June 2025

They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:31

Art by Mia, age 5

June is Refugee Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the courage of those forced to flee their homelands and to recommit ourselves to the Gospel call to welcome the stranger. Helping our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable, is central to Catholic Social Teaching and one of Catholic Charities’ Four Pillars of Service.

Our commitment to serving refugee and immigrant families continues through vital support services and community partnerships.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll read about:

• A much-needed freezer expansion at our Bullhead City shelter thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
• A generous $25,000 matching gift to support refugee families currently in our care
• The Grant McKee and Robert Caldwell Scholarships, awarded to 15 inspiring student leaders
• A special community day of service supporting refugee families through collaboration with Washington Elementary School
• And Rawiya’s powerful journey, from surviving loss in Somalia to finding a new beginning through our Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program.

Together, these stories show how your support makes a difference every day, offering food, shelter, opportunity, and hope to those who need it most.

Big League Support for Bullhead City

We’re honored to be selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation as one of six recipients of the 2025 Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Awards!

The grant will fund a much-needed freezer expansion at our Bullhead City shelter, helping us safely store more food and serve thousands of meals each year.

Thank you, D-backs Give Back, for helping us meet the growing needs of our community with compassion and care.

$25,000 Matching Gift for Refugee Support

Catholic Charities is currently helping refugees who arrived in Arizona in recent months. Our team helps them secure housing and basic supplies, attend English language courses, prepare resumes and secure employment, and enroll children in school. Most refugees are self-sufficient in six months.

There is an urgent need to help our newest and most vulnerable families since much of our government funding has been pulled. Because of this, a generous foundation has offered a $25k matching gift to help us support refugees right now!  This is a great way to “love your neighbor,” and with this match, it’s double the love!

Your $100 = $200

Your $250 = $500

Your $500 = $1,000

Help us bridge our funding gap! Let's work together helping these families live safe and productive lives - THANK YOU!

Matching gift ends June 30, 2025

https://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/double-your-impact-for-refugees

15 Students Awarded Grant McKee
and Robert Caldwell Scholarships

Catholic Charities’ North Star Youth Partnership has awarded 15 Prescott-area students with Grant McKee and Robert Caldwell Service & Leadership Scholarships. Six students from Tri-City College Prep, six students from Prescott High School, and three from Bagdad High School have been awarded a total of $37,900 in scholarships for higher education.  

The program is named in recognition of Grant McKee and his cousin, Robert Caldwell, two of the Prescott Hotshot firefighters who perished in the 2013 Yarnell Fire. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the program. Since 2014, more than $199,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 101 recipients, including those from this year.

A Day of Dignity for Refugee Families

Our Refugee Resettlement team joined forces with Washington Elementary School and Welcome to America Project for a heartwarming event that brought practical help and hope to 87 local refugee families.

Families received clothing and food boxes generously provided by St. Mary’s Food Bank. Volunteers worked tirelessly to unload, sort, and distribute donations, and their kindness made a lasting impact.

We’re grateful to Paola, Gladis, Kitty and Sade for representing Catholic Charities’ refugee programs so beautifully, and to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success. 

Rawiya’s Journey: From Loss to Hope

At just 10 years old, Rawiya fled Somalia with her younger sister after the tragic loss of their father. Their journey led them to the U.S., where they found safety and support through our Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program.

Thanks to a loving foster home and the strength of her spirit, Rawiya is thriving. In 2023, she was joyfully reunited with her mother. Read Now

Donate | Volunteer‍ | Join Our Team

If you don't want to receive our news anymore, click here to unsubscribe