Join our NEW Circle of Belonging!

October 28 | 2026

Faith. Education. Employment. Every month.

Over the past 40 years, I’ve dedicated my life to making sure that my daughter, Vivian, born with Down Syndrome, has had every possible opportunity to thrive. I helped found the Options program at Paul VI Catholic High School as well as the Mason LIFE program, and I’ve been “Coach Leo” to my Special Olympics teams for more than three decades. I know from experience that every person with intellectual and developmental disabilities is capable of a wonderful and fulfilling life.

As a co-founder of Porto Charities, I believe that all young people with disabilities deserve access to a Catholic education and the opportunity to experience the dignity of work.

I know you believe this too, and I am so grateful for your willingness to help all of God’s children grow in their faith, learn to their full potential, and be productive members of our communities.

Where the world sees limits, we see promise!

That is why I am writing to you today.

Because of your support, in just the last year and a half, Porto Charities has been able to invest $750,000 in school grants, teacher education, scholarships, and job development for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We have already accomplished so much together, but we have so much more to do.

To that end, I am writing to you to ask if you would consider supporting Porto Charities by becoming a member of our new monthly Circle of Belonging giving program —striving together to build a culture of true belonging in the Diocese of Arlington.

Truly, no matter how large or small, every gift has an immeasurable impact on our mission. For example:

A gift of $5, $10, or $20 a month helps us to continue providing low- or no-cost educational and fellowship opportunities for special needs families across our diocese.
A gift of $50 a month helps fund religious education and sacramental preparation for children with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities at one parish.
Your gift of $100 a month helps offset the cost of providing professional development or a scholarship for one teacher serving students with disabilities in the Diocese of Arlington to pursue a master’s degree in special education.
Your gift of $250 a month will allow a young person with disabilities to fully engage in the customized employment process culminating in a job that showcases the skills of the employee and meets the needs of employers.

Enrolling in our new Circle of Belonging takes just a minute, but the impact will be lasting!

Porto Charities has been recognized — with the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator — for our stewardship of your generosity. Your monthly donation will be safely and automatically charged to your credit card each month, and you can easily change or pause your gift at any time.

Click the link below to start your monthly giving today!

I want to join the Circle of Belonging!

As a member of our Circle of Belonging, you’ll be recognized on the Porto Charities website and in our Annual Report, and we will send you a special Circle of Belonging member gift in gratitude for your generous support.

The families we serve face unique hurdles every day, but I believe there are no limits to what our young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can achieve with our support. Thank you for your compassion, kindness, and generosity as we open doors to Catholic education, faith formation, meaningful work, and community engagement for our brothers and sisters with special needs in the Diocese of Arlington.

I want to become a member!

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