CCF-LA News | December 16, 2024 | |
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Gratitude for the gifts we receive at Christmas and
year-end.
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Kathy Anderson
President and Executive Director
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This is my last newsletter as president and executive director. Each year, we have picked a theme for the month, and for December that theme has never changed—it has always been around the theme of giving, as we are reminded that the greatest gift we ever could receive was the gift of Jesus at Christmas. The creche starts to appear in our churches right after Thanksgiving, with the baby missing until Christmas Eve, when we celebrate and rejoice in this great miracle of our faith.
This year, I recognize what a gift it has been to serve this foundation for ten years. The opportunity to start something from scratch was a challenge and only strengthened my faith and resolve to set stretch goals, to write and rewrite strategic plans, to engage our extraordinary board, and to lead a team that shared my own convictions, work ethic, and passion for our mission.
As I join our Board on January 1, I will be serving the foundation in a new capacity, working on the governance side of the house. The board has been essential about what we have achieved, and I look forward to joining this team of amazing professionals. The search continues for the president and executive director, led by Ed Roohan, our incoming chairman.
Along with Bill Wardlaw, our outgoing chairman, we are committed to the future of CCF-LA and the sustainability of our Catholic church through the services we provide in philanthropy management. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, I am also grateful for the gift of time that I will have with my family and friends next year and for the opportunity to do more volunteer work for the charities that are important to our family.
| Let us journey together, with Mary and Joseph, during these days of hope and joy, preparing the way for Christ who comes as the light of the World. | |  |
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Ed Roohan
Incoming Chairman
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On January 1, 2025, I will begin my term as chairman of CCF-LA. I’ve been on the board since 2016, and, like Bill and Kathy, it has been both a gift and an honor to serve our Church by being part of this new foundation that serves the philanthropic needs of our Catholic community.
During this time, we have been entrusted with $1 billion in charitable assets to manage and have enjoyed the excitement and challenge of recruiting the best board, cultivating talented staff that believe in the mission, and of course, operating remotely during Covid for about 18 months. We also tragically lost our board member Bishop Dave O’Connell and our general counsel, Matthew Hansen, both believed in the mission deeply and were huge contributors to the success of this operation.
We strive to learn from experiences while always staying committed to the important mission of the foundation. I am looking forward to working with the board and the professional members of the CCF-LA team as we collectively work to continue to build our foundation by providing excellent client services and strong investment results aligned with the values of the Church. Although we are pleased with our past accomplishments, there is much work to do in our community as we continue to share the good news and philanthropic power of CCF-LA.
We have assisted our clients with making grants of over $550 million during this ten-year period! Our Catholic community is much better off when our client’s generosity comes to life by supporting so many important organizations and ministries. Their generosity has brightened the lives of thousands and thousands of people everywhere, especially children. We will continue to serve our clients with an unwavering commitment and a focus on strict policy compliance, exceptional client satisfaction, and opportunities to improve our philanthropic model.
Finally, and most importantly, CCF-LA and the board have been blessed to have Bill and Kathy to carry this Catholic foundation from a dream to a true force for good. Without their unwavering commitment, passion and tireless energy, the foundation would clearly be something much smaller and less relevant to our Catholic community. Today, we can look back on all that has been accomplished with much pride and tremendous gratitude to Bill and Kathy for the beautiful legacy they have built under the encouragement of Archbishop Gomez. Thank you, Bill and Kathy, for all that you have done and may God continue to bless you and watch over you and your families.
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Development-Client Services | |
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William Cruz
Manager of Business Development
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A Season of Thanks
As we close out 2024, the Development Team remains focused on building stronger relationships and advancing key initiatives. With the collective efforts of our dedicated Development Committee of the Board, we are positioned to carry the spirit of generosity and collaboration into 2025.
May this season of giving inspire us all to celebrate the gifts we’ve received and shared throughout the year. From our team to yours, we wish you a joyous Christmas season and a prosperous new year!
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Tania Naaman
Director of Client Services
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The Heart of the Season: Faith, Community, Service
As we approach the end of 2024, we reflect on the countless blessings that the Christmas season brings into our lives. For us in Client Services, it is a constant reminder of how fortunate we are to witness the spirit of giving in action each day.
It is truly a privilege to work alongside donors like you, who are deeply committed to making a difference—whether by supporting parishes, schools, or the broader community. Your generosity embodies the heart of this season and inspires us to continually strive for excellence in helping you achieve your philanthropic goals.
This giving season, let us give thanks for the many gifts we have received: the gift of faith, the gift of community, and the gift of service. May this season fill your hearts with joy, your homes with love, and your lives with blessings.
