Welcome to a new year and decade! This month, The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida celebrated our seminarians, Catholic Schools, parishes and the great civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Please click here to read a new-year message from our president Kimberlee Riley. God bless you! 
“After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” -Baptism of the Lord, Matthew 3:16-17
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida Was Closed On Monday, January 20, In Commemoration Of The Life And Witness Of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January Special Collection
During the month of January, The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida is supporting seminarians and their priestly formation. Please consider making a special gift to help the Diocese provide seminarians in need with financial assistance. They are the future priests of our Diocese. Please click here to donate.
Our Catholic Appeal Luncheons Kickoff!
 January 21, 2020: Deanery 3 |
 January 21, 2020: Deanery 3 |
 January 23, 2020: Deanery 4 |
 January 23, 2020: Deanery 4 |
 January 27, 2020: Deanery 2 |
 January 27, 2020: Deanery 2 |
Catholic Foundation staff and Bishop John Noonan discussed this year’s Our Catholic Appeal (OCA) campaign with pastors and parish staff at luncheons held throughout the Diocese of Orlando. OCA supports every parish, school and ministry in the diocese. OCA gifts help to educate children, feed the hungry, prevent homelessness, give medical care to the sick, provide Catholic-formation experiences for children and adults, and support seminarians and retired priests.
Catholic Days At The Capitol
 |
 |
 |
 |
Kimberlee Riley, The Catholic Foundation’s President & CEO, and Madelyn Weed, Vice President and Chief Donor Services Officer, this week joined Catholics from across the state who gathered in Tallahassee to participate in Catholic Days at the Capitol. This two-day event provides an opportunity for the faithful to put a call to political responsibility into action and to strengthen the presence of Catholic values in the public square. By joining together to advocate for laws that protect and defend human life and dignity, Catholic Floridians can give a voice to some of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in our state and help promote the common good for all Florida residents. Legislative Proposals To Protect And Defend Human Life And Dignity:
- Parental Consent Prior to a Minor’s Abortion – Support House Bill 25 (Grall) / Senate bill 404 (Stargel)
- Death Penalty Repeal – Support House Bill 938 (Farmer, Jr.) / Senate Bill 6045 (Geller)
- Physician Assisted Suicide – Oppose Senate Bill 1800 (Rader)
Catholic Schools Week
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Catholic Foundation is grateful to the Diocese of Orlando’s Office of Schools, every Catholic school in our diocese, and its faculty and staff for their effort to improve education for children throughout Central Florida. National Catholic Schools Week (January 26 to February 1, 2020) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S. Now entering its 46th anniversary year, the week is designated to help schools connect with prospective families, donors, educators and other community members. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, assemblies and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to celebrate and congratulate. This year’s theme is “Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Please click here to help a student with tuition assistance.
Donor Advised Funds!
Flexible. Simple. Charitable.
Are you looking for a flexible, simple tool that allows you to manage and maximize your giving to support the causes that matter most to you? Are you interested in simplifying your annual and lifetime charitable giving? Would you like to make a single gift to support multiple charities? Would you enjoy knowing that your gift will grow tax-free while being invested in a socially responsible way in accordance with Catholic values? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) with The Catholic Foundation could be the perfect charitable tool for you and your family! A Donor Advised Fund is like having your own foundation (without the hassle and legal fees!). Contribute cash, appreciated stocks or assets (real estate or business interests) and take the maximum tax deduction this year. The fund is invested for growth (tax free), which permits you, as the advisor, to make grants to many Catholic or public nonprofits over your lifetime. You can also name successors which allows you to engage your family and for them to continue your legacy of philanthropy. A secure Donor Portal allows for 24/7 access to your Fund! To learn more or to start your own Donor Advised Fund, please visit www.cfocf.org/daf or contact Madelyn Weed, Vice President of Donor Services at mweed@cfocf.org or (407) 246-7188.
Catholic Legacy Seminars Offered in English and Spanish
To leave a legacy is to reveal our hearts, for our legacy is a final testament of who we are, what we value, and whom we love. St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church will be hosting Catholic Legacy Planning seminars in both English and Spanish (simultaneous presentations) presented by The Catholic Foundation and taking place on on Wednesday, February 12th from 11:30pm to 2:00pm. Those who attend will receive information that will help you and your family prepare for the future. Having a plan will bring you and your family the peace of mind knowing that preparation have been made to ensure that your wishes are respected and honored. A Wills and Estate attorney and a Financial Planner will serve as your guide on this journey. You will have an opportunity to have your questions answered by professionals at no charge and with no additional obligation. You will also get the opportunity to participate in an engaging, interactive exercise that will help you picture your legacy and create a family mission statement. Preparing for the future is beneficial to everyone, whether you are a young adult or a retired person who needs help in making a plan. To register, please specify if you will be attending the English seminar or the Spanish seminar when you call St. Catherine Sienna at 407-344-9607 or email at jcruz@stcatherineofsiennacc.org
Planned Giving Seminar St. Patrick, Mt. Dora
 |
 |
 |
 |
What Legacy Do You Want to Leave in This World?
