Catholic Foundation of North Georgia

Parish staff -- have your questions answered! Join us tomorrow at noon for a 30 minute lunch and learn about Endowment Sunday. During the webinar, you will learn how to use the toolkit and gain some insight into building a successful campaign. Find more resources and register online at https://lnkd.in/emMmXB3B.

Gerald (Gerry) Francis McDonald lived 80 wonderful years before losing a brief battle with cancer. In his retirement, he dedicated his time to St. John Neumann Catholic Church, which is why he asked for memorial gifts to be made to St. John Neumann in his name. Tribute gifts affirm your commitment to ensuring our Catholic values and also recognize that this passion was shared by your loved one. Any gift can be made in honor of or in memory of someone important to you. Read more about Gerry's story and about tribute gifts in the annual report at https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Every year the Catholic Foundation awards forty $1,000 Parish Enrichment Grants to support the needs of parishes and missions in the archdiocese. These grants supported many communities in fall 2023 and spring 2024, including the ones shown here: Corpus Christi Catholic Church (Stone Mountain), Good Samaritan Catholic Church (Ellijay), and St. Andrew Catholic Church (Roswell). Respectively, these parishes used the funds to provide new liturgical garments for the altar servers, to purchase bibles for the Parish School of Religion program, and to purchase video and photo equipment for the Communications Ministry. To read more about how Parish Enrichment Grants support our archdiocese, visit https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Established in 2024, the Barbara Bafundo Support Services Scholarship Fund will provide financial support for students in need of support services at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School. Read more about the story behind this fund in our 23-24 Annual Report at https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Having grown up with Sandra, Kathie Lunsford understands how vital it is for young adults with developmental disorders to receive the support necessary to become independent. She found her opportunity to provide this support several years ago while reading a Catholic Foundation newsletter. The Sandra Ward Gibson fund has provided grants to organizations including Adult Disability Medical Healthcare, Friends of L'Arche Atlanta, Great Prospects, Peachtree Farm, People Making Progress, and St. Mary's Independent Living Extensions (SMILE). Read more about the story behind this fund in our 23-24 Annual Report at https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

The St. Margaret de Castello fund was established in 2021 by an anonymous donor. Donations to this fund help support organizations that help families with special needs children, Catholic schools, and organizations that help individuals and families in need. Read more about the story behind this fund in our 23-24 Annual Report at https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Last year, LaRhonda Julien established the Julien Antoine Special Needs Endowment Fund in her son's name in order to help support children and adults with special needs. Grants from this fund can be used for medical assistance (treatment, therapy, and equipment), social opportunities, and life skills and vocational training. Read more about the story behind this fund in our 23-24 Annual Report at https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Every day our community is supported by many organizations, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who do the work of Christ. But who supports the organizations? 120 grants were awarded this past fiscal year through our Catholic Community Grants program. These competitive grants support all sorts of initiatives like putting new technology in Catholic schools, providing shelter for families, and more. To read more about how these grants support our community here in the archdiocese, visit https://lnkd.in/ef8Gniq9.

Cindy and Darrin partnered with the Catholic Foundation to create this fund after their own experience with adoption. After years of battling with infertility, the couple decided to turn to adoption. They now have four daughters, two of whom were adopted. Cindy and Darrin recognize that the adoption process takes a lot of fiscal and emotional resources. They themselves have experienced two failed adoptions and know other families who have chosen not to pursue adoption because the cost would be too great. In order to give other families the chance to experience the same fulfillment and love that they have gotten through adopting, they started the St. Joseph Adoption Support Fund. The fund alleviates the financial burden on families so that they can give more of their time and attention to their new child. Donations to the fund are directed toward Covenant Care Adoptions and Lifeline Children’s Services in Georgia. The fund bears the name of St. Joseph, who was the foster father of Jesus. You can donate today to support these families at: https://ow.ly/vxYR50VjCjT.

You may think of St. Joseph as a carpenter and the husband of Mary, but it's important to remember that he was also the foster father of Jesus. Let us reflect on what Pope Francis said in his homily on this day in 2013: "I have great love for St. Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of St. Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church!" Today, on his feast day, we want to keep in our prayers those families who have adopted children and those who are looking to adopt. You can donate now to support these families through the St. Joseph Adoption Support Fund at https://ow.ly/arHe50VjCiU. Check back here tomorrow where we will be sharing more about the story behind this fund. St. Joseph, pray for us.