The $2.9 million in grants distributed this past quarter were made possible through Donor Advised Funds and endowments held at the foundation. Of the 424 grants, 268 were recommended by individuals and families who maintain a Donor Advised Fund at CCF. Donor Advised Funds can be established with an initial gift of $5,000, and granting may begin immediately according to the donor’s guidance. The remaining 156 grants were distributed from parish and institutional endowments managed by CCF. An endowment provides perpetual support to its beneficiary by protecting the principal and distributing annually from the fund’s earnings.

The majority of the grants were distributed to parishes, schools and nonprofits that operate in the Twin Cities metro area. Grantees included the Catholic Services Appeal of Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Catholic Charities, and Catholic schools and parishes. Highlights include:

• Nearly $1 million went to support education. Through the generosity of donors, Our Lady of Peace School in Minneapolis received $25,000; Annunciation School in Minneapolis received $10,150; Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park received $4,000; and Totino-Grace High School in Fridley received $15,800. All the schools demonstrate outstanding academics and a commitment to Christian values.

• $305,641 went to local Catholic parishes. The Catholic Community Foundation manages endowments and long-term investment funds for nearly half of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. In this grant period, the Church of Epiphany in Coon Rapids received $100,000; the Church of St. Michael in Stillwater received $58,000; and the Church of Divine Mercy in Faribault received $18,000.

• $43,650 was granted to Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. These contributions fuel Catholic Charities’ efforts to combat homelessness and poverty as it provides services to children, families and adults. In 2008 Catholic Charities provided 1.2 million meals and 330,000 nights of shelter to homeless men, women and children through its Housing and Emergency Services initiatives. Grants also support Catholic Charities’ programs in after-school education, food and clothing assistance to youth, and social justice advocacy.

• $41,550 was granted to the Archdiocese’s Catholic Services Appeal. The Catholic Services Appeal, formerly known as the Annual Catholic Appeal, raises money to provide housing and food to those in need, Catholic education and faith formation programs for adults and children, and training and development for Catholic vocations.

Pope Benedict XVI summarized the mission of the Catholic Church as a threefold responsibility to proclaim the word of God, celebrate the sacraments, and exercise the ministry of charity. The Catholic Community Foundation’s donors demonstrate they support this mission in significant ways. For information about charitable giving options available through the Catholic Community Foundation, please call 651-389-0878 or visit www.ccf-mn.org.

ABOUT THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The mission of the Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) is to financially support the spiritual, social and educational needs of the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and the Diocese of New Ulm. CCF fulfills this mission by working with Catholic individuals, families and institutions to establish and manage charitable funds benefiting nonprofits that are in alignment with and foster Catholic values. Since its founding in 1992, CCF has granted more than $60 million to Catholic and secular nonprofits around the world. Based in St. Paul, CCF is the nation’s largest community foundation serving Catholic philanthropy. Learn more at www.ccf-mn.org.