A Message from Executive Director Cory J. Howat
Dear Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) Friends,

2020 has been a year of great challenge. Two viruses plague our community and our country: COVID-19 and systemic racism, the latter of which—while not novel by any means—has become especially apparent in recent months. Even in challenging times, however, the opportunity for change and growth are blessings. And at this juncture in our collective history, it is imperative that our faith brings us together, united, in Christ.

There is no denying that things look different at the Catholic Community Foundation. With uncertainties surrounding large gatherings, we decided to cancel our Annual Dinner in October for only the second time in its 34-year run—the other cancellation, of course, came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. We also made the difficult decision to let go of several staff members and reduce the hours of others, not due to lack of talent or dedication, but because of pandemic budget realities that we (and many others) must weather. 

While we navigate these changes at CCF, we recognize that a movement greater than the difficulties we face is happening across the nation. I want to reiterate that our foundation's goal is to “Foster Generosity.” That does not mean generosity for a select few. It means generosity for all. Racism has no place in answering God’s call to give back. We stand in solidarity with the black community in New Orleans and with black communities across the country.

Change can be painful. Oftentimes, it is necessary. At the foundation, we believe that generosity allows our community to hope for something greater. I am reminded of this verse in Romans:
 
"...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." Romans 5:5

We pray that God's love makes us all more generous in spirit. May God bless us and keep us as we strive to answer His call to become who we were created to be.

In gratitude,
Thank You: Generosity Shines During COVID-19 Crisis
We are grateful that one thing never seems to change: New Orleanians continue to prove that we are a generous, resilient people. Generosity comes in various forms, namely the giving back of your time, talent, and treasure. However you choose to be generous, by sharing these things with one another, we make an impact.

You don't have to look far to see generosity in action. Our fellow community members serve the sick on hospital front lines and volunteer wherever they are needed, most while balancing work and childcare. Generosity is also present in our living rooms as parishes broadcast Mass, feeding our faith at home. It is evidenced by schools going above and beyond to ensure the safety of their students and teachers. And it is demonstrated by nonprofits working together to provide the most basic necessities for those in need. Finally, generosity shines in the donors giving through our foundation to monetarily support these ministries and our community.

We thank you, and we are here to support you . For those interested in giving back, learn how the CARES Act makes it even easier to be a philanthropist or view the many ways that you can give through the Catholic Community Foundation. You may also contact us anytime or visit our COVID-19 Resources page for more information.
Catholic Community "Gives Catholic... Together"
To support the Church during the COVID-19 crisis, the #iGiveCatholic website was activated in March to accept donations for parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries through a relief initiative called #iGiveCatholic Together.

"We were honored to open the site," says Executive Director Cory J. Howat. "Our hope was to provide immediate relief for the parishes and ministries most in need."

To prepare for the regularly-scheduled 2020 #iGiveCatholic Giving Day on December 1, the relief initiative closed at the end of June. Generous givers gave a total of $43,728 to support life-giving ministries in our community. Thank you!
Announcing the Catholic Lens Series
Join us! Notre Dame Seminary and CCF are co-hosting the Fall 2020 Catholic Lens Series: Living the Gospel in a Fractured Culture. In the  four-part series , speakers will explore the foundational principles that guide our Catholic mission of unity in the world and bring a message of hope and encouragement.

The first event, Developing a Catholic Lens: The Church as a " Creative Minority ," takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. You may attend the series in-person or virtually. In-person events will be held at Schulte Auditorium at Notre Dame Seminary, and they will be socially-distanced with a 100 attendee maximum per event.

Click here for more details . Registration is required. Click the links under Upcoming Events below to register.
Catholic Community Foundation
WGC Gives Back, Celebrates Generosity
At the Women's Giving Circle's (WGC) Celebration Mass & Check Presentations in June, $173,000  was awarded to 18 nonprofit organizations in the focus area of Youth and Young Adult Development and Empowerment.  Click here to see a breakdown of this year's grants, and check out this wonderful Clarion Herald article. Big thanks to members for their generosity and support of our community!
Though our annual dinner has been cancelled, there's no reason that we shouldn't celebrate generosity this year! On September 18, we'll begin a daily countdown of all of our St. John Paul II Award winners. We'll end the countdown with a special video presentation on what would have been the date of our dinner, October 22. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to celebrate our community!
Upcoming Events and Resources
CCF General Calendar

Resources

Find yourself in your community.
Within the Greater New Orleans area, there are countless people working to meet the needs of the specific populations they serve: their parish, school, and ministry communities.  Click above to hear how people  just like you  are making a big difference in our archdiocese.