Porto Charities, Inc., a group dedicated to assisting the
intellectually and developmentally disabled, recently
presented its 2015 report to Arlington Bishop Paul S.
Loverde.
The group’s 2015 “Special Kids-Special Needs” collection
totaled $117,796.36, an increase of $14,305 from the previous
year.
“We feel this is a strong indication of the support for
developmentally and intellectually challenged individuals
throughout the diocese,” said Leo Alonso, president of Porto
Charities, Inc.
Forty-six parishes participated in this year’s collection.
St. John Neumann Church in Reston led the way with a donation
of $8,924, followed by Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in
Vienna ($8,857), Church of the Nativity in Burke ($8,750) and
Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling ($6,439).
Porto’s board of directors voted to appropriate up to $17,000
from its general operating fund to increase its available
charity grant awards to $120,000 in support of special need
programs within the diocese.
The 2014 charity grants included $20,000 to Bishop O’Connell
High School in Arlington, $18,500 to Holy Spirit School in
Annandale and $15,000 to Paul VI Catholic High School in
Fairfax.
