Catholic Foundation of Michigan's inaugural 'Igniting Our Future' Gala celebrates six years of generosity for scholarships, youth
DETROIT — The Catholic Foundation of Michigan celebrated the sixth anniversary of its founding by acknowledging the work done in the past to support Catholic education while asking donors to dream of what can be achieved in the future.
The foundation hosted its inaugural “Igniting Our Future Gala” on Oct. 3 at One Campus Martius in Detroit, an opportunity to celebrate donors' generosity in supporting the foundation's work, including its distribution of more than $27 million in grants in the community.
The night’s gala focused on education, highlighting the $8 million granted to support youth Catholic education, $2.6 million in investments to ensure long-term sustainability, and 187 charitable funds focused on youth.
“It is good to celebrate and give thanks for the abundance of generosity in the community,” said Angela Moloney, president and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan. “A community that heeds the call of what Jesus tells us, ‘To love one another as I have loved you.’ Six years ago, we launched the Catholic Foundation of Michigan, a courageous group of men and women who decided to step out in faith, to connect joyful givers to the needs of our Church and the needs of our world in a dynamic and sustainable way.”
The Catholic Foundation of Michigan has served as a conduit for more than $75 million in contributions since its founding, distributing more than $27 million in grants and scholarships to schools, parishes and ministries all across the state.
“Each year, this impact, these numbers are growing,” Moloney said. “What’s more important than the numbers is the people you represent. It’s the hungry being fed, the naked who are being clothed, the forgotten who are being listened to, because of your joyful, generous giving. It is you, living out the Gospel imperative of giving without counting the cost.”
Catholic lay evangelist Richard Lane emceed the gala, thanking those in attendance for supporting Catholic education and building a lasting legacy that will benefit generations of the Church in the years to come.
“Your dollars this evening will help the Catholic Foundation recognize and dispense grace to those in need with a shot of success,” Lane said. “Your dollars will help the Catholic Foundation seek out and sponsor resilience in the thousands of people found in the great state of Michigan.”
Lane, the son of legendary Detroit Lions cornerback Dick “Nigh Train” Lane, employed a current Detroit Lions motto, “Grit,” to describe the impact the Catholic Foundation has had on the area.
“Grace. Resilience. Integrity. Togetherness. G-R-I-T, what does that spell?” Lane said. “The Catholic Foundation of Michigan has highlighted six years of dedication, generosity, faith and grit, defied the odds and transforming the lives of people who have already defied the odds.”
Lane then challenged guests to raise $100,000 to support scholarships and youth programs — a goal that was achieved by the end of the evening.
“Tonight, we are here to impact lives, to build solid foundations for the future,” Lane said. “Brothers and sisters, we are here to build solid foundations for generations to come, all the while understanding the joy of giving to others.”
Chris Allen, chairman of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s board of directors, said the past support and generosity of donors has allowed the foundation to work with 559 nonprofits across the state to truly transform communities.
“Archbishop (Allen H.) Vigneron talks about ‘Unleashing the Gospel,’ and tonight’s about ‘Unleashing the Gospel’ — in our communities, in our families, and making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us,” Allen said. “We’re here tonight to ignite that spirit and to share who we are, what we do, and why we do it. We are raising critical funds for youth programs and scholarships for children and families in need. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to receive a life-changing education.”
Allen put a particular focus on raising money for scholarships for children of Catholic school teachers as a means to retain and invest in the men and women who teach in Catholic schools, forming the next generation of disciples.
“It’s an investment in the future of our children, our families and our communities,” Allen said. “With school closures and our challenges, we know we must do more. We are raising funds to retain talented education leaders by easing the financial burden of their children’s tuition from their shoulders so they can focus on what they do best: shaping the minds and hearts of our future leaders.”
Allen shared a story of the impact the scholarship dollars made when he made a recent trip to Christ the King Elementary School on Detroit’s west side.
“When we see smiles on the faces of our grant recipients, we know we are doing something right,” Allen said. “I was there with Archbishop Vigneron, Fr. John (McKenzie, priest at Christ the King Parish) and principal Brittany (Culkowski), and we were giving out St. Anne Scholarships. The smiles on the faces of the students, it was unbelievable. It reinforces what we do and why we do it. There are so many communities who need our help, who need our support. Who need us to be the hands and feet of Christ.”
Moloney also highlighted the Catholic Foundation’s St. Margaret of Castello Fund for Catholics schools looking to start or expand special education programs. Moloney said the fund's goal is to make Catholic schools in southeast Michigan truly inclusive for every family, regardless of physical and cognitive ability.
The foundation has already granted $8 million to support scholarships and youth initiatives, including $2.5 million in tuition assistance, but even still, there are times when the foundation’s Grant and Impact Committee has to decline a scholarship application because there isn’t enough money to go around.
“We all know that the need of Catholic education is greater now more than ever,” Moloney said. “Families are reaching out for support, and schools are requesting of us to help them fulfill the needs of families of educating their children, of growing the faith.”
Dan Weingartz, a partner at Weingartz Supply Co., was the keynote speaker at the gala. By giving through the Catholic Foundation of Michigan, Weingartz said the Weingartz Family Foundation was introduced to like-minded individuals with whom it could work to accomplish great things.
Weingartz gave specific praise to the St. Margaret Castello Fund, which helps families of children with special needs obtain a Catholic education.
“As a parent who has seen firsthand the incredible impact of Catholic education through my own four children, I know how transformative it can be for young people, but the financial barrier is real for many families,” Weingartz said. “Archbishop Vigneron commented that the goal of Catholic education is to have it be available for every family that desires it; that’s why the foundation's efforts to raise scholarship funds is so critical.
"Every child deserves access to a faith-filled education that nurtures their spiritual, intellectual or moral development," Weingartz said. "When we make this investment in our youth, we're not just shaping this generation of Catholics, but building a stronger, more compassionate world for the future.”
Archbishop Vigneron ended the evening by thanking the donors and organizers of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan and remarking that the foundation has been a lay-led mission that has sought to renew the local church.
“One thing all of us pastors are worried about is the renewal of the Gospel in our communities today,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “It was my hero St. John Henry Newman who said, ‘When the church is in need, the priests should get out of the way and watch what the Holy Spirit is doing.’ That is what I believe about the Catholic Foundation.
“How grateful I am for what you do your connection, your philanthropy, your engagement to help the cause of Christ,” Archbishop Vigneron added. “Thank you all very much from a pastor's heart.”
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