Porto Charities, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Catholic education and meaningful employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, donated $200,000 to the diocese.
The donation will be split among 16 diocesan elementary and high schools that serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and it will provide a grant to the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools.
“The need is there,” said Lupita Williamson of Porto Charities “Schools are opening their doors and we want to help them be successful in educating children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Approximately three-fourths of the total — $160,000 — was raised through the Special Kids/Special Needs second collection taken up at 87 percent of parishes last year. Porto Charities supplemented this amount with $40,000 raised at various other events throughout the year, including the inaugural Embrace Advocacy Awards Gala and an annual golf tournament.
“We have had a record-breaking year,” said board President and CEO Leo Alonso. “We hope to build on that with our 2024 Gala and provide even more aid to schools.”
