Hello Friends,

As we look ahead and plan for the future, we are reminded that Catholic philanthropy and faithful generosity are powerful ways to live out our values and create a meaningful legacy for generations to come.

In this month's newsletter, we are pleased to share stories of faith, service, and impact from across our Catholic community. You'll read about Saint Cyprian Parish, a recipient of a Living the Faith Grant, and how parish leaders are investing in family ministry, youth engagement, evangelization, worship, and outreach to help more people encounter Christ and grow in faith.

August is also Make-A-Will Month, making it the perfect time to reflect on the legacy we hope to leave behind. Thoughtful planning can provide peace of mind for our loved ones and create opportunities to support the causes that have shaped our lives and faith. In this newsletter, we're pleased to share the story of Michael and Corazon Kalt, whose Family Charitable Legacy Plan reflects their commitment to living their faith through stewardship, charitable giving, and care for the community.

Finally, we are delighted to welcome Adelene Ramos, our new Marketing and Communications Manager, to the Foundation team. Adelene brings a wealth of experience in storytelling and mission-driven communications for nonprofits, and we look forward to the many ways she will help lead the Foundation's marketing and communications strategy, strengthen our brand and outreach, and share stories that connect our community to the Foundation's mission and impact.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our mission. Together, we are supporting important ministries, caring for our communities, and creating meaningful legacies that reflect our shared faith and values.

With Gratitude, 

Camie VanKeuren

Chief Executive Officer

In this Edition:

Living the Faith Grant Recipient Spotlight: Saint Cyprian

August is Make-A-Will Month

Donor Story: Michael and Corazon Kalt

Welcome to the Team, Adelene!

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Growing in Faith Together: Saint Cyprian Parish's Vision for Renewal

Saint Cyprian Parish in Sunnyvale is a vibrant and growing faith community committed to strengthening families, forming disciples, and serving its neighbors. As one of the Catholic Community Foundation's Living the Faith Grant Cycle recipients, the parish is embracing new opportunities to deepen faith, foster community, and bring Christ's love to others through evangelization, formation, worship, outreach, and collaboration.

Each year, the Foundation selects a handful of grant recipients to visit in person, delivering the grant award, while learning more about the communities they serve. We were blessed to visit Saint Cyprian Parish and hear about the ministries, people, and vision that are shaping their future.

Leading Saint Cyprian is Fr. Robain Lamba, who has served as pastor of the parish for the past two years. Originally from Cameroon, Fr. Lamba has lived in California for almost 18 years and previously ministered at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in San José, and St. Nicholas and William Parish in Los Altos. Through a parish survey and ongoing conversations with parishioners, Fr. Lamba and the Parish Leadership Team identified several priorities for growth and renewal that reflect both the pillars of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and the needs of the parish community.

August is Make-a-Will Month, which is the perfect time to be reminded of the importance of having legal plans in place with a will and trust, as nearly 70% of Americans lack a valid will. For most of us, seeing “make a will” on our to-do list is very daunting. While it can be a difficult subject, putting your plans together can help give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Below are three reasons why everyone should have a will, no matter your net worth.

1. You Decide How your Assets are Distributed (not the courts!)


Only by creating a will can you decide who should receive your money, assets, and belongings after your lifetime. Without a will, the courts will determine who is “next of kin” and hand everything over to that person (after taking a substantial amount themselves in fees).

2. Give Your Loved Ones Peace of Mind


Unfortunately, the distribution of an individual’s money and belongings can cause a lot of strife and tension in families. The process of having your estate go through probate can be time-consuming, expensive, and contentious. If you lay out your wishes clearly in a will, you can save a lot of needless confusion and conflict.

3. Leave a Legacy


If you would like to leave a gift to charity as part of your legacy, you can only do so through a will. A gift after your lifetime can be a beautiful expression of your values and beliefs and a wonderful gift for your community. The Foundation is here to help with ideas and solutions for legacy gifts. Find more information on our website or contact us to discuss your situation.

The Family Charitable Legacy Plan (FCLP) is a tool for creating meaningful, lasting legacies. The FCLP is simply a set of instructions that the Foundation will follow to distribute charitable gifts after the donor’s lifetime.

"Our lives are the sum of our time, talent, treasure and faith. We strive to live them so that in the end we stand unashamed of that stewardship both before our family and before God. The Foundation's "FOREVER VALUE" endowments and services like the Family Charitable Legacy Plan put intentional and impactful application of treasure in everyone's reach. For these reasons, and because the Foundation’s Catholic core so clearly reflects our faith, we chose CCF as our partner in thoughtful and faithful stewardship of our treasure." 
- Michael and Corazon Kalt

Charitable legacy planning doesn’t have to be complicated. See how the FCLP provides clarity, flexibility, and peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Learn more about FCLP and explore your options.

Read more donor stories in our 2025 Annual Report.

Welcome to the Team, Adelene!

In July, we welcomed Adelene Ramos to the team as our new Marketing and Communications Manager!

An alumna of Santa Clara University, Adelene holds an MBA from the Leavey School of Business and a BA in Film & Video from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She brings more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, storytelling, public relations, and community engagement across nonprofit, public sector, and social impact organizations.

Most recently, Adelene served as Communications Manager at Housing Trust Silicon Valley for over 6 years, where she led strategic communications across the Greater Bay Area and helped raise the organization's national profile as a leader in affordable housing finance. Previously, as Marketing Communications Program Supervisor at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County for five years, she managed integrated marketing and communications for more than 40 programs serving over 40,000 individuals and families annually.

Adelene will lead the Foundation's marketing and communications strategy and implementation, oversee brand management and public relations, and help share stories that connect our community to the Foundation's mission and impact.

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