PGAC Meets at Bishop Moore Center
(Pictured L-R Monsignor Richard Walsh, Deacon Gary Tester; Kevin Casey CFO, Diocese of Orlando) Our Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC) met at Bishop Moore Catholic High School to discuss how bequests affect ministries in The Diocese of Orlando. PGAC Chairman, Rob Thomson, facilitated the conversation with Kevin Casey, CFO of the diocese; Monsignor Richard Walsh, Pastor of St Margaret Mary and Vicar General of the Diocese of Orlando and Deacon Gary Tester, President of Catholic Charities of Central Florida. Gifts made through bequests are a foundational element of the ministries of St. Margaret Mary parish in Winter Park. These gifts support the parish school and area outreach, for example, as Monsignor Walsh shared. Parishioners come to him to learn how…
Board Appoints New Committee Members
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida had its first board meeting of 2023 in February. With the new term, we have new committee appointments, Randall Scott chairs the Audit and Finance Committee; Lori Tolland is continuing to serve as the chair of the Development Committee. Our thanks to you both for your new leadership roles with the Foundation board. Randall Scott Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Ocala Randall Scott is President, CEO, and Chairman of MANDEX, Inc., a respected Service Disabled, Veteran Owned Small Business that provides national security and information technology services. MANDEX is based in Fairfax, VA, and operates offices throughout the nation, including Ocala. He has enjoyed a career of more than 50 years, including service in the…
Our Patroness: Saint Katharine Drexel
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida proudly lifts up our patroness, St. Katharine Drexel. With her feast day on March 3rd, within Women’s History Month, it’s appropriate for us to remember the patron saint of philanthropy. She was born into a wealthy, yet charitable and philanthropic family in 1858. Following a pilgrimage to Rome, St. Katharine gave her large family inheritance and her life to the church in service of Native and African Americans and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was canonized by St. John Paul II in October of 2000. The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida team wrote the following prayer, inspired by St. Katharine Drexel, our patroness: Prayer to Bring the Church to its Fullness…
The Mercy Fund Continues its Community Assistance
Three years. With the outbreak of Covid-19, March 2020 began a brief but impactful shutdown in nearly every sector of public life. The result was a dramatic and sudden increase in the need for community outreach and support. The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida responded to this need by establishing the Mercy Fund, benefitting Catholic Charities of Central Florida. With this fund, we have been able to provide food, maintaining stock in the agape mission markets and food pantries; behavior health to provide counseling and care throughout the community; rent and utility assistance for those with sudden unemployment or reduced job stability; other aid including prescriptions, gasoline, and sanitary supply assistance. The Mercy Fund was created when the Foundation…
Fearless: Celebrating the Foundation’s Inspiring Women in Leadership
Fearless Girl: the iconic statue that faced down the famous Charging Bull statue on Manhattan’s Bowling Green in the Financial District. It’s an image of strength, character, and determination, now facing down the bulls and bears in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Fearless Girl was commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, one of our market managers who provide Catholic-compliant investments for donors through The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida. (Pictured L-R, Catholic Foundation staff Susan Hunt, Kimberlee Riley; Catholic Foundation Board Members Sister Maria Teresa Acosta, Lori Tolland) March is Women’s History Month, and National Women’s Day was March 8th. Here at the Catholic Foundation, we celebrate these remarkable women leaders, board members, and staff…
Black History Month : We Celebrate Bishop Moore’s First Black Principal
“What we do here at Bishop Moore is serve as role models for our students growing in their faith and encouraging them to live a life of service to others.” – Dr. Erika Wikstrom As we celebrate Black History Month we celebrate our very own Catholic Foundation board member, Dr. Erika Wikstrom. Erika was recently honored by WESH, Channel 2 for being Bishop Moore Catholic High School’s very first black principal. She’s truly dedicated to each student that the school serves and is a true testament to our Catholic faith. Read the article from WESH here >. Thank you for all that do for our children and our community Dr. Erika!
Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle Kickoff
At long last, the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle held their inaugural Kickoff Mass and luncheon at St. James Cathedral on February 10th. This has been a labor of love and passion project of Catholic Foundation board member Lori Tolland, who serves as the founding Chairwoman. The group was initially due to kick off in the Fall of 2022, but Hurricane Ian and other factors forced a delay. Hosted by The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, the founding members and guests attended Mass celebrated by Bishop John Noonan at the Cathedral, followed by a delicious luncheon in the Social Hall. Bishop Noonan spoke at length about the many needs in our community and how they are being addressed by ministries of…
St. Faustina Parish in Clermont, Welcome Home!
After almost 20 years, the parish of St. Faustina in Clermont has finally dedicated their new home. Bishop John Noonan celebrated the Mass as the community welcomed parishioners and guests on Feb. 4th to their long-awaited new building. It’s a journey that began back in 2006 with a gathering at a hotel banquet facility on Route 192. The parish was established by former Bishop of Orlando, Thomas Wenski, and founding pastor, Father Stephen Phillips. It’s the first parish in the US dedicated to St. Faustina Kowalska, founder of the devotion to Divine Mercy. Today, Father Ramón Bolatete has received the keys to the new parish, and is pastor of St. Faustina parish as they look toward the future they’ve worked…
Generous Donors Help the Catholic Foundation Grow as One of the Largest Nonprofits in Central Florida.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller Central Florida benefits from a community of philanthropists that believe in and embrace the notion of working together and building something greater. Whether it’s feeding and clothing those in need, healing the broken, fostering the cultural arts, or building community, donors in Central Florida rally to build up others. Orlando Business Journal recently released its top charitable organizations in Central Florida, and we are honored to be listed once again among the amazing area nonprofits that do such important work in the community. We congratulate all non-profits for their growth, perseverance, and meaningful service, especially our partner Catholic-based non-profits, Catholic Charities of Central Florida, and…
Grateful For Your Service!
At the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, we’re all about impact. Impact to our community, impact to our donors, and the tremendous impact that our board has on the organization. Board service terms for Mr. Orlando Evora and Mr. John Kacilia expired in November 2022, and we are so eternally grateful for the impact that they’ve had on The Catholic Foundation. Thank you, Orlando Evora! Orlando joined The Catholic Foundation Board of Directors in 2011 bringing legal expertise and a passion for Catholic education. He was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors in November 2016. During his Chairmanship, the Board of Directors welcomed new clergy members and lay women expanding to 20 members. The Catholic Foundation celebrated their…