![[home]](/comm/images/usccb_logo.gif){kind=logo}
WASHINGTON (January 17, 2006)—Timothy F. Collins has been named Executive Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He succeeds Father Robert J. Vitillo who resigned last year to take a position with Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based Catholic social service and development agency.
Msgr. William P. Fay, USCCB General Secretary, announced the appointment.
"Tim has been with CCHD since its inception thirty-five years ago and is widely recognized throughout the Church for his long service to the Conference and the mission of CCHD," Msgr. Fay said. "In our search, it became clear that the next Director should have an understanding of CCHD, its work, its history, its mandate and its mission, and should be committed to continuing the implementation of the strategic plan which CCHD has been working on over the last several years. Tim certainly has that knowledge and experience. I am most grateful to him for accepting this appointment with his characteristic generosity and commitment."
Timothy Collins was born and raised in Schenectady, New York, in the Diocese of Albany. He graduated from Fordham University in 1965, with a B.A. in English.
From 1966 to 1969 he held positions within the Development and Alumni Relations offices at Fordham University.
In 1970, he was invited to serve as part of an ad hoc Task Force within the USCCB Communications Department to prepare for the first CCHD Appeal in Catholic parishes throughout the country.
Later, he was asked to move to Washington to become a staff member in a permanent CCHD office.
Mr. Collins has served in various capacities with increasing responsibilities during the past 35 years, including several times as Acting Director during staff transitions.
Most recently, he served as Interim Director following the departure of Father Vitillo.
Mr. Collins serves as a member of the Disaster Response Committee of Catholic Charities USA.
He and his wife, Ellen, reside in Vienna, VA, where they are parishioners of St. Mark's Church. They are the parents of three grown children and have a newborn grandson.
Established in 1970 by the 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. Through annual parish collections and private donations, CCHD has provided more than $280 million to over 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.