62 parishioners from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mt. Dora and other parishes attended an informative and interactive Legacy Planning Seminar on January 16 at St. Patrick’s. The Catholic Foundation appreciates the professionalism and assistance provided by Amber Jade Johnson, a Wills & Estate attorney and active Catholic parishioner at St. James Cathedral, and John Stewart, a local financial planner with Edward Jones in Mt. Dora. One of the highlights for the parishioners was a beautiful and enlightening interactive exercise called Picture Your Catholic Legacy, in which participants reflect on their life and legacy with memories they recall through a deck of 50 cards with photographs. Through this activity, participants began to write their own Family Mission Statements and consider how they can pass on their Catholic values and traditions to their family and loved ones for generations to come. Catholic Legacy Planning Seminars are a service that is offered free to parishes throughout the Diocese of Orlando by The Catholic Foundation. We can also bring Picture Your Catholic Legacy program and presentation to your Catholic organization, club or council. The Catholic Foundation can help you create a legacy for yourself or in memory of your loved one. Find out more by visiting our legacy planning website at: http://mycatholiclegacy.cfocf.org Anyone that has left a legacy gift or planned gift to their parish, parish school, or any ministry in the Diocese of Orlando is invited to let The Catholic Foundation know so that we may honor you as part of the Vivos Christi Society. Vivos Christi members each year are invited to An Evening of Gratitude with Bishop John Noonan. Please click here to learn how you can be part of the Vivos Christi Society or to notify us of a gift you have made. If you would like more information about hosting a Catholic Legacy Planning Seminar, bringing the program Picture Your Catholic Legacy to your club, organization, or council, or about creating your own Catholic legacy, contact Janet Caramello, MBA, CFRE, Director of Philanthropy, at jcaramello@cfocf.org or 407-246-4802.
Saving For Retirement
Saving for retirement just got easier! On December 20, 2019, the SECURE Act went into law that updated many seemingly small, but very important rules that broaden the rules encouraging saving for retirement and making it simpler for businesses to offer plans for employees. There are many provisions of the SECURE Act that can positively impact your retirement, and a few more to be aware of with your estate plans. This is an opportunity to leverage the most highly taxed assets in making a planned gift to your parish, school, or ministry. When IRAs are passed to loved ones, distributions from these accounts are subject to income taxes at the beneficiary’s ordinary income tax rate, which can be as high as 37%. Rather than leaving these heavily taxed assets to family, a gift to your parish, school, or ministry may let the value of other assets grow and eventually pass to loved ones. Please click here to learn more about the SECURE Act. For more information about leaving a Catholic Legacy to your parish, school, or Diocesan ministry, please contact Janet Caramello, MBA, CFRE, at jcaramello@cfocf.org or 407-246-4802
Serving Our Community: Capital Campaign Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Deltona
This fall, The Catholic Foundation was invited to support Our Lady of the Lakes in Deltona for a capital campaign to renovate the church. As of the second weekend in January, less than four months after the launch of their “Together We Build Faith, Family, Future” campaign, we are thrilled to congratulate Our Lady of the Lakes in surpassing their first goal of $800,000, which will be used to improve the parish’s Sanctuary and Nave. Pledges continue and currently total more than $830,000, bringing the parish closer to their $1 Million total campaign goal. This additional stretch goal of $200,000 will aid in blessing the church’s Adoration Chapel with matching interior renovations. Catholic Foundation Campaign Director Shana Coulthurst partnered with Fr. Kenny Aquino and parish staff on the fruitful effort.The success of Our Lady of the Lakes demonstrates the faith of their parish family, through their prayerful generosity, and will serve to glorify the Lord well into the future. 
Fr. Kenny Aquino, Pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes, Deltona 
Rendering of the Renovated Nave
In The Community: Bishop Moore High School
Catholic Foundation President and CEO, Kimberlee Riley, and other team members this month joined Bishop John Noonan at the groundbreaking of the new Moore Center for Excellence at Bishop Moore. The Catholic Foundation was proud to partner with Bishop Moore on this successful campaign.
In The Community: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando
 Doris, Gaby and Rafael |
 Doris and Rafael |
To better serve our diverse Catholic community, Foundation team members Doris D. Quiñones (Campaign Director) and Rafael Gerena (Director of Communications) attended a breakfast this month at The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. They are pictured above with the chamber’s president, Gaby Ortigoni.