“We provide shelter through a variety of projects,” says Mulligan. “We have a domestic violence shelter called My Sister’s Place in the East Valley; a transitional living facility for veterans in Phoenix called MANA House; and Juniper House, a home in Flagstaff for women coming out of the Yavapai and Coconino county jails.”

In addition, Catholic Charities has affordable housing properties all over the Valley, designed for low-income families.

“Providing housing is an integral part of our mission because it not only provides shelter for families, it also helps strengthen them,” Mulligan says. “We are all about supporting family structures, stabilizing them and giving them the support they need.”

“What we try to do in almost every program we operate is to move people who are at risk, vulnerable or at crisis—through such things as housing drug treatment, education and workforce development—to a place where they’re thriving,” says Mulligan.

“There’s a saying that goes, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ We’re all about teaching a man to fish,” he continues.

While Catholic Charities’ service areas may seem somewhat daunting to tackle, Mulligan credits its staff of 450 employees and estimated 4,500 volunteers throughout Arizona, and the partnerships the organization has forged with the local community.

“There are so many organizations and businesses in Phoenix and Arizona that do great service work,” he says. “The reality is, we don’t have to do everything. We recognize where our strengths are and we can focus on those. The rest, we can call on the partnerships we have and work with them.

One of those businesses is National Bank of Arizona, the organization’s bank since 2009.

“It’s very clear NB|AZ is a values-driven bank,” says Mulligan, citing the bank’s foster care tax credit, which redirects state tax liability into opportunities for low-income families. In addition, NB|AZ is helping Catholic Charities expand its housing impact through credit and loan programs.

“We think we’re great providers because we really serve the whole community, regardless of faith or background,” Mulligan says. “God is doing a lot of miracles through us. We like to say we’re where miracles happen every day.”