Catholic Charities held its Annual Virtual Investor Call March 5, 2026, for investors and partners of the agency, while outlining rising needs across Cook and Lake counties and the resources required to sustain its response. The address was delivered by CEO Sally Blount, who leads the organization as it responds to growing pressure on the region’s safety net. Thousands of individuals in Cook and Lake counties are served each day by Catholic Charities.

• More than 780,000 individuals in Cook and Lake counties are living below the poverty level, with annual incomes of$33,000 for a family of four.

• Immediate needs across food, family support, community care, and faith-based outreach continue to grow.

“Operating at $180 million annually, only a handful of organizations have our scale, expertise, and stability to meet increasing demand,” Sally said. “We are the cornerstone human service provider for our region’s safety net and among the largest in the U.S.”

Food, Housing Stability, and Emergency Financial Assistance:
That is why the agency is so critical to serving the economically vulnerable in Lake and Cook counties, where more than 780,000 individuals are living below the poverty level with annual incomes of $33,000 for a family of four. These individuals turn to Catholic Charities for food, housing stability, and emergency financial assistance. But Catholic Charities needs an additional $18.3 million to address these immediate needs of our neighbors.

Empowering Mothers and Families:
Mothers and families also rely on Catholic Charities for pregnancy and parenting support, domestic violence and behavioral health services, and counseling after suicide loss. Catholic Charities needs an additional $7.9 million to cover the cost of these services.

Building Community for Seniors, Veterans, and Immigrants:
Low-income seniors and veterans rely on Catholic Charities for housing in its senior communities of care and St. Leo Residence for Veterans while our Parish Family Sponsorship programs support immigrants with the help of $4.8 million.

Faith and Mission Engagement:
Outreach for faith and mission engagement continues to grow as Catholic Charities builds stronger parish connections, Mass and Mission events, and extends the reach of community meals, volunteer programs, and the Harvest of Hope Catholic Food Pantry Network. With an additional $1.4 million in partner support, this outreach will meet the needs of even more of our neighbors.

Catholic Charities is uniquely called and equipped to provide these services to the people it serves but it needs your help to meet the growing needs.

“Only a handful of organizations have our scale, expertise, and stability to meet increasing demand.”
— Sally Blount , CEO Catholic Charities