Igniting Our Future: An Evening of Inspiration Celebrating Catholic Education
Author: Daniel Meloy
Photos and Article Excerpts republished with permission from Detroit Catholic.
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.
Richard Lane served as the emcee of the gala and was joined by Mateo Pulido, a Holy Redeemer student who opened the gala with a prayer.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.”
“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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron raises his placard donate money to support scholarships for the children of Catholic school teachers.“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.”
Donors during the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s “Ignite Our Future” Gala raised more than $125, 000 to support Catholic education and faith formation.
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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2024 Igniting Our Future Gala
The Igniting Our Future Gala was a remarkable celebration, made possible by the generous support of our Title Sponsor, Lear Corporation. Their commitment to innovation and community development plays a vital role in our mission. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our other table and event sponsors, whose contributions helped make this evening a resounding success.
A special thank you to Ava Alexsandra Photography for helping us capture the joy and impact of the event with the photos below. Together, we are igniting a brighter future!
