The Knights of Columbus Council 6125 Are Helping To Support Our Retired Priests
The Rockledge Knights of Columbus Council 6125 Grand Knight Tony Spadafora announced donations totaling $17,833 at their annual awards dinner on June 22, 2023. The Catholic Foundation was honored to accept a gift for the Council’s support of Emmaus, the new independent living community for retired priests at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center. Additional recipients of the Council’s charity included St. John the Evangelist, Divine Mercy and St. Mary’s Church and School, as well as organizations serving individuals with disabilities, behavioral health issues and those precariously housed or facing financial instability in Brevard County. Thank you Knights of Columbus, we’re humbled by your continuous support to our Diocese.
Welcome New Planned Giving Advisory Council Members
Please help us welcome Colleen Duris and Josh Black, our newest members of The Catholic Foundation’s Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC). Colleen is a Parishioner of Blessed Trinity-Ocala, and the first member of the council to represent the Northern Deanery of the diocese. Josh is a parishioner at St. Margaret Mary, and is the first ever insurance professional to serve on the PGAC. The PGAC is a group of charitable gift and estate planning professionals dedicated to the mission and vision of The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (CFOCF). The CFOCF and the PGAC members provide educational and networking opportunities to support Central Florida professionals, incorporating distinct services that will help clients realize their goals, and connect them to resources…
Let Freedom Ring!
Dignitatis Humanae is the declaration on religious freedom from the Second Vatican Council in 1965. It outlines the church’s advocacy for protections of religious liberty: …in order that relationships of peace and harmony be established and maintained within the whole of mankind, it is necessary that religious freedom be everywhere provided with an effective constitutional guarantee and that respect be shown for the high duty and right of man freely to lead his religious life in society. During the American Revolution, Catholics comprised only about 1% (25,000) of the total population in the colonies. They supported the Revolution and independence from Britain in hopes it would offer them greater religious liberty. After the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were…
Catholic Foundation Hosts Consortium of Catholic Foundations
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida proudly hosted the Consortium of Catholic Foundations CEO Symposium. In early May, leaders of Catholic foundations across the US met at San Pedro Spiritual Retreat Center in Winter Park. The event provided opportunities to network and share best practices for Catholic Philanthropy and managing Catholic Foundations. This year’s theme was “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Us.” The annual symposium is an event for foundation CEOs and Executive Directors to gather in a peer-learning environment, featuring national speakers and experienced colleagues sharing trends, business models and successful strategies to grow relationships and philanthropy for our Church in the U.S. Along with collaborative information sessions, those in attendance participated in daily mass and fellowship…
Decision Factors for Your Charitable Giving
If you have a desire to be more strategic with your charity, there are six steps you can take. Being strategic about our giving helps us to ensure that we are being prudent with the resources and blessings that God has provided us. 1) Reflect on your own individual experiences and values God has a wonderfully and uniquely defined plan for each of us. As a result, we have different influences and influencers that define our values and the desires in our hearts. What are the causes you have supported in your life today and are there any causes you care about which you want to support? By reviewing where you have shared your treasures you will see a pattern…
Finding the Extra in Ordinary
Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. Scripture reads: The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps (Proverbs 16:9). After the Easter season each year we return to Ordinary Time. But this time is meant to be far from ordinary. Ordinary comes from the same root as ordered, as in numbered and counted. Some of us might find tedium in that routine, but the intention is to lead us to an ordered place – the ultimate return of Christ. Our Gospel readings during this time of year are filled with the stories of Christ’s everyday ministry rather than major events in His earthly life. It is in this ordinary time that we’re…
Local Leaders Graduate From Central Florida CAP® Study Group
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida in partnership with F4 Wealth Advisors and ShuffieldLowman warmly congratulates our most recent graduates from the CAP® program. Central Florida CAP® (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy) Study Group. CAP® is a designation provided by The American College of Financial Services which signifies that the student has successfully passed exams for three graduate-level courses of cross-disciplinary curriculum. The curriculum spans and synthesizes the arts and sciences of philanthropic planning including taxation, ethical fundraising, purposeful planning, family dynamics, psychology and strategic philanthropy. The second cohort graduates increase Central Florida’s CAP® population by 25% and represent a variety of industries within the financial planning world including Wealth Advisors, Estate Planning Advisors, and Non-Profit professionals. During the 9-month program,…
Fund Spotlight: The Diaconate Fund
The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning “servant.” Strengthened by sacramental grace, in union with the bishop and his priests, deacons are called to serve the people of God in the three-fold ministry of liturgy, word, and charity. The Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Orlando offers guidance to permanent deacons in their formation and ministry as well as supports their families. The office also provides an approval process for deacons moving into the diocese who are applying for faculties and parish assignments. In 2020, The Office of the Permanent Diaconate established the Deacons 5+ Year Reserve Fund for the diaconate ministry in the Diocese of Orlando. This fund provides for partial scholarships for…
Making an Impact with Your Charitable Giving
Are you making the impact you desire with your charitable giving? Charitable gifts come in all shapes and sizes, but regardless of size you want to be able to make an impact with your charitable giving. Knowing that your gift has made a difference brings added joy to your giving experience. There are ways to determine how our gifts make an impact. Nonprofits tell the stories of how they serve and the difference they make in people’s lives in our communities. Through our giving we help tell these stories, the qualitative impact we make, and the quantitative ways to measure our giving as it benefits the community. One of the simplest forms of measurement is a nonprofit’s ‘output,’ how many…
The Ordoñez Family Donor Advised Fund
As we joyfully celebrate the Easter season, we are reminded that it was through Jesus’ love for us that he freely suffered and died so each one of us can have eternal life. Jesus did this for you, me, your children, your next door neighbor, the homeless man at the stop light, the woman with an unexpected pregnancy- each and every person we pass and interact with each day. We are all called to be, and help others, become saints and it’s with this goal that our family set up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Hector and I were both raised Catholic and faith continued to be an important part of our lives as we started our vocation in marriage…