August 2019 Dear Friends in Christ, Catholic education has played a major role in shaping North American and U.S. life. It dates back to at least 1606, when Franciscans opened a school in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. America’s highest court — the U.S. Supreme Court — consists of a majority of Catholic justices, many of whom were educated in Catholic schools. Catholicism’s long intellectual tradition has provided millions of Americans with a rigorous academic-and-spiritual education to support their lives and families. This month, we celebrate students returning to school in pursuit of an education that will help our communities flourish. The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida is honored to support our Catholic schools through faith-based investing with our generous donors. Since 2014, The Catholic Foundation has distributed more than $2.4 million supporting our Catholic schools. Please click here to learn more about how you can partner with us to strengthen our schools. God bless you! Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it. Proverbs 22:6
Back to School: Diocese of Orlando Catholic Schools
This month, thousands of students returned to school in the Diocese of Orlando. There are more than 14,500 students in 42 Catholic schools throughout the Diocese. Our Catholic School students, from PreK to 12th grade and including those with special needs, receive an educational experience rooted in high academic standards and steeped in our Catholic faith and traditions. Please click here to make a generous gift supporting our students with Catholic School tuition assistance for those in need.
Back to School: Central Florida Colleges
This month is also back-to-school time for college students, including those attending local schools such as The University of Central Florida (UCF), the nation’s second largest university. At UCF, there are an estimated 11,000 to 14,500 Catholic students. Many of these students find spiritual sanctuary at the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM), located near the UCF campus. CCM is open to all of Central Florida’s higher-education students, including those who attend Valencia College, Seminole State College, Ana G. Méndez University, and Full Sail University. Please click here to make a generous gift supporting a new generation of Catholics at a pivotal time in their lives.
Back to School: Catholic Students Abroad
The Diocese of Orlando’s Mission Office offers a way for us to help our brothers and sisters who are returning to school in other parts of the world. The Mission Office encourages the people of our Diocese to share their time, talent, and treasure with those who have limited access to the wealth and resources of the earth. To inspire generosity, the late Bishop Thomas Grady of Orlando and the late Bishop Ronald Conners of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic, initiated a mutually beneficial relationship between the two dioceses in 1983. Since then, hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic have been helped with food, water and education assistance. Please click here to make a generous gift supporting a high school graduate attending university in the Dominican Republic or in the U.S. by giving to our University Scholarship Fund. Your support will be used for tuition, room and board.
 |
Giving is InvestingPlease click here to read an article written by our President and CEO, Kimberlee Riley, about discerning a philanthropic plan that maximizes your impact and joy in giving. |
| Kimberlee Riley |
 |
In the Community: Supporting Diocesan BoardsThis month, Catholic Foundation staff collaborated with board members at Bishop Grady Villas (BGV), which provides residential, vocational and employment support for people with disabilities in Central Florida. Our Director of Philanthropic Engagement and Planned Giving, Janet Caramello, recently discussed best practices with Bishop Grady’s board of directors. The Catholic Foundation provides fundraising expertise and development services to our diocesan partners including Bishop Grady, parishes, schools, and entities. Please click here to read Janet’s article, “5 Things Every Board Member Should Know about Fundraising.” |
| Janet Caramello |
Catholic Foundation Upcoming Events: 2019 Investor Forum
Seats Are Filling Fast!
Please click here to register for this event. If you have any questions, please contact Rosie Camous at rcamous@cfocf.org or 407-246-7192.
Upcoming Events: Planned Giving Seminar
Register today!
Please click here to register for this event at St. James Cathedral. If you have any questions, please contact Rosie Camous at rcamous@cfocf.org or 407-246-7192.
Winners: Millennial Catholic Selfie Contest
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida recently completed its first “Coffee-with-Bishop-Noonan” social media selfie photo contest for Catholic Millennials. We are grateful for the passion shared by these winners representing a new generation of Catholic leaders living out their faith. The winners will have coffee with Bishop Noonan later this year. The Catholic Foundation will hold another contest later this year.
 |
“My faith teaches me each and every day that the mysteries of God are so great that one cannot even begin to comprehend their magnitude. It is this cornerstone of my faith that now keeps me humble and willing to listen with an open heart, as the adventure of life is far greater than my little assumptions. There’s no telling where the Lord will take me next.” – Nathan Nasby #YCPGivesOCA #oviedocatholic #faithstory |
| Nathan Nasby | |
 |
“Sharing faith with my sisters and brothers in Christ is one of the things that inspires me to keep going and to delve ever deeper in my faith with the Lord.” -Christina Woodman #ycpgivesoca #stjosephsaturday #ycporlando |
| Christina Woodman, center (blue shirt) |
In the Community: 2019 Liturgical Conference
 |
 |
| Fr. Ivan Olmo and Dana SwansonWalker | Carolyn Ell, left, and Marta Sweeney |
This month, The Catholic Foundation was one of the sponsors of the 2019 Orlando Liturgical Conference at the Hilton Orlando. The conference’s mission is to evangelize, inspire, form and educate diverse liturgical ministers. At the three-day conference, Foundation staff answered questions and discussed foundation services with Diocese of Orlando parishioners, clergy and staff.
Our Catholic Appeal: Community Impact
Thank you for your gifts that deliver God’s love and hope!
 |
 |
| Your gift to Our Catholic Appeal creates a healthy and safe spiritual environment for our growing parishes by supporting Ecclesiastical Properties with $1.05 million in assistance last year. Please click here to read more. | Con donaciones de $1.05 millones el año pasado, su regalo a Nuestro Llamado Católico crea un ambiente espiritual, saludable y seguro al apoyar Propiedades Eclesiásticas. Por favor haga clíc aquí para más información. |
Please click here to learn more about Our Catholic Appeal.
 |
In the Community: Queen of Angels CemeteryCatholic Foundation staff joined Bishop John Noonan for the historic groundbreaking of the Queen of Angels Cemetery, located at the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park. The 48-acre site is home to the first diocesan cemetery for lay persons in the Diocese of Orlando. |
| Rosie Camous, far left. Kimberlee Riley, far right. |
 |
In Memory of Deacon David GrayPlease click here to make a gift to benefit Catholic Charities of Central Florida in honor of Deacon David Gray who faithfully served our Diocese and community for many years. Rest in peace, brother. |