New North Shore Advisory Council Surpasses Fundraising Goal for Hope for the Holidays

Mike Ward, Chair of Catholic Charities Boston’s North Shore Advisory Council, said Catholic Charities Boston’s mission has always held a special place in his heart.  

Born and raised in Salem, Mike said he has seen firsthand the impact Catholic Charities Boston has on families across the North Shore throughout his life. When Mike’s daughter began working as a social worker at Washington Elementary School in Lynn, Mike said he was impressed to hear how many families had found a support system and safe haven at Catholic Charities.   

“A huge number of the children and families she works with every day were being helped by the agency,” Mike said. “Even though I had been donating over the years, hearing those stories really opened my eyes to just how important the organization is to this community.”  

That’s when Mike reached out to Catholic Charities Boston’s Board of Trustees to get more involved and learned that the agency was forming a new advisory council focused on supporting families across the North Shore. As a longtime North Shore resident, Mike was quickly nominated to join and played a key role in building the council from the ground up, alongside Senior Vice President of Advancement Paula Finnerty. 

Today, the North Shore Advisory Council has a dozen members and is continuing to grow. From the start, the council set a goal of raising $5,000 for Catholic Charities’ Hope for the Holidays campaign. Through fundraising, word of mouth, and close collaboration with the Advancement team, they’ve already far surpassed that goal, raising over $25,000 to support families in need this holiday season, with a new goal of $30,000. 

Mike said North Advisory Council member Debbie Caniff has been instrumental in spearheading this fundraising initiative. A longtime resident of Lynnfield and now Swampscott, who served on a previous Catholic Charities council with her husband, Debbie said she too feels a deep connection to the agency and was thrilled by the opportunity to get more involved.   

“Addressing food insecurity is a key issue for me, as well as child care and supporting young people,” Debbie said. “I think helping teenagers and young parents and supporting them on a path toward success and brighter futures is very important.”  

Though still in its early stages, Mike and Debbie said they are proud of the council they’ve built and the unique strengths and backgrounds each member brings to the table.   

“The council was built very strategically,” said Mike. “We have a mix of people who are very philanthropic and eager to get involved, and others who work directly in Lynn and know firsthand the communities we’ll be serving.”  

Looking ahead to the new year, Mike and Paula said they are both excited to expand the council’s work, host more fundraising events, and continue collaborating with Catholic Charities’ Advancement team.  

“This has been a challenging year for people,” said Mike. “There’s a tremendous need, and many people are hurting, but Catholic Charities is making a real difference in people’s lives.”  

To support Catholic Charities Boston’s North Advisory Council this holiday season, click here.