USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - MEDIA ADVISORY - New Orleans Venue for CCHD to Release New Public Opinion Poll on Poverty in America and Announce Special Post-Katrina Grants to Gulf Coast

MEDIA ADVISORY - New Orleans Venue for CCHD to Release New Public Opinion Poll on Poverty in America and Announce Special Post-Katrina Grants to Gulf Coast

TO: Communications Directors for Catholic Dioceses

CONTACT: Barbara Stephenson, CCHD Communications Director, (202) 541-3364, cell (703) 405-8480, bstephenson@usccb.org, or Mary Yerrick, (301) 320-6888, Cell (301) 980-8848, MYerrick@aol.com

NEWS ADVISORY: (January 17, 2006) A national press conference on Poverty in America will be held in New Orleans - to release national public opinion poll on poverty in America, launch a new public service ad campaign and announce CCHD grants to assist Gulf Coast's efforts to rebuild following Hurricane Katrina. Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, NY, chair of the CCHD Committee, will host the conference. Note: To schedule individual interviews with Bishop Hubbard or other individuals (list of potential interviewees will be available), contact Barbara Stephenson or Mary Yerrick (info above).

SPONSORED BY:� Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

WHERE:� Cafe Reconcile, 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans

WHEN:� Thursday, January 19, 2006

SCHEDULE:
10:00 -- 10:30 a.m. CST Live Press Conference
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. CST – Live Audience Q&A

WEBCAST SITE:
Go to www.povertyusa.org, click on link to "View Live Webcast of 2006 Poverty in America Press Conference"

SATELLITE FEED:
Galaxy 11 Transponder 13 (KU band) The uplink frequency is 14260 (V), The downlink frequency is 11960 (H) from 10:30-1:30 ET (09:30-12:30 Central time). Phone number for tech assistance/trouble will be 225-278-9023. IFB # for call-ins will be 225-278-9024.

DETAILS:� Satellite feed & live webcast. Key graphics and B-roll will be available.
* 9:30a.m. -- 10:00 a.m. CST Satellite Test Time
* 10:00 a.m. -- 10:30 a.m. CST PRESS CONFERENCE
* 10:30 a.m. -- 10:45 a.m. CST Live Audience Q&A
* 10:45 a.m. -- 11:00 CST Video Feed (Graphics, 2006 TV Poverty Awareness Public Service Ads, New Orleans B- roll)
* 11:00 a.m. --12:30 p.m. CST – One-on-One Live Satellite Interviews may be scheduled with Bishop Hubbard and other relevant New Orleans individuals and poverty experts.

Established in 1970 by the U.S. Catholic bishops, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is one of the largest private funders of self-help initiatives for poor people in the United States. CCHD has helped people to break the cycle of poverty through empowerment programs that foster self-sufficiency. Through private donations and annual parish collections, CCHD has offered more than $280 million in support to more than 7,000 self-help projects developed by grassroots groups of poor people in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grants are awarded on the basis of need, without regard to religious affiliation.