Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle News
2026
Great updates coming soon…
2025
2025 WPGC & CFOCF Bring Christmas Joy to Refugee Youth- December 11, 2025
The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida’s staff, alongside members of the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle (WPGC), partnered with Catholic Charities of Central Florida (CCCFL) this Christmas season to support refugee youth celebrating the holiday in the United States for the very first time.
Through this collaborative effort, Foundation staff and WPGC members sponsored Christmas gifts for 40 children and teens served by CCCFL’s Refugee Youth Program. The program supports young refugees as they navigate life in a new country. They help address academic challenges, language barriers, job readiness, and overall adjustment to a new culture.
Each year, CCCFL’s Refugee Youth Program partners with the Knights of Columbus to host a Breakfast with Santa. During this event, the children receive their gifts, eat some food, and celebrate Christmas in a safe and fun environment.
Participants also contributed their time and talents as “Wrapping Elves,” ensuring each gift was thoughtfully prepared. Or volunteers could serve as “Prayer Warriors,” lifting up refugee families in prayer during the Advent season.
The success of this project reflects the shared commitment of The Catholic Foundation community to serve those most in need. By coming together in faith and generosity, CFOCF, WPGC members, and Catholic Charities helped make this Christmas season one filled with hope, joy, and lasting memories for refugee youth and their families.
Thank you to the generosity of all sponsors and volunteers of this year’s Refugee Youth Program Christmas drive!
Click here to learn more about the Refugee Youth Program.
Click here to learn more about the WPGC.
2025 WPGC Grant Awards Celebration- October 24, 2025
For the Grant Award Celebration for this year – in addition to the video, we also need some text. Something like:
Thank you again to Patti Deegan and Byrd & Associates for sponsoring the Grant Awardee Celebration! We awarded 6 grant checks totaling $30,000, supporting incredible community-driven initiatives that align with our Catholic values:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center—Embrace the Moments Program: Families Impacted by Young Onset Dementia
Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida—Baby Basics
Halifax Urban Ministries—Bridge of Hope Mobily Pantry
Samaritan Resource Center Project—S.O.U.L.
St. Andrew Catholic Church—Outreach of Hope
St. Theresa Catholic Church— Bicycle Program
The event was filled with inspiring connections and a shared commitment to making a difference. Our members presence and energy helped make the celebration truly unforgettable!
Pitch Party – September 12, 2025
Our Women’s Giving Circle recently hosted their 2025 grant pitch party, where the organizations that applied for our grant shared their inspiring projects and how the funds would make a difference in our community. We are so grateful to all the presenters who took the time to share their vision and passion with us.
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center – Embrace the Moments Program: Families Impacted by Young Onset Dementia
- Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida – Baby Basics
- Halifax Urban Ministries – Bridge of Hope Mobily Pantry
- Samaritan Resource Center – Project S.O.U.L.
- St. Andrew Catholic Church – Outreach of Hope
- St. Theresa Catholic Church – Bicycle Program
The next step in the process is voting, where members of the WPGC will decide how the grant funds will be distributed among the organizations. We look forward to seeing the impact our collective giving will create!
Click here to learn more about the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle.
2025 Grant Finalist & Site Visits
WPGC Membership selected the following six Central Florida non-profits as our 2025 Grant Finalists. These organizations welcomed us for site visits in July and will present at our Pitch Party on September 12th at Certified Financial Group.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center – Embrace the Moments Program: Families Impacted by Young Onset Dementia
Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida – Baby Basics
Halifax Urban Ministries – Bridge of Hope Mobily Pantry
Samaritan Resource Center – Project S.O.U.L.
St. Andrew Catholic Church – Outreach of Hope
St. Theresa Catholic Church – Bicycle Program
There is still time to join in the excitement – contact Jeannette Eddy for more information.
We have also officially wrapped up all our site visits for this year’s grant finalists and last year’s grant awardees. Each visit was a meaningful experience, filled with inspiring stories and heartfelt hospitality. It was truly uplifting to witness the incredible work being done to strengthen and uplift our community.
Here are some highlights:
Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle Year 3, Kickoff 2025
Hope in Action
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
This is just the beginning. With faith, hope and a shared vision, the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle will continue to build a legacy of impact in Central Florida.
2024
2024 WPGC Grant Awards Celebration
The Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle (WPGC) gathered for this year’s check ceremony in October 2024. During the ceremony, members of the WPGC presented grants to this year’s deserving recipients. From children’s therapy scholarships to helping the homeless, each project chosen for this grant cycle is making an impactful difference in our community.
Pitch Party – September 06, 2024
Members gathered at Bishop Moore Catholic H.S. for the WPGC Pitch Party featuring our four grant finalists: Blessed Trinity (Brother’s Keeper), Liz’s Legacy Foundation, (Find, Feed, & Restore), Matthew’s Hope Ministries, St. Kateri Habitat at St. Matthew Catholic Church, and IDignity. The finalist organizations provided a 5-minute presentation focusing on details of their grant request and had another 5 minutes to answer questions posed by the membership.
