For more than a century, OLV Charities has carried forward the extraordinary vision of Venerable Nelson Baker: a mission rooted in unwavering trust in God, devotion to Our Lady of Victory, and a profound commitment to serving those in need.
What began as Father Baker’s response to poverty, homelessness, and spiritual need in Western New York grew into something remarkable. In the early 1880s, he became a pioneer in Catholic philanthropy, recognizing that sustaining his growing ministries would require both faith and innovation. He founded the Association of Our Lady of Victory, a groundbreaking direct-mail fundraising effort that invited people across the country to become partners in his mission. Through hand-written letters and personal appeals, thousands joined Father Baker in providing hope and opportunity to children in crisis and struggling families.
Father Baker understood that for his “City of Charity” to grow, he first had to touch hearts and minds. He needed people not only to give, but to believe in the mission and see themselves as part of it. That pioneering approach to fundraising and outreach laid the foundation for what would become OLV Charities (OLVC), and it remains at the heart of our work today.
OLVC continues Father Baker’s spirit of innovation through fundraising programs and outreach initiatives that inspire people to become part of the mission. By building relationships, sharing the impact of this work, and connecting the generosity of donors with the needs of OLV's ministries, OLVC helps ensure that Father Baker’s mission continues to grow and respond to the needs of each new generation.
Today, that mission comes to life through a family of programs united by a shared purpose.
- OLV Human Services provides specialized education, residential programs, and community-based care for children and families.
- OLV National Shrine & Basilica, the spiritual heart of the mission, welcomes more than 280,000 pilgrims, parishioners, and visitors each year.
- Father Baker’s Cause for Canonization shares his remarkable life and heroic virtue with the wider Church.
- Camp Turner helps young people grow in faith, character, and leadership
- The St. Gianna Pregnancy Center offers compassionate support to mothers, children, and families while upholding the sanctity of life.
Though the needs of our communities have changed since Father Baker’s time, the calling has not.
OUR MISSION
Inspired by his service to the poor, homeless, and young, OLV Charities empowers its mission partners to thrive by engaging a growing network of relationships, securing financial resources, and providing essential support services.
Together, the OLV's ministries remain vibrant, living expressions of Father Baker’s legacy — sustained by faith, strengthened by generosity, driven by innovation, and united in bringing hope to every life they serve.
