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Catholic Community Foundation hosts inaugural grants reception
By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
October 19, 2006
The Catholic Community Foundation awarded $416,000 to 64 recipients at its inaugural grants reception at the Diocesan Pastoral Center Oct. 5.
The foundation, which describes itself as a “non-profit, independent charitable foundation that supports the religious, education and charitable objectives of the Diocese of Phoenix,” has awarded more than $4 million since its inception in 1983.
“In previous years we’ve just mailed the grants out to the recipients. I think it’s exciting to have both the recipients and donors meet face to face” at the luncheon, said Andy Groseta, chairman of the Catholic Community Foundation.
The organization presented checks to Catholic schools, parishes and other groups for their work in education, formation, communication and work with the poor.
“The main reason why we’re here is to honor you: the heroes of the Catholic diocese,” said Cynthia Ketcherside, treasurer of the foundation’s board of directors, to the nearly 100 in attendance. “You are truly the hands and feet of Christ here in our diocese.”
The grants help organizations like Maggie’s Place, a home for pregnant women, operate. Other recipients included St. Joseph the Worker, a group that helps homeless men and women find employment.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted described the reception as “a sign of the way the Catholic community lives by means of giving of self to others, and receiving the gift from others graciously in a way that honors the person who made the gift and then multiplies the gift as it comes through.”
One way that gift is multiplied is in the diocese’s Catholic schools. They rely heavily on the foundation’s grants to alleviate the burden of tuition that many poorer families bear.
“This year we had $15 million of need that was met by $9 million from the CTDOP tax credit,” said MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of the Catholic schools. The difference is made up in part by grants from the Catholic Community Foundation.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for allowing us to make Catholic education available to all students,” Mueller added.
Paula Osterday, Seton Catholic High School’s advancement director, described how important the grants are each year for the school.
“About 40 percent of our student population needs financial aid, so the tax credit helps, but there’s still need that is not met. The scholarships that we get from the Catholic Community Foundation are just foundational to us,” she said.
Seton High School is not alone in needing the generous grants provided by the organization.
“Almost all of the parishes and schools in the diocese have endowments here with us,” said Donald Ruff, interim executive director of the foundation.
He said that the foundation raises its money through “fundraising, special events and other special projects in support of grant and scholarship recipients.”
The foundation’s most prominent fundraiser is the annual Crozier Dinner. Former Phoenix Sun Jeff Hornacek hosted last spring’s dinner, which nearly 800 guests attended.
Events like the Crozier Dinner help the Catholic Community Foundation to continue in its support of charitable organizations throughout the diocese.
The bishop recognized the important work carried out by the foundation and hoped the luncheon was “a day to celebrate God’s goodness to us in blessing us so richly, but also making it possible to give to others.”
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