It’s not the Prize Patrol … it’s the HOPE Appeal!

Fun social media videos celebrate over $1 million in parish sharing as part of 2025 Hope Appeal campaign

By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer

Since being featured in several of the Syracuse Diocese’s social media videos promoting the annual HOPE Appeal campaign that began last fall, Foundation director Beth Hoey said she’s been spotted and recognized by people in various settings totally unrelated to her job.

“At this one event for a different organization, there was this group of ladies, and they’re like, ‘Hey, you look so familiar. We know you.’ And one of the ladies said, ‘Hey, you’re the HOPE lady!’ And I thought, ‘How cool is that?’ They were laughing and giggling. How glorious is it that we can be talking about raising money, and people are laughing and celebrating?” she exclaimed.

Hoey said that sometimes people can view fundraising as a very serious topic, or as something they don’t want to talk about. But in her view, fundraising is a joyful process that really comes down to focusing on how the Church is making an impact in the lives of those in our communities through the many ministries the HOPE Appeal supports.

“It’s really nothing about the money,” Hoey said. “It’s what we’re doing with the money and the impact we’re having. And isn’t this wonderful, and isn’t this joyous, to have this response? … That makes me smile, [that] yes, [people] are making the connection that this is really impacting ministries in the Church.”

At a recent diocesan department leadership meeting, Hoey announced the Foundation was beginning to mail out “parish sharing” checks to parishes in the diocese. Parish sharing occurs when a parish exceeds its individual HOPE Appeal goal for the year — 100% of any overage is sent back directly to the parish that raised it.

Syracuse Diocese Chancellor and Director of Communications Danielle Cummings and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Amy Sansone suggested to Hoey that she should present the “checks” to pastors in a Publisher’s Clearing House style and film some video clips to share with the diocese on social media. So, she did just that — first at Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter in Syracuse with Father Brendan Foley, and then at St. Mary of Mount Carmel-Blessed Sacrament in Utica with Father Jim Cesta. Those fun, spirited videos sparked a lot of joy for viewers — Hoey said she was getting phone calls within hours after they were posted.

A few more check presentation videos are planned at other parishes around the diocese, but it would be impossible for Hoey to film at each one because, as of May 8, an overwhelming 101 out of 110 had surpassed their HOPE Appeal goal. Although the public part of the 2025 HOPE Appeal campaign ended in December, gifts are still being accepted through June 30. Nine parishes continue to work hard to meet and exceed their goals, Hoey said, with most of them more than 90% of the way there.

In March, an astounding $1,070,430 in parish-sharing checks was sent to parishes, and the tally keeps ticking upward as more gifts come in. Hoey explained why checks go out both in March and again after the annual campaign is over.

“I want to give [parishes] their money as soon as I can,” so it can be used in real time to help strengthen parishes in any way needed, she said. Funds can be used for anything from parish events to hiring a youth minister to repaving the parking lot. “So, there’re quite a few parishes that will get a second check, as well.”

Something that many people don’t realize, Hoey added, is that as gifts are received into the HOPE Appeal throughout the year, those funds are being used by the 26 ministries it supports in real time, as well, not just at the end of the campaign — it is money put into action and makes an impact right away.

Looking back at a milestone year for the HOPE Appeal, which included a record-breaking total of more than $5 million raised for the first time, Hoey said she’s not surprised that the totals contributed to the HOPE Appeal continue to rise despite recent hardships, including the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. She believes that people will continue to give because they understand the impact of their gifts throughout the diocese, and because, at the end of the day, people are good, she said.

“People have given to the HOPE Appeal because they believe in their Church,” Hoey said. “They want to support their parish. They believe in our Catholic faith, and they want to strengthen that and serve other people and help them in their faith. That’s why we’re doing it. That’s the mission of it all.”

To view the parish sharing “check” presentation videos, visit the Diocese of Syracuse Facebook page at facebook.com/DioceseOfSyracuse. Plus, be on the lookout for the 2025 HOPE Appeal Impact Report, which will be sent out to mailboxes in June.