Press Contact:
Rafael Gerena
Director of Communications
rgerena@cfocf.org
407-246-4888
Orlando, FL – October 28, 2020
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida distributed more than $2 million to support the local community, launched a new online donor portal and donor advised funds, and successfully partnered with generous donors, clergy and Catholic lay leaders to keep people spiritually connected amid the coronavirus pandemic this year, and earned three international philanthropy awards. The awards were recently announced by the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC). ICSC is an international organization committed to Christian stewardship as a way of life to strengthen local communities.
The Catholic Foundation won awards for Total Foundation Effort, Annual Appeal Video, and “Honorable Mention” for the Planned Giving category. This marked the third time in four years that The Catholic Foundation earned the top international Catholic philanthropy award, Total Foundation Effort, a broad category that includes investment management, general advancement, donors services including planned giving, and community services including supporting our diocesan entities and ministries as well as our broader community.
This is the second consecutive year that The Catholic Foundation earned the Annual Appeal Video award, which judges said benefitted from the first-ever “Summer Update” video, a follow-up message where Bishop John Noonan shared how the Church adapted to serving our community’s increased needs amid the pandemic. The Catholic Foundation partners with the Diocese of Orlando’s Communications team to produce the annual appeal videos.
“It is an honor to receive these awards on behalf of all we collaborate with to impact lives and support our community,” said Kimberlee Riley, The Foundation’s President & CEO. “Our board members, employees and partners including clergy are committed to serving others as are our donors who generously respond to meet community needs.”
The Catholic Foundation is currently implementing its 2019-2021 strategic plan focused on improving secular and faith life for Central Florida residents through community partnerships, donor engagement, and faith-based investment management. The strategic plan has guided The Foundation before and after the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, and helped the nonprofit organization achieve results in the past year that helped earn the ICSC awards including: distributing a record of more than $2 million to improve the quality of life for thousands of children, youth, adults, families and vulnerable populations throughout the region; hosting board retreats for the professional and spiritual development of board members; starting a new online portal and donor advised funds that make it easy for donors to manage and maximize their giving; launching a new planned giving advisory council; increasing and inspiring giving through special and planned gifts; and providing resources for donors in English and Spanish.
The Catholic Foundation’s board and staff have adapted innovations to foster faith and philanthropy amid the coronavirus shutdowns this year, efforts that helped The Foundation capture ICSC’s top philanthropy award. For example, The Foundation’s board provided $10,000 in seed money and $15,000 in matching funds in a partnership with generous donors that raised more than $60,000 for The Mercy Fund, which supports Central Florida’s increased needs since the arrival of the pandemic for food, housing, utilities, and behavioral health assistance.
ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA:
The Catholic Foundation inspires and increases giving to fund God’s work and impact lives throughout the Diocese of Orlando’s nine-county area. Established in 2008, The Catholic Foundation is an independent, nonprofit foundation that has worked with donors and pastors to support our community. Its assets of more than $60 million in investments are managed for growth and to respect Catholic social teaching. We help people and organizations engage in philanthropy in a faith-filled way through socially screened investment options. As a proven trustworthy philanthropic organization to give to and give through, we have received the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency.
