CCF-LA News | August 16, 2024 | |
"School days, School days....reboot" | |
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As we live the final days of summer, we enjoy the easy traffic for commutes, the lazy weekends of barbecues and swimming, and the quality time with our families and friends. Soon that will all change when schools reopen for the 2024/2025 school year. Taking advantage of these final days, I wanted to repeat some of the thoughts in one of my favorite August columns that appeared in 2021, making the case for Catholic school education.
The title of this column was “School Days, School Days….”
Ask me or any Catholic school graduate about the importance of their Catholic school experience in the formation of their careers, work ethic, and success in life. Catholic schools provide well-rounded educations in science, reading and writing, critical thinking, math, fine and performing arts, and the social justice teaching of our faith, and it all begins in a safe and nurturing environment. Combined, these are the essentials to achieving a successful and fulfilling life. Our Catholic principles and traditions remain at the core of the education mission of our schools to inform students about making ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetimes.
Catholic school supporters have invested tens of millions of dollars in recent years to upgrade learning tools, facilities for classrooms and playgrounds, and in the development of our teachers. These projects include STEM labs, new athletic fields and facilities, theaters for performing arts, and the delivery of upgraded technology like robotics. Dedicated faculty and staff are exceptional educators, focusing on the curriculum, teamwork in the classroom, and making sure that every student has a chance to excel.
My unwavering belief is that every child deserves the choice and opportunity to learn in a Catholic school. I wish our schools were free, but they must rely on tuition and donations. The cost of tuition should not be the barrier to entry; tuition assistance is available; just ask the school’s principal! And know of the gratitude we all have for the thousands of individuals and foundations that send annual gifts to keep the schools viable and exceptional.
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Kathy Anderson
President and Executive Director
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Now speaking to Catholic school graduates, pay it forward! Making an investment in a Catholic school education, especially for the poor and marginalized, is an investment for life—in the student, their family, their neighborhood, and our world. Enjoy these final days of summer and make a difference in one student simply by sending a gift to your Catholic school to help with tuition. | | |
Father Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F., Our Miracle Worker
In 2017, Fr. Kevin Manion asked CCF-LA to assist in the management of funds raised by friends of Fr. Aloysius to support his case for sainthood. Thus began the Association for the Beatification and Canonization of Father Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F., Fund, an important way to raise the level of awareness of this blessed priest and the dedication of his friends and former parishioners in recognizing his miracles. So many have been touched by his life. The road to sainthood is a long process, and the funds raised have been used to document his life, his miracles, and the process to Rome for canonization.
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July was a time to prepare for a new beginning for CCF-LA. As we counted the days until our move, we reflected a lot while packing up the last 10 years. A new space in a new city is just what an organization needs to reflect on and set goals for its future. We are now in Glendale, and our team's energy is off the charts. We are excited to share our new space with you. | |
July Performance Financial Market Updates | |
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The July 2024 Performance Report for the pooled funds managed by CCF-LA. For the month of July, the Balanced Pool portfolio returned +2.71%, net of fees, bringing the YTD returns to +8.18%. The Intermediate Fund pool returned +0.99%, bringing the YTD returns to +4.75%, and the estimated annual yield on the Short-Term Investment Fund account is currently +5.12%.
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Armando Nevarez
Controller and Assistant Treasurer
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Stock markets continued to rally in July, led by small cap stocks. Despite stretched valuations, investors remained optimistic around the prospects of a soft landing and inflation cooling enough for near term rate cuts. The month closed with a largely uneventful Fed meeting, where rates were held steady, as expected.
The U.S. equity market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, gained +1.2% in July, bringing year-to-date returns to +9.9%. International stock indices followed the U.S. upward in July, with developed markets tacking on +2.9% as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index. In fixed income, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Index gained +2.3% in July.
In August, Investors got a reminder that the laziest month of summer can often carry a sting in the form of financial market turbulence. So far, the month has been volatile and we will continue to monitor the situation.
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William Cruz
Manager of Business Development
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Summer is the time we see many scholarship funds being created for the upcoming school year. As summer comes to an end and the development team reflects on the funds created, a common trend stands out. Alumni have seen the need at their alma maters and would like to help but might not be able to create a fund on their own. Throughout the summer, the CCF-LA team has worked with schools and alumni about this situation, and the outcome has been amazing. Alumni have reached out to previous classmates and friends, banded together to get an initial deposit for a fund, and grown the fund from additional contributions from other alumni, creating a class fund or memorial fund. We love to see the values that Catholic schools instill in their students, especially the sense of community through their Catholic school education. | | |
Join the CCFL-LA effort to spread the great joy of giving. Please call us if you know an individual or an organization that can benefit from our philanthropic management solutions. We welcome your referral. | | |
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CALL Dinner at The Archbishop's Residence
The Catholic Association for Latino Leadership hosted a dinner at the Archbishop’s residence on August 2 to celebrate the awardees of their Gala on September 28. Kathy attended the event with her husband and was seated with Jose, past president of CALL and Mary Ellen Legaspi, pictured here. This year’s honorees are
- Jaime Jarrin - Entertainment Award
- Soledad Eye Surgeons (Dr. Paul & Mrs. Nora Urrea) - Business Award
- Christian De Larkin - Emerging Leader Award
- Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ - Religious Award
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Big Event for Our Maronite Friends and the World
Tania Naaman attended a mass at Our Lady of Mount Lebanon – St. Peter Cathedral, presided over by His Excellency Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, to honor the beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy.
Following the Mass, a special ceremony took place in the church’s front yard, where a cedar tree from Lebanon was planted and blessed by Bishop Zaidan. This cedar, a powerful symbol of resilience and divine grace, serves as a lasting tribute to Patriarch Douaihy's enduring influence and the deep roots of the Maronite faith.
Tania Naaman
Director of Client Services
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Don't Miss the Upcoming Events | |
St. John's Seminary 85th Anniversary Gala | |
2024 CALL Angel Award Honorees | |
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Mission Statement
The Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles empowers charitable individuals and organizations across cultures and generations through professional philanthropy management solutions that allow clients to develop and sustain their philanthropy in support of Catholic values.
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