From all of us on the Client Services team, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and hope.
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November Performance Financial Market Updates | |
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November is the second month of reporting with Bank of America/Merrill and the YTD results have been calculated to include the first nine months with our previous Investment team. For the month of November, the Balanced Pool portfolio returned +4.54%, net of fees, bringing the YTD returns to +15.73%, exceeding the benchmark of +15.27%. The Intermediate Fund pool returned +1.45%, bringing the YTD returns to +8.01%, slightly behind the benchmark of +8.86%. The estimated annual yield on the Short-Term Investment Fund account is currently +4.82%.
Armando Nevarez
V.P. of Finance, Controller and Treasurer
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The S&P finished higher for the ninth time in the last eleven months and is on track for consecutive annual gains of at least 20% for the first time since 1995-1998. The Russell 2000 was the standout at the index level, posting its biggest monthly gain since December 2023.
The U.S. equity market, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index, gained +6.65% in November. Developed markets, measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, decreased -0.57% for the month. In fixed income, the Bloomberg US Aggregate Index gained +1.06% in November.
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A Year of New Beginnings
As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on all of the events that transpired this year with our move to Glendale, handling our HR function (employee relations and benefits), our IT standards for security of our communications and files, and planning and winding down my work with Kathy.
| Sean & Gina Lopez with Archbishop Gomez | As I approach my one-year anniversary with the Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles in January, the greatest gift I received at the end of 2023 was to be able to join CCF-LA and have Kathy as a role model throughout 2024. She has shown me how to forge ahead, never give up, and stay strong by holding to your faith, beliefs, and standards. Kathy, I wish our time together could have been longer. Your wisdom, generosity, and inspiring stories of climbing the corporate ladder with tenacity and courage have been invaluable. Meeting you has been a true pleasure. Thank you for everything. Your legacy at CCF-LA will undoubtedly live on, but you will be deeply missed. | | |
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New LA deacons ordained
Auxiliary Bishop Brian Nunes ordained 7 new deacons at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday, November 23rd. Two of the newly ordained deacons were interns with CCF-LA: Christian Morquecho, during the summer of 2024, and Paul Collins during the summer of 2022. Cesar Sepulveda, also an intern in 2022, participated in the celebrations.
The intern program has been a win-win for CCF-LA and the men who are on the priestly formation process at St. John’s Seminary and Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary. Their internships provide joy, inspiration, and appreciation for our foundation’s mission
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Hon. Judge Skip Byrne and Kathleen L. McCarthy | |
St. John of God
Cheers to 50 years! On November 15th the Hospitaller Foundation, the Brothers of St. John of God held their 50th Annual Mid-Season Banquet with a capacity crowd at the California Club. Our admiration and congratulations to Kathleen L. McCarthy for receiving the Caritas Award, pictured here with Hon. Judge Skip Byrne who introduced her.
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Friends of Cathedral High School take the Spirit Award!
Celebrating 100 years of Lasallian education at Cathedral High School, CCFLA supported the 22nd Annual Lou Nevarez Scholarship Dinner. The Friends of Cathedral were honored as a group of dedicated men who came together in the 1980s when the school was facing closure. They saved the school, and today it is a vibrant, exceptional facility that serves 600-plus young men. The school was one of CCF-LA's first clients, opening a fund in 2016!
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L-R: Jack Longley, Archbishop Gomez, Kathy & Howard | |
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Catholic Charities
Congratulations to our client, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, on an amazing City of Angels Christmas Gala! On Friday, December 6th, supporters of Catholic Charities gathered to celebrate the investiture of new members in three orders of our Church and to thank Msgr. Greg Cox and his team for exceptional leadership in serving the needs of the most vulnerable families and children in the archdiocese. CCF-LA was a proud sponsor with four tables of clients and friends that value the role of Catholic Charities in our communities.
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Vision of Hope Fall luncheon
Friday, November. 22nd, was the Vision of Hope Fall luncheon at the Jonathan Club. The Shea Family was presented with the inaugural Vision of Hope Partners in Mission Award in appreciation and recognition for their decades of service for our Catholic schools.
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Thankful for Thanksgiving | |
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Our annual staff Thanksgiving was celebrated in our new Glendale office, a time to remind us how grateful we are for the move, our team, and the work that we do for our Church and community.
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Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Barbara Siracusa, executive assistant in our Finance Department, for her multiple nominations for Employee of the Month. Her helpfulness across all departments was duly noted, since she joined us in December 16, 2020 and knows so much about our operations. With a banking background, she is particularly suited to be working with our bankers and investment managers.
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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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