Now, the votes have been counted and the 2008 charities chosen by you, the parishioners, are now highlighted in red. Thank you for your generosity and contributing nearly $300.00 during the voting process.

Doctors Without Borders: Founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors who believed that all people have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed, or politics. This private, non-profit group provides both emergency medical assistance and public witness to the plight of the populations they serve in more than 80 countries through their network of 2500volunteer medical and civil experts.

Heifer International: Begun by an American farmer during the Spanish Civil War to end worldwide hunger by shipping livestock (cattle, water buffalo, sheep, pigs, geese, etc.) to families who are also trained to care for their animals and who promise to pass on the first-born female offspring to needy neighbors. Families in 115 countries have better health, more income and the joy of helping others. Heifer was named one of 10 "Gold Star" charities by Forbes.

Human Rights Watch: Begun in 1978 to monitor the compliance of Soviet Bloc countries with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki accords, today HRW consists of more than 150 lawyers, journalist, academics and country experts who investigate human rights abuses all over the world - currently in more than 70 countries, tracking such issues as women’s and children’s rights, the flow of arms to abusive forces, modern-day slavery, refugees, drugs, and prisons.

Oxfam International: is a confederation of 13 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. With many of the causes of poverty global in nature, the 13 affiliate members of Oxfam International believe they can achieve greater impact through their collective efforts. Oxfam International seeks increased worldwide public understanding that economic and social justice are crucial to sustainable development. We strive to be a global campaigning force promoting the awareness and motivation that comes with global citizenship while seeking to shift public opinion in order to make equity the same priority as economic growth.

Angel Flight: Exists to arrange free long-distance flights for those ambulatory children and adults in need of specialized medical evaluations, diagnosis, or treatment. On-call pilots are also ready to fly potential organ donor recipients at any time a last minute organ becomes available. Angel Flight also transports precious cargo such as organs, blood, tissue and medical supplies, and provides free air support for disaster relief in times of crisis.

American Diabetes Association: Founded in 1940, the ADA conducts programs of diabetes research, information, and advocacy in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all affected individuals. It funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families health care professionals, and the public, and carries on an active advocacy program.

National Catholic AIDS Network: The National Catholic AIDS Network assists the Church in recognizing the pain and the unique challenges inherent in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and in living out the Gospel mandate by offering compassionate support, education, referral and technical assistance. The National Catholic AIDS Network helps make spirituality and faith a powerful resource for all of us who are living with HIV/AIDS, whether infected or affected. The Network is the only national organization that is devoted exclusively to helping the Catholic Church respond with understanding and compassion to the pain and challenge presented by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

United Negro College Fund: The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the nation’s largest, oldest, most successful and most comprehensive minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF provides operating funds and technology enhancement services for 38 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), scholarships and internships for students at almost 1,000 institutions and faculty and administrative professional training. Over 60 years, the United Negro College Fund has raised more than $2 billion to help a total of more than 300,000 students attend college and has distributed more funds to help minorities attend school than any entity outside of the government.

Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia: The mission of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. is dedicated to providing education, screening and counseling programs for Sickle Cell and other abnormal hemoglobin. Established in 1971 by Dr. Delutha H. King, Jr., and the late Dr. Nelson McGhee, Jr., the Foundation has a deep-rooted commitment to making strides in monitoring the occurrence of Sickle Cell, improving the quality of life for those with the disease and cooperating with individuals and institutions conducting research. The center provides a number of activities and services for school age patients with sickle cell disease. The activities and services include an after school homework assistance and tutorial program with transportation component; an eight-part Life Skills Series; summer specialty camps (computers, language arts, math, etc.); educational and cultural field trips; SAT/ACT preparation classes; a state of the art computer center with full internet access.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/Foundation: Formed in 1998 by the merger of Egleston and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospitals, and joining in 2004 Hugh Spaulding Children’s Hospital, CHCA is now one of the nation’s leading pediatric healthcare systems, with over 500 licensed beds in three hospitals and 16 satellite locations around metro Atlanta.

Georgia Cancer Foundation: Established in 1975 the GCF sponsors various activities that touch the lives of cancer patients, their families, medical professionals, and the community, including Cancer Screening Day for colon, breast, prostate and skin cancers, Camp Magik (a healing camp for grieving children who have lost a loved one), Remembrance days and Magic of Life Celebrations, and Oncology Clinical Guidelines Updates for health-care professionals.

Catholic Relief Services: Founded in 1943 by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country, CRS follows the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a rich tradition of Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching. It reaches out to the people in more than 90 countries and territories to alleviate poverty and suffering, develop peoples, and foster charity and justice in the world.

Food for the Poor: Food For The Poor is the second largest international relief organization in the United States, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy; the organization serves the poorest of the poor in 16 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Founded in 1982, Food For The Poor is an interdenominational ministry that not only provides food for the starving, but also builds small houses for the destitute, digs water wells for parched villagers, provides medicine and medical equipment for the sick and elderly, supports orphanages and education for children, and much more.

Habitat For Humanity: Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.

Cross International: Cross International was born out of the vision of two ministries with a heart for the poor -- Christian Children's Charity and the Kielar Family Foundation. Founded in the 1990's, these organizations discovered that they shared a call to expand their vision to help the suffering poor worldwide. Now, Cross International will carry out this mission, with the added goal of rallying like-minded Christians to the cause. To the glory of God, we seek to bring Christ's Gospel of hope to the poorest of the poor.