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It is with heartfelt respect and admiration that I thank Steve Hilton for his 30 years of dedicated service and leadership at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and in philanthropy generally. This interview was conducted at his office just prior to his retirement as President and CEO, where he was generous with his time and thoughtful in his reflections on both the past and the future. FADICA is truly grateful for the contributions and inspiration the Hilton Foundation brings to our member community.-Alexia Kelley Alexia Kelley: Congratulations on this year and all you’ve accomplished in this time. We all have a lot to learn from the impact you’ve had and your years of service. Alexia: Looking back over your 30 years of leadership, of what are you are most proud, and what has the Foundation’s greatest impact been in that time? Steve Hilton: I would say the thing I am the most proud of is that I feel we have stayed true to Conrad Hilton’s vision of helping to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people throughout the world. In particular, we’ve been true to supporting the works of the Catholic Sisters, whom Conrad mentions in his last will. He also mentions helping children, which has been another area where we have focused a great deal. In terms of impact, numbers of people touched, there are two examples that come to mind. One of them is our water program, which is mostly in Africa. As a result of that initiative we have touched the lives of over two

More than 100 high-level regional and global leaders across domains discussed the impact of climate change on food and nutrition security and health at a forum co-sponsored by FADICA member Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB). CMMB Senior Vice President, Adrian V. Kerrigan, noted that climate change is undermining current efforts to reduce undernutrition, one of the world’s most serious but under-addressed socioeconomic and health problems. Policy solutions for national adaptation plans and international cooperation, including empowering women and children, were discussed as part of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. In concluding remarks, CMMB CEO Bruce Wilkinson said that “at the center of our considerations and interventions ultimately should not be economics, certainly not politics, but rather humanity and its wellbeing and protection; for the sake of current and future generations to come.”

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its Caritas partners have mobilized an immediate response to address the devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Nepal, which has killed over 4,000 to date. CRS is supporting the emergency effort with critical supplies for families left homeless by the quake. The 7.9 quake is reported to be the worst to hit the area in 80 years, according to CRS. Learn more about the current response.

The Grantmakers for Effective Organizations’ most recent study (2014) underscores the role of grantmakers in increasing and supporting the successful capacity of NGOs. Although it reveals dynamic feedback processes for strengthening program strategies, it also points to important challenges on cooperation issues between funders and grantees.  For more information, download their infographic.

Sunday February 8, 2015 marked the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.  Held on the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Catholic sister who escaped slavery in 1889, the day promoted awareness of trafficking and offered “compounded prayer” to survivors of trafficking. Find out more about this first ever day of prayer, and some of the Catholic Church’s work against trafficking in the U.S. and globally.   Read more at: Catholics called to do everything in their power to end trafficking For resources to raise awareness of human trafficking, please visit the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking website.

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace released a plan, Expanding the Catholic Church’s Commitment to the Ebola Emergency Response, which provides details of how the Church has responded to the Ebola crisis to date on the local level and what more needs to be done. (CNS, 01.07.2015) The plan notes that “the Church has been providing health care for decades in this region and is an essential part of the overall health care infrastructure. The health care system has been overwhelmed by this epidemic and already had been facing grave challenges as a result of years of armed conflict, social unrest, and abject poverty.” Read more at: “Expanding the Catholic Church’s Commitment to the Ebola Emergency Response“

On January 1st, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ message for the 48th World Day of Peace entitled, “Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters.” The message calls for an end to human trafficking and slavery— a strong priority and concern of Pope Francis. Read about Catholic sisters who were instrumental in the Pope’s choice of this theme.

On the ground in Liberia, Msgr. Robert Vitillo of Caritas International reflects on the “No Touch” policy in place to address the current Ebola epidemic in Ebola-affected countries in Africa. “From the moment that our plane touched down, we were confronted with buckets of bleach water…and with people armed with ‘gun thermometers’ to take our temperatures before we could even step into the terminal building,” Msgr. Vitillo said. Learn more about what the international community can do to help.

During this season of Pentecost, Pope Francis has invited us to reflect on the ways we allow the Holy Spirit to come and transform our own lives. While celebrating mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis called on Catholics to reflect about “the living memory of the Church” which “solicits a response from us…The more generous our response the more Jesus’ words become life in us, become attitudes, choices, deeds, witnesses.”    To read the Pope’s Pentecostal homily, click here.

Over 75 young people in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO, shared how women religious have played a meaningful role in their lives and communities in a recent essay contest held by the Incarnate Word Foundation, a FADICA member. ;In a proclamation presented at the awards ceremony, St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay designated March 31st as Catholic Sisters Day.  In recognition of Catholic Sisters Week, a new part of Women’s History month in March, students from grades 5-12 honored both past and present women religious, from their favorite teachers and principals, to religious orders of women, highlighting their historical significance and ongoing contributions.  Over 20 students read their winning essays during a moving ceremony attended by women religious who were featured in the essays at the School of Sisters of Notre Dame in Lemay.  To read St. Louis Review’s article on the event, click here.