April 1 gala to be the agency’s largest ever
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2023 — More than 1,600 people will gather on April 1 to recognize the work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington to address poverty and honor its retiring president and CEO, Msgr. John J. Enzler.
The 38th annual Catholic Charities Gala, with the theme “An Everlasting Legacy,” will toast Msgr. Enzler’s 50th anniversary as a priest in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and highlight the accomplishments of his 12-year tenure.
Attended by supporters, clergy, and community, government and business leaders, the popular gala is expected to exceed its $3 million fundraising goal and set a fundraising record for the 90+-year-old agency. Money raised through the gala will support the ongoing operations of the agency’s 52 programs. In the last fiscal year, more than 167,000 people in the District of Columbia and suburban Maryland were served by the agency’s food assistance, health care, housing, job training, developmental disabilities services and other programs.
What: Catholic Charities DC 38th Annual Gala
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Where: Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001. The event also will be livestreamed.
Who: Msgr. John J. Enzler, president and CEO, Catholic Charities DC; John Veihmeyer, chair, Board of Directors; Kevin Virostek, chair emeritus, Board of Directors and gala co-chair; Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington; and Bishop William Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, Mass., who will serve as master of ceremonies.
Background: Msgr. Enzler has worked tirelessly through his career to serve the poor with the motto “Say Yes.” As Catholic Charities’ head, he expanded existing services and created six new programs to meet the specific needs of residents.
“I am immensely proud of the work that we have done in support of those who are vulnerable,” Msgr. Enzler said. “And I am very grateful for the commitment our staff has shown and for the heartwarming support of our many donors and volunteers. While I no longer will hold the CEO title, I will remain dedicated to helping Catholic Charities grow and serve.”
Before leading Catholic Charities, the Bethesda native served as pastor at three parishes and held several roles with the archdiocese.
Media: An RSVP is required to attend the gala. To attend or for access to the gala livestream, contact Kate Kennedy of Catholic Charities DC’s communications department at Kate.Kennedy@cc-dc.org or 202-772-4312.
Photos and video will be posted live @CCADW on social media during the event. An archived recording of the gala program will be available on YouTube.
About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Charities DC is the largest independent social services agency in the Metropolitan D.C. area. As the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic Charities DC invests in communities by providing critical services to hundreds of thousands of people in need throughout the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland. The organization works tirelessly to give help that empowers and hope that lasts to those it serves regardless of background, belief or circumstance. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesdc.org and follow us on social media @CCADW.