As the world continues to cope with COVID-19 and safety restrictions, the fate of annual live events has been thrown into flux. Do organizers get creative and try something new, or do they just wait until next year (with the hope a vaccine will be available)?
For those in charge of planning the Diocese of Camden’s annual Justice for ALL program, the latter was not an option.
Held every year as Catholic Charities’ largest fundraiser, the evening garners funds to help the agency in its work for the poor, vulnerable and disenfranchised, while honoring those who have demonstrated a profound commitment to social justice and charity.
The need for the fundraiser this year was even more pronounced, as the coronavirus’ effects includes lost jobs and many more people needing aid. From March until July, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Camden spent nearly $700,000 in direct client services that include aid to veterans, families, and victims of domestic violence.
“We have to be sure the organization continues to have funds” to help the vulnerable, said Mariann Gilbride, director of the diocesan Office of Development, which has helped to organize the event through such actions as calls to sponsors, invites to donors and, in years past, music and menu selection for the dinner.
As well, they wanted to be able to honor Bishop Dennis Sullivan, as “he has overseen the spiritual, pastoral and social needs of the Diocese of Camden since his arrival in 2013,” said Gilbride. “It’s a great opportunity to say thank you to him for all that he’s done while helping the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable.”
In early summer, organizers switched gears from the live evening of cocktails, dinner and awards to a virtual hour-long livestream to air this Thursday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m., on Catholic Charities channels.
“It seemed as if everyone was going from live to virtual events,” said Stacy Napolitano, coordinator of special events for the Office of Development.
Having to make up for the absence of on-stage client testimonials and award acceptances — held on the stage of an Atlantic City casino — planners got to work.
One of the first questions asked after deciding to go virtual was, “How do we properly honor our awardees, give people a feel for the work of Catholic Charities?” said Mary McCusker, marketing and communications coordinator for Catholic Charities.
For the past month, McCusker and a team that includes John Kalitz, digital media manager for the diocese; and Dave Hernandez, staff photographer for the Diocese of Camden, has criss-crossed South Jersey, speaking with the Disciples of Mercy honorees, Catholic Charities clients and employees to gather content for the livestream. (Another video company, Syndicate, is responsible for the components included in honoring Bishop Sullivan).
“I’ve coordinated times, locations and set-ups for the videos,” shot in Camden, Absecon, Sea Isle City and Mantua, McCusker said, adding that she’s also written scripts, asked questions and prepared on-camera personalities for their moment in the spotlight.
She said there have been a few times where she’s been shaken up in the middle of the night by Justice for All livestream thoughts.
Mary McCusker, marketing and communications coordinator, with John Kalitz, tapes Maria Rodriguez, senior case manager at Catholic Charities.
Hernandez and Kalitz assist with the videography.
Through the lighting, camera, microphones and framing of the subject, “It’s about getting the best possible shot to tell the story” of Catholic Charities and its honorees, said Kalitz, adding that everything “is a team effort.”
One of the main thrills for McCusker is being the one to present each Disciple of Mercy with their award. “I meet these people, and I feel invigorated. I love how tireless, humble they are. They are the unsung heroes of the diocese, serving the poor and marginalized.”
“All of my work — it’s always worth it,” she said.
When the camera lights turn off and the tripods and backdrop are tucked away, the footage will go to Kalitz to cut, edit and prepare the final product for the diocese’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts. This includes the creation of original graphics and audio to supplement the recorded content.
To make up for the lack of live applause, there will be clapping heard as the Disciples of Mercy accept their awards. The audio is courtesy of Catholic Charities employees, Kalitz said.
Another new feature this year for the Justice for All event is a live auction, active now, where individuals can bid on such items as a handcrafted wooden bench from Jose Sanchez, Catholic Charities program director; an original, signed work from local artist Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS; and a dinner cooked by Father Anthony Manuppella, pastor of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla in Northfield.
Catholic Charities’ executive director Kevin Hickey, and those who are making next week’s livestream possible through their work, “deserve to be commended for how incredibly focused they’ve been, to turn an in-person event into an engaging virtual event, which is no small task. Truly, it’s Herculean,” said Michael Walsh, director of Communications for the Diocese of Camden, who has helped to oversee the effort.
The Catholic Charities’ Justice for All Awards celebration, honoring Bishop Sullivan and the Disciples of Mercy, will be livestreamed Thursday, Oct. 8, on Catholic Charities streaming channels: facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesofSouthJersey; youtube.com/CatholicCharitiesofSouthJersey;
twitter.com/CCharitiesSJ
For more information, https://catholiccharitiessouthjersey.org/jfa2020.
To access the live auction and bid now, go to one.bidpal.net/jfa2020.
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