Finalist Site Visits – 2024
Blessed Trinity Brother’s Keeper
Liz’s Legacy Foundation
Find, Feed, & Restore
Matthew’s Hope Ministries
St. Kateri Habitat at St. Matthew Catholic Church
IDignity
For more information of the 2024 WPGC Site Visits Click Here…
Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle Year 2, Kickoff Mass & Luncheon 2024
The spirit of collective giving and engaged philanthropy came alive once again as the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle (WPGC) marked the kickoff of its second year of service to its community. Comprising a diverse group of passionate women, the WPGC recently celebrated a successful 2023, where it distributed grants totaling an impressive $15,250 to four deserving organizations.
The festivities commenced with Mass at the St. James Cathedral, where prayers of unity and purpose filled the sacred space. Following the service, a heartfelt ceremony unfolded as WPGC joyously welcomed back all 32 members from the previous year, along with the addition of 15 new enthusiastic members. Since the event, the circle has continued to grow, recently gaining four more members, and it remains open and inviting to those who still wish to join the cause.
The WPGC is committed to making a lasting difference and exciting events and initiatives are on the horizon, promising more opportunities for members to come together in service of their community. To learn more about the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle and how you can join their mission, visit their website at http://www.cfocf.org/womensgivingcircle.
As the WPGC embarks on its second year of service, the spirit of generosity and unity continues to shine brightly. Through their collective efforts, these dedicated women are making an incredible mark on their community, one grant at a time.
2023
2023 WPGC Grant Cycle
Grant Awardee Celebration – October 20, 2023
Through the collective philanthropy of its 32 founding members, the Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle (WPGC) was blessed to distribute grants of $15,250 to four organizations doing extraordinary work in our community at their inaugural Grant Awardee Celebration hosted by Certified Financial Group. WPGC chair, Lori Tolland, announced this year’s grant awardees:
Samaritan Village received a $5,000 grant for their Hope and Healing in the Village Program. Samaritan Village exists to provide a safe place where sexually trafficked women can heal from trauma, recover from addiction, and reclaim their lives to become catalysts for change in their communities. Samaritan Village offers a long-term, trauma-informed, and holistic care model of rehabilitation for survivors. Their vision is to see communities where women live free from sexual exploitation, finding restoration and wholeness in Jesus Christ.
Central Florida Diaper Bank received a $5,000 grant for their Diaper Distribution and Parent Educational Workshop Program. Central Florida Diaper Bank advocates and encourages healthy growth, nutrition and development for children from newborn to age three. They promote self- sufficiency for parents and their children who are at risk due to circumstances beyond their control by identifying their needs and providing the appropriate resources.
The Pregnancy Center of Sanford received a $3,250 grant for their Out of the Valley: Intentional Healing from Post Abortion Grief Program. Their centers exist to offer women alternatives to abortion by modeling the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate lay-counseling and the resources to empower her to make a life-affirming decision. Their post abortion recovery program is an 8-week program to address the very real grief associated with abortion. The Pregnancy Center of Sanford provides women who have experienced abortion(s) a place to uncover barriers holding them back, develop coping and healing skills as well as prepare their heart and mind for a productive future.
Harbor House of Central Florida received a $2,000 for their Emergency Shelter Food Pantry Program. Harbor House strives to prevent and break the cycle of domestic abuse through empowerment-based programs, advocacy, education, and community involvement.
After the grant checks were awarded, Sister Maria Teresa Acosta, SCTJM, the group’s spiritual advisor, offered a prayer of blessing over the leaders of the four grantee organizations.
Pitch Party – September 12, 2023
Members gathered at Bishop Moore Catholic H.S. for the WPGC Pitch Party featuring our four grant finalists: Central Florida Diaper Bank, Harbor House of Central Florida, Samaritan Village, The Pregnancy Center of Sanford. The finalist organizations provided a 5-minute presentation focusing on details of their grant request and had another 5 minutes to answer questions posed by the membership.
Finalist Site Visits – July 29 and August 1, 2023
Site Visits were arranged with the organizations selected as finalists after the first round of voting. All members were invited to attend, if available.
Central Florida Diaper Bank
Harbor House of Central Florida
Samaritan Village
Sanford Crisis Pregnancy Center
Kickoff Mass & Luncheon – February 10, 2023
Members gathered for the first time as the inaugural Women’s Philanthropic Giving Circle of Central Florida at the Kickoff Mass & Luncheon. We were blessed to begin with Mass at St. James Cathedral and then enjoy time get to know one another and hear from our servant leader, Bishop John Noonan!
Contact Us
Jeannette Eddy, CAP®
Director of Philanthropy
Email | (407) 246-4888