CCF-LA News | March 15, 2024 | |
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The greatest sunrise is coming!
During Lent, our seasons move from winter to spring. Spring inspires new beginnings through the morning sun that awakens our world. It is also time to set our clocks ahead so we can get even more sunshine during the day.
The dark days of winter are quickly behind us, and we look forward to the greatest sunrise of all, when the world welcomes and celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. During Lent, we are preparing for this day in many ways: sacrificing for others, striving for excellence in our relationships with family and friends, getting closer to Jesus through prayer, meditation, and the sacraments, and finding the face of Jesus in everyone we meet.
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During the week before Easter, there are many ways to prepare, beginning with the Chrism Mass. This special mass brings all parishes together on Monday to receive the sacred sacramental oils at the Cathedral. Then, the Holy Triduum, the holiest days of our liturgical year, begins at each parish on Thursday evening with the commemoration of the Last Supper, through Good Friday and the Passion of our Lord, and culminates on Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil Mass of the Resurrection.
When the sun rises on Easter morning, the resurrection is not only the beginning of a new liturgical year but also a new beginning for each of us, with a call to continue with the wonderful ways in which we prepared for Easter. This Easter, let’s practice the great joy of giving with our family, friends, and those we do not know who need our help.
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Kathy Anderson
President and Executive Director
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Remembering Bishop Dave
One year after Bishop Dave’s passing, we remember the support and advocacy that he gave as a board member to CCF-LA. He was always there for us, and when he offered to do anything, he meant it and did it. He was particularly passionate about Catholic school education and serving the poor and marginalized. He was well known for bringing the church to the people!
In his honor, many donors from CCF-LA came together to start the Bishop David O’Connell Memorial Fund. This fund solely benefits St. John Seminary to educate and train young men to emulate the charism of Bishop Dave. This summer, CCF-LA will be making the first grants from this fund to provide for 3 or 4 seminarians to serve in inner-city parish internships. We are blessed and honored to participate in the priestly formation process in this way.
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During this season of Lent, our clients are making grants to support social services and education, ever mindful of the need to do something positive in preparation for Easter. Clients with charitable funds are learning to be in the habit of making grants. At CCF-LA, we don’t want their funds to sit idle when so many worthy charities can put their grants to work. At CCF-LA, we encourage our clients and take a pro-active approach to contacting them when too much time has passed without making a grant!
Our client services team, headed by Tania Naaman, and her team Janette Gordo Paz, and Agnes Faraon, is here to take grant requests over the phone, by email, or by snail mail, making sure that grants are issued within 2–3 business days. And we provide tax receipts for gifts to charitable funds within 2 business days of the deposit. We accomplish all of this in an environment aligned with our Catholic values for making grants and investing funds.
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February Performance Financial Market Updates | |
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February's report for pooled funds managed by CCF-LA for the month of February: The Balanced Pool portfolio returned +2.45%, net of fees, outperforming the allocation benchmark return of +2.40%. The Intermediate Fund pool returned +0.58% and the estimated annual yield on the Short-Term Investment Fund account is currently +5.41%.
Stock indices hit record highs in February bolstered by stronger than expected economic and corporate earnings data.
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Armando Nevarez
Controller and Assistant Treasurer
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The S&P 500 Index gained +5.3% for the month of February. International equities, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, closed the month up +1.8% as economic weakness in Europe weighed on returns. In Fixed Income, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Index fell -1.4% for the month. | |
Selya brings a wealth of experience and a vibrant attitude to her new role as Executive Assistant for the Development Department. With over a decade of expertise in administrative roles, including high-profile and confidential positions, Selya's upbeat demeanor adds a refreshing energy to the workplace. As she steps into her new responsibilities, her combination of seasoned professionalism and infectious positivity promises to elevate the efficiency and morale of the entire team. In Selya's world, family and faith intertwine, forming a tapestry of love, resilience, and purpose. | |
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Selya Arvizu
Executive Assistant, Development Department
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Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan, Legacy Award, Centennial Honors at the Trojan Saint Award Dinner | |
With great admiration and pride, we attended a milestone event honoring Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan to benefit Our Savior Parish and the USC Caruso Catholic Center on March 7th. This wonderful event celebrated the amazing leadership of Kathleen over many decades as an advocate for Catholic education at all levels and ministry work in the archdiocese, while guiding the legacy of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation. Well done and thanks to Board members Lou Castruccio and Bill Wardlaw for sponsoring this event. | |
Cathedral High School: Lou Nevarez scholarship recipients | |
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On March 6th, Armando Nevarez had the pleasure of attending the Cathedral High School Alumni Association meeting, where he and his mom had the opportunity to meet the recipients of the Lou Nevarez scholarships. Armando's father (in his #3 jersey) graduated from Cathedral High School in ’68 and was very involved with the school. Upon his passing in 2021, his family decided to start an annual golf tournament in his name to honor him and raise money for education. Last year, they raised over $20k. The recipients are freshmen and sophomores interested in math and science, and the scholarships are merit-based.
Cathedral High School serves over 600 young men, who are primarily from low-income families living in the oldest neighborhoods and parishes of Los Angeles. They are also clients of CCF-LA, and the President, Martin Farfan, is an advocate for CCF-LA for our assistance in managing their endowment and scholarship funds.
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CCF-LA attended the 2024 Archbishop's Awards Dinner on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
An evening of grace and gratitude that has honored extraordinary commitment to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since the late 1980s, this year’s honorees included Daniel K. Walker, Delia Wilson-Johnson, Lew and Lisa Horne, Thomas J. Blumenthal, and Clare Trueblood Gurbach and Jim Gurbach.
Congratulations to the 2024 Recipients of the Archbishop’s Award.
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Depaul USA opens first Dax house in L.A. | |
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, Depaul USA officially opened the Dax residence – The first in Los Angeles - which will provide housing and comprehensive case management support for six homeless or housing-insecure students from LA Trade Tech Community College and the University of Southern California, helping them to stay in school and successfully complete their education. The Dax program provides a stable and safe housing alternative, within walking distance of both colleges. | |
The program provides students with the following services: | | |
- Safe and affordable housing;
- Book stipends, tutoring, transportation assistance, and other essential needs assistance;
- Physical and mental health support;
- Career counseling, including work readiness and resume development;
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- Leadership development opportunities;
- Budgeting and life skills workshops; and
- Networking opportunities
- Plus more…
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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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