The Catholic Community Foundation News

The Catholic Community Foundation at Work - More than $1 Million Awarded to Community Organizations in Four Years

June 9, 2005 – Milwaukee, WI. The Catholic Community Foundation has announced a significant milestone - the awarding of over $1,000,000 in cumulative grants throughout the ten counties of southeastern Wisconsin since the Foundation's inception in July of 2001. The Catholic Community Foundation has awarded 122 grants that total more than $1 million over four years. Organizations that support causes consistent with the priorities of The Catholic Community Foundation, which include elementary and secondary Catholic school programs, leadership development, community building and health care, received these grants.

"It is heartwarming to see the seeds we have planted just a few years ago not only begin to bear fruit, but spread throughout the ten counties of southeastern Wisconsin and touch so many individuals and organizations," commented Stephen N. Graff, Chairman of the Board. "From the smallest of grants that help keep the doors of a worthy organization open, to the lives we help turn around and give a purpose to, we are happy to be able to foster aid and awareness and improve the quality of life for the community of southeastern Wisconsin" stated Mary Ellen Markowski, President of the Foundation.

The Foundation's grants provide assistance to a variety of worthy organizations. In the healthcare area, grants have been awarded to groups such as House of Peace, Angel of Hope Clinic, St. Ben's Clinic at the Cathedral Center, all of which work toward improving the health and needs of the poor and homeless. In our other areas of interest, grant awards have supported organizations such as the Benedict Center's Jail Chaplaincy program, Daystar's domestic violence victims program, Repairers of the Breach, a daytime sanctuary for the homeless, My Good Mourning Place, a bereavement center for children, and the meal program at St. John's Cathedral.

Various educational programs at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services, the Racine Elementary Association for Development and St. Mary's Springs High School in Fond du Lac have benefited.

The Foundation currently has assets of over $22 million under management. The Foundation's Board of Directors is comprised of "Catholic business leaders from the ten counties who are committed to continuing to grow the Foundation so that this milestone is the first of many," according to Markowski.