PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2006

Seven local charities chosen for inclusion in 2006 Massachusetts Catalogue for Philanthropy

(Pioneer Valley, MA) Seven local non-profit organizations have been chosen as Massachusetts 2006 Catalogue for Philanthropy charities. This year’s edition of the Catalogue profiles 45 of Massachusetts' outstanding environmental, cultural, and human service agencies as "examples of excellence" in Massachusetts philanthropy. The local charities were chosen from a total applicant pool of over 250 organizations. Selected for inclusion were:

Arcadia Players, Northampton. Anna Bartoli, 256-4888
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), South Deerfield. Annie Cheatham, 665-7100
Cooperative Fund of New England, Amherst. Mary Hoyer, 256-0726
Family Diversity Project, Amherst. Peggy Gillespie, 256-0502
The Massachusetts Review, Amherst. David Lenson, 545-2689
NELCWIT, Greenfield. Sarah Dudzic, 772-0821
Stop It Now!, Northampton. Maxine Stein, 587-3500.

“The Catalogue is designed as a showcase for Massachusetts philanthropy, and a one-stop shop for a family's charitable giving,” says George McCully, President of the Catalogue. “A single check, electronic transaction over the web or stock transfer can be allocated to as many charities as the donor pleases, and because the Catalogue is sponsored and paid-for by its philanthropic sponsors, 100% of every donation goes to the designated charities.”

The local charities were chosen in a rigorous competition by professional grantmakers, private donors, fundraisers and executive directors of charities. "Charities are selected for general excellence, cost-effectiveness, and teaching value about philanthropy," McCully said.

The Catalogue is a powerful tool that gives local charities visibility among 60,000 Massachusetts residents considering charitable giving. We are honored that they selected seven worthy local charities for inclusion this year.

The Catalogue, the first of its kind anywhere, was created in 1997 by a group of leading Massachusetts foundations to help close the gap between Massachusetts’ ranks in income and in charitable giving ­ then the largest such disparity in the nation. Since 1997, charitable giving here has doubled, from $2 billion to $4 billion, and though the Catalogue makes no claim for this growth, the Catalogue Project is widely recognized as a national leader in donor education. There are now similar Catalogues in Washington, DC, and St. Louis, MO, and others are being planned in several other philanthropic markets.

To browse the online catalog and view the local charities’ entries, visit http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/ma

CISA is a community organization comprised of farmers, consumers and professionals working together to sustain agriculture and the unique rural character of our communities. CISA is the creator of the ‘Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown™’ public awareness campaign to promote the purchase of local agricultural products. Learn more about CISA at www.buylocalfood.com or call 413-665-7100.

###