Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1943 to assist the poor and disadvantaged overseas.

Mission statement: Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching

Major programs

• Emergency – programs seeking to prevent loss of life, minimize suffering, reduce property damage, speed recovery, reduce vulnerability, and otherwise better cope with natural or man-made disasters, while fostering a culture of peace, dignity and respect.
• Welfare – programs which provide a safety net to respond to the urgent and unmet needs of the poorest of society, including the provision of food and complementary assistance, enabling participants to reach their full human potential.

Catholic Relief Services – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (CRS) was founded in 1943 and is the international humanitarian aid and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). CRS is governed by a board composed of a Cardinal and ten U.S. Bishops elected from the USCCB, the General Secretary of the Conference, and seven lay members. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, CRS provides services in 93 countries through 69 offices around the world.