Deirdre “Dee” Smith from Manhattan Beach will be the next director of annual appeals for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“I am very excited to be able to work for the archdiocese,” says Smith. “Being a steward within the Church has always been a most fulfilling and rewarding personal experience.”

Together in Mission, part of the archdiocese’s annual Catholic appeal, is an organization that supports 83 parishes, 63 schools and a total of 175,000 families in the tri-county archdiocese — Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Every dollar raised assists parishes and schools in need. The 23-year-old program enables the archdiocese to provide essential resources and ministries that enrich parish life, strengthen families, advance Church leadership and educate future generations.

Smith has worked for 10 years as the assistant vice president at Verizon. She received a degree in economics from Pomona College and an MBA from Pepperdine University with a concentration in Marketing and Finance.

“I look forward to committing our time and talents to making a real difference in the lives of parishioners within the archdiocese who are deserving of a safe and hope-filled place of worship and learning,” says Smith.