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BUFFALO, N.Y., March 3, 2026 – HOPE Day, the annual 24-hour match challenge day of giving to benefit Appeal 2026 in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the Fund for the Faith, is Wednesday, March 18. The first $100,000 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar from generous sponsors including OneBridge Benefits, EnergyMark, LLC, Lawley Insurance, Abbey Mecca Advertising, and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. All funds raised on HOPE Day go toward the annual Appeal’s $8 million goal.
“As Western New York’s most comprehensive human services provider, Catholic Charities touches the lives of nearly one in every ten people in our region,” said Chuck Hayes, chief communications and development officer, Catholic Charities of Buffalo. “The number of people we can help is directly tied to the resources we receive. Your generosity and support help keep hope alive and determines how many of our neighbors in need we can help.”
On HOPE Day, Appeal volunteers and Catholic Charities staff members will gather to make phone calls to past donors, giving them an opportunity to double their gift this year through the generosity of HOPE Day sponsors. “HOPE Day is the perfect time for new donors to join our efforts to positively impact thousands who struggle with a wide range of challenges,” Hayes added. The agency will mark HOPE Day progress by placing colorful two-dimensional tulip cutouts on the lawn at Catholic Charities’ Montante Administrative Center on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Progress will also be posted on the agency’s website at ccwny.org.
“HOPE Day donations directly help Western New Yorkers by funding critical services like behavioral health, food pantries, family stability programs, housing assistance, and support for older adults – all resources that stay in and provide hope across all eight counties of Western New York,” said Dan Mecca, Appeal 2026 chair. “Since our first HOPE Day in 2018, more than $3.4 million has been raised on HOPE Days over the years, including a record $516,124 last year, to help people in need find their next chapter.”
Appeal 2026 continues through June 30 and has currently raised nearly $3 million or 37% of its goal to date. Donations may be made online at ccwny.org/donate or by calling 716-218-1400. # # #
