2008 Annual Report - Catholic Charities

J
ohn McDowall has a unique perspective on Catholic Charities.
For seven years, the McDowall Company was located across the street from
Catholic Charities Emergency Services. “They were our neighbors, I could see first hand
the need, and people flooding in.”
John saw other local businesses helping and felt he could too. John graciously
shared his parking lot with those who came to Emergency Services at Christmas and
stored out-of season clothing in one of his outbuildings. “People do not realize how much
poverty is in our area.”
He says his vast civic involvement has roots in his
family. “I learned from my father and grandmother, and
I’m passing on to my sons what I was taught.”
John feels strongly that he is a part of the Central
Minnesota Community, and is teaching his sons, who
joined him in the family business, the McDowall Company,
that community is important. “We’re a fourth-generation
family-owned company,” John said. “The community has
been wonderful to us.”
As he learned more about Catholic Charities, he learned more ways he could
“They were our
neighbors, I could
see first hand the
need, and people
flooding in.”
John McDowall
Helps Neighbors in Need
help. In 2005, John’s tour of Catholic Charities St. Cloud Children’s Home resulted
in an effort to help the young people learn to do their own laundry. He and several
other local contractors purchased washing machines and dryers for the cottages.
John saw his donation not only as a tool for teaching, but as a tribute to Sister Ida
Bursch, who for decades had done the children’s laundry.
“Tours have been a great way for us to see what’s going on at Catholic Charities.”
Today, John is a member of Catholic Charities Circle of Hope Society, pledging to
consistently support our mission year after year.
Of his commitment, John simply says, “We couldn’t be more proud.”
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