The Catholic Foundation of Michigan invites you to join more than 300 community leaders, donors, clergy, and friends for one of our most inspiring evenings of the year.
This year, the Igniting Our Future Gala comes to The Henry Ford Museum, where guests will gather among some of America’s most iconic stories of vision and innovation.
Together, we will celebrate the impact of Catholic generosity and create new opportunities for young people to grow in faith, purpose, and service.
Honored by Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, and most recently appointed to the Dicastery for Evangelization, Curtis Martin has spent more than 25 years inspiring Catholics to boldly live their faith and share the Gospel through everyday life.
See why so many have been inspired by his mission.
What does it mean to truly ignite our future?
It means opening doors, awakening purpose, and empowering young people to carry the Church forward with courage.
Gala proceeds will advance the Foundation’s mission to provide Catholic school scholarships and support programs that change the trajectory of young lives and form the next generation of faith-filled leaders.
Professional Advisor Group Connects Expertise with Mission
Professional Advisor Group Gathers for Morning of Connection
Last Wednesday, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’sProfessional Advisor Group gathered for a morning of conversation, connection, and shared purpose.
This Foundation’s PAG brings together attorneys, financial planners, CPAs, insurance professionals, wealth advisors, trust officers, real estate professionals, and many more who help individuals and families consider charitable giving as part of their financial and estate planning.
New and returning members introduced themselves and shared more about their work, their ties to the Catholic community, and what led them to connect with the Foundation. Members represented experience in estate planning, retirement and investment management, insurance, real estate, and charitable giving.
Among the new members welcomed was Christine Zarycky, who first became familiar with the Foundation through its support of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Schools Refugee Support Fund at her parish school. An attorney for more than 30 years, Christine focuses on tax planning and preