Catholic Community Foundation hosts Giving Circle Awards at St. Francis
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The Giving Circle of the Catholic Community Foundation granted out a total of $144,323.28 to nine organizations that serve local communities across Arizona.
Its annual Giving Circle Awards Ceremony was held at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Phoenix, according to a press release.
The Giving Circle is the only Catholic-granting giving circle in Arizona whereas the grant fund amount this year is a collection of annual member dues and the disbursement from the ‘Forever Funds,’ which are endowments for various categories, including Community (+ Music), Care, and Life.
There are close to 40 Giving Circle Members. The goal every year is to grow memberships and donations to those ‘Forever Funds’ so that the program can continue to grant out as much as possible, Catholic Community Foundation officials report.
In November of 2023, the Catholic Community Foundation received grant applications from 55 organizations. These organizations and requests were further evaluated by the Catholic Community Foundation team, and 23 organizations were then invited to Pitch Day on Jan. 18, 2023 at Mt. Claret Retreat Center. The Giving Circle Members voted for their top three pitches in each category: Community (+ Music), Care, and Life.
This year’s awardees are:
- Community Category – supporting infrastructure and program improvements, which also includes music
- Our Lady of the Lake Parish Soup Kitchen: awarded $25,000
- St. Timothy Daycare & School: awarded $20,436
- Foundation for Senior Living: awarded $13,000
- Mt. Claret Retreat Center: awarded $15,000
- St. Benedict Catholic Church: awarded $10,000
- Care Category – supporting the corporal and spiritual works of mercy
- Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels: awarded $25,000
- Saving Amy: awarded $14,387.28
- Walking with Moms in Need – St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish: awarded $1,500
- Life – supporting the sanctity of life from conception to natural death
- Sisters of Life: awarded $20,000
