Catholic Charities Appeal 2008 Leadership Team named

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has named Michael Whipple the corporate division chair and Gregory Maher the parish and large gifts chair for Appeal 2008.

The appointments were announced on Jan. 8 at the Appeal kickoff news conference by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec and Rev. Joseph J. Sicari, diocesan director.

March 9 is the first report Sunday and March 16 the final report Sunday during the Appeal, which has a set goal of $11.2 million to help fund Catholic Charities' family services, counseling programs, efforts against domestic violence, assistance for those who are poor, educational initiatives and other human services throughout the eight Western New York counties.

Whipple, of Williamsville, is a business banking relationship manager and vice president at M&T Bank.

This is his first year as corporate division chair. He has served on the Appeal Team as chair of the large gifts division the past three years.

He is a member of Christ the King Parish and past president of the Buffalo Chapter of the Risk Management Association.

Maher, of Amherst, is president of Great Lakes MDF, LLC, a fiberboard manufacturing plant in Lackawanna. This is his second year serving on the Appeal Leadership Team.

He currently serves as vice chair of St. Gregory the Great Parish Finance Council and is a member of the St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute LaSallian Dinner and Auction Committee.

Catholic Charities' programs and services are located in 53 offices across WNY and reach 160,000 people annually.

The goal of $11.8 million is a 1.8 percent increase from the 2007 goal.

For information, call 856-4495 or visit www. 1- for- all. org.