Charities getting less funds

When Kim Neuhauser worked the phones recently to fetch donations for Catholic Charities of Orange County’s annual Mardi Gras Ball fundraiser, the response was cooler than those in years past.

“Half the donors I spoke with reduced their pledges by half from a year ago,” the chairwoman of the organization said. “I made two dozen calls to longtime donors and they were saying, ‘Kim, I can’t do anything this year,’ or their pledge was at the same level, or they were cutting back.”

Last year, Catholic Charities raised $350,000 at the black-tie fundraiser, which typically draws hundreds of donors.

Organizers hoped to raise more than that for the 22nd annual ball, which will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

The problem is two-fold for Catholic Charities, Neuhauser said. Demand is up, and giving is down.

One of the more heartbreaking examples came on Thanksgiving when the charity had to turn away hundreds for the annual dinner.

The Tuesday before the holiday every year Catholic Charities puts on a full turkey dinner for the needy. Organizers take reservations for it. This year, they prepared dinner for 500, but 940 turned out for it.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough food.

Catholic Charities gives out food to the poor Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Harbor Boulevard and Warner Avenue in Santa Ana.

“The number of people who have come through the doors [for food] have increased 40% over this time last year,” she said. “And donations are shrinking, which is why we’re really looking forward to the Mardi Gras ball because the Catholic community is so generous.”

There have been some positive signs, Neuhauser said, noting that a couple of fundraisers recently hit their marks. And the ball will feature a “reverse auction,” and already there’s a bid of $5,000 to start things off, Neuhauser said.

Usually, Catholic Charities has acquired something needed with the reverse auction profits such as a van to deliver food and a refrigerator and freezer so dairy products could be included in the food baskets.

But this year, organizers plan to just buy more food to keep up with the rapidly rising demand.

“I’d like to raise $40,000 to fill our pantry,” she said. That would be about two months’ worth of food.

Neuhauser understands why people are cutting back. She’s even cutting back on her usual donations to the arts.

“This year I want to give all the money to buy food,” she said.

If you would like to donate to the cause, call (714) 347-9628.

Donors “need to know they need to rally here. It’s serious,” Neuhauser said.

City Editor PAUL ANDERSON may be reached at (714) 966-4633 or at [email protected].