Four community organizations will expand access to health care, strengthen youth leadership, increase affordable housing options and improve neighborhood services in Baltimore thanks to $96,000 in grants from the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s chapter of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the official domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops founded in 1970.
The grants, presented Feb. 25 at St. Bernardine in West Baltimore, include a $45,000 award to United Workers of Baltimore to assist individuals facing health challenges and accessing affordable care while working multiple jobs. It was the afternoon’s highest award.
Youth As a Resource and Anne Arundel Connecting Together each received $25,000 for youth leadership training in partnership with Baltimore City Schools and affordable housing for young adults and seniors, respectively.
The New South Clifton Park Community Association, a first-time grant recipient, received $1,000 to assist with connecting city services with area residents.
Monsignor Richard Bozzelli, Baltimore committee director since 2021 and pastor of St. Bernardine, opened the annual gathering of local community leaders along with Gene Giannotta, a grant specialist for the region at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, D.C.
Monsignor Bozzelli mentioned that the CCHD enjoys supporting new groups with energy, ideas and different ways of approaching societal challenges. Their motto, he said, “It’s not a handout. … It’s a hand up.”
Representatives from each organization spoke briefly about their missions, based in a grassroots, boots-on-the-ground approach.
“The CCHD in Baltimore has been a real highlight of my time at the USCCB,” Giannotta said. “I think (Baltimore CCHD is) a real treasure to the national program.”
Giannotta said the real core of the CCHD is to build relationships and community. One of the advantages of reviewing grant applications is seeing people “put their faith in action,” he said.
Catholic churches across the United States take up a special collection annually for the CCHD fund, whereby 75 percent goes toward national grants and 25 percent is designated as local. Grants are awarded based on need and not religious affiliation – though organizations applying for grants must be consistent with Catholic teaching. Monsignor Bozzelli said the Baltimore committee looks very closely at organizations asking for assistance.
Monsignor Bozzelli emphasized that the Baltimore CCHD chapter is held in high regard by the USCCB, especially when considering the Archdiocese of Baltimore is much smaller than archdioceses such as Los Angeles and Chicago.
A change in the application process that eliminated direct applications by community organizations to the USCCB resulted in this year’s awards being presented later than usual. Local chapters such as the Baltimore CCHD screen and recommend organizations to the USCCB for approval.
Monsignor Bozzelli acknowledged the shift in the application process was a bit confusing at first, and noted the organization’s leaders are just seeing the economic impact of COVID among other factors on contributions filtering through.
The November 2025 CCHD collection in the Archdiocese of Baltimore has raised nearly $108,000 as of January 2026, of which a portion will be provided to the Baltimore chapter.
Email Kevin Parks at kparks@CatholicReview.org
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