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Grant Distribution Update
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Welcome to the Team, Liliana!
In August, CCF welcomed a new member to our team. Liliana Zuniga Diaz joined us as our new Administrative Coordinator. A San Jose native, Liliana is a recent graduate who attended College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
Where did you grow up and what was your favorite part about growing up there?
I grew up in San Jose, CA. My favorite part about growing up here is having all my family local and being able to go to Half Moon Bay and enjoy a cookout.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
read more…Mental Health Support for Catholic School Students
Updated August 2024
In 2021, a coalition of experts in pediatric health declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide have risen steadily since 2010, and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24.1
In 2020, Foundation staff were having conversations about this topic with a number of donors who were concerned about this issue, especially in light of the strains of the pandemic on school-aged children. The Pillar of Hope Fund was created to provide counseling and intervention services for low-income students attending Catholic schools in Santa Clara County. The fund has been granting since 2021 and has already made a significant impact on children, families, and teachers in underserved communities.
read more…Grantee Story: Saint Victor Parish’s Spiritual Retreats
By Marie Galetto-Dugoni
The pastor, staff and volunteers at Saint Victor Parish work hard to create engaging, spiritually fulfilling experiences for their parishioners. In 2017, Fr. Mark Gazzingan, Tamra Nelson, and the parish staff decided to try something new. The Catholic Community Foundation offers grants in the area of Pastoral Ministry Training and Formation which are used to enhance parishioners’ spiritual life. Tamra decided to apply for a grant in this category to fund a new idea – retreats during Advent and Lent. Now, seven years on, the retreats are hugely popular among parishioners, and it’s common knowledge that you need to sign up for the retreats early or risk the event filling up.
It’s life-giving to see our parishioners come together and grow together in their faith so enthusiastically,”
Tamra Nelson, Saint Victor Parish Business Manager
Events like these are only successful because of the hard work of many hands. Staff and volunteers work hard to plan engaging speakers, crafts and activities for children (and adults!), reflection periods, prayer service, and meals. Even the pandemic couldn’t stop the team at St. Victor. When in-person retreats weren’t possible, the staff put together a “retreat in a box” which was distributed and then the supplies in the box were used during the virtual retreat. “People loved them,” says Tamra. “We wanted to create a high-quality event, even if we couldn’t participate together in person. People’s response was really positive, and we’ve had a lot of interest in the retreats in following years as well.” Thanks in part to the grant from the Foundation, these events are free for the 225 parishioners who participate.
In 2024, St. Victor Parish received five grants for various programs through the Foundation’s Spring Grant Cycle in the areas of Liturgical Music, Parish Outreach, Parish Stewardship, Pastoral Ministry Training and Formation and Lay & Religious Leadership. These grants will help the parish provide enriching and vital programs for parishioners and the broader community. The Foundation is proud to support programs at parishes throughout the Diocese of San José through the Spring Grant Cycle.
To learn more about the Foundation’s granting, visit catholiccf.org/grants.
Creating a Philanthropic Plan
Using a Donor Advised Fund, one couple is exploring their philanthropic strategy
Andy and Trish O’Donnell have always deeply valued giving back to the community; however, as busy professionals raising a daughter, it was challenging to find sufficient time to dedicate to the causes close to their hearts. That is all changing now as they are entering into a new chapter in their lives: retirement. Their first retirement goals are to create a strategic plan for their philanthropy and get their daughter involved in aspects of their philanthropic plan.
read more…Giving a DAF for Christmas
One donor’s story of family philanthropy using gifted Donor Advised Funds
A number of donors were inspired to take advantage of the Donor Advised Fund Match not only for their own DAFs, but to create DAFs for their children. The idea of “giving a DAF for Christmas” caught on with families who wanted to engage with their adult children or grandchildren around topics of gratitude, generosity, and legacy.
read more…