Foundation’s News
CFOCF Grant Helps Fund Great Need at St. Mary Catholic School
Through the generosity of our CFOCF Grantmaking Fund donors and The Board of Directors, The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida was blessed to distribute a greatest needs grant to St. Mary Catholic Church and School in Rockledge. The school was facing an urgent expense of $100,000 for a major plumbing project. Without this work, the school could not have opened its doors for the fall semester. Already in financial crisis, the parish could not afford to cover the cost. While the parish has many other facility and building needs, the education of students remained the highest priority. Father Joseph Schaute, pastor at St. Mary, shares that they were able to complete the project just before the start of the school…
The Catholic Foundation Sponsors 2025 Priest Convocation
Each year, priests from across the Diocese of Orlando gather for the annual Priest Convocation. This is an opportunity for priests to step away from their daily responsibilities and spend time together in prayer, fellowship, and ongoing formation. The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida was honored to sponsor the second dinner of the convocation in partnership with our trusted colleagues at The Concord Advisory Group. We are blessed to walk alongside our priests in their ministry and grateful for the chance to nourish both body and spirit during their time together. Our hope is that these gatherings strengthen their sense of community, refresh their hearts, and inspire them as they return to serve their parishes.
2nd Annual Wine & Wills Event at Father Lopez H.S.
We were blessed to host our second Wine & Wills event, this time at Father Lopez Catholic High School. Wine & Wills helps parishioners and school communities learn about the importance of estate planning in a relaxed, welcoming setting. We provide resources, practical guidance, and faith-filled encouragement. This event is meant to help families plan wisely for their loved ones and make decisions that reflect their values. For the first time, our Director of Philanthropy, Sarah Pinto, led the evening’s Estate Planning Seminar. Offering insight into common misconceptions, mistakes to avoid, and simple steps for getting started. Following the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to connect with members of our Planned Giving Advisory Council. This group of professionals include attorneys,…
Market Highlights from Our Trusted Partner The Concord Advisory Group, Ltd.
The Foundation utilizes Concord Advisory Group as our trusted partner for investment management services. The Foundation’s investment programs serve our partner organizations to provide annual income and financial wellness and serve individual donors to meet their philanthropic aspirations and legacy goals. Concord is an Investment Advisory Group focused on faith-based nonprofit services by providing strategic advice to staff, our Investment Committee, and our Board of Directors to improve the performance of our investment services. The Foundation’s investment services include endowment funds, donor advised funds (DAFs), and reserve funds, each with their own targeted performance strategy. Concord has more than thirty years of experience assisting their partners in managing the balance between spending policy and corpus growth while navigating the challenging…
Welcome New PGAC Member Cameron White, JD
Cameron White, JD Parishioner at Holy Family Attorney at Pathways Law, P.A. Nominated by: Madelyn Weed The motto of Pathways Law, P.A. is “Securing Your Legacy with Thoughtful Estate and Business Planning.” Whether he is assisting with developing an estate plan, or drafting documents for the sale of a business, Cameron works to understand the big picture first before delving into the details. The solution should be designed to meet the full range of clients’ needs, so Cameron assesses all the goals and then can tailor plans to work together to address all the legal concerns cohesively. When he is not helping clients, he enjoys taking advantage of what Florida has to offer: playing golf, hanging out at the beach,…
Faces of Philanthropy: Wendy A. Mara
Faces of Philanthropy: Wendy A. Mara Wendy A. Mara Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Ormond Beach Board & PGAC Member St. Katharine Drexel Society Attorney I began my career in education, teaching high school Language Arts in 1993. From 1996 to 2006, I served at Father Lopez Catholic High School, where I developed a deep connection to students and our Catholic community. In 2006, I left the classroom to attend law school, beginning a new chapter in my professional journey. For the past 15 years, I have practiced law, focusing on Family Law and Elder Law, areas that allow me to serve individuals and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. It is a privilege to…
Faces Of Philanthropy: Jeannette Eddy
Faces of Philanthropy: Jeannette Eddy Jeannette Eddy, CAP St. James Catholic Church Director of Philanthropy I was born and raised in Miami, attended Florda State University for undergrad, and then spent a good chunk of time living in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, I worked at the WGBH Educational Foundation (Boston’s public television and radio station) and helped grow the Planned Giving and Endowment programs for the station. Now, I’m able to help do the same at The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida. Besides spending time with my family and three kids, I enjoy cooking, the arts, lake life and traveling. Fun fact, I met my husband while on vacation in Egypt! Faces of Philanthropy Q & A with Jeannette…
Market Highlights from Our Trusted Partner The Concord Advisory Group, Ltd.
The Foundation utilizes Concord Advisory Group as our trusted partner for investment management services. The Foundation’s investment programs serve our partner organizations to provide annual income and financial wellness and serve individual donors to meet their philanthropic aspirations and legacy goals. Concord is an Investment Advisory Group focused on faith-based nonprofit services by providing strategic advice to staff, our Investment Committee, and our Board of Directors to improve the performance of our investment services. The Foundation’s investment services include endowment funds, donor advised funds (DAFs), and reserve funds, each with their own targeted performance strategy. Concord has more than thirty years of experience assisting their partners in managing the balance between spending policy and corpus growth while navigating the challenging…
Faces of Philanthropy: Karen Monteleone
Faces of Philanthropy: Karen Monteleone Karen Monteleone Most Precious Blood Catholic Church Chair, Board of Directors WPGC Member St. Katharine Drexel Society Member Karen is an accomplished board and nonprofit executive with extensive experience building relationships that ensure organizations excel in their missions, especially during times of significant change. For nearly two decades, Karen has worked with a diverse range of community leaders, C-suite executives, and other influential volunteers to help advance the goals of the institutions they serve. In 2023, Karen started Transform Governance LLC, a consulting practice that works with organizations to maximize board performance by conducting comprehensive governance assessments and providing strategic counsel to leadership. Before starting her own practice, Karen served as Assistant Vice President for Board…
CFOCF Trivia: How Well Do You Know The Catholic Foundation?
Think you’re a Foundation expert? Test your knowledge and grow in mission with us! Get to know CFOCF through this quick trivia challenge! When was The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida established? What is the name of the growing series of CFOCF short videos on YouTube? Who is the current Chair of the Board of Directors? Last year, how much was available for distribution from our endowment funds to support parishes, schools, and ministries? Click here to learn more about The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida.