volunteer of the Year Award

Catholic Charities USA’s National Volunteer of the Year Award annually recognizes the invaluable contributions volunteers make to the Catholic Charities network. The Glunzes were chosen from dozens of nominations submitted by local Catholic Charities agencies for exemplifying the spirit and mission of Catholic Charities in reducing poverty, supporting families, and empowering communities.

“Without the dedication and commitment of volunteers like Joe and Helen who donate so much of their valuable time and energy, Catholic Charities agencies across the United States would never be able to provide services for millions of people a year,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. “When I look at the lives that this remarkable team has touched and the difference that they have made in their community, I am grateful that they are part of the Catholic Charities family. The world is a better place because of the Glunzes.”

Volunteers nationwide provide the backbone of the Catholic Charities movement. Collectively, local Catholic Charities agencies rely on more than 243,000 volunteers each year to serve more than 7.8 million people of all faiths and diverse needs. The 2008 award recipient will be announced during National Volunteer Week, April 27–May 3, and will be honored at Catholic Charities USA’s Annual Gathering on Sept. 27 in New Orleans. To learn about the other finalists, visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Now in its 90th year, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is the largest private, not-for-profit social service agency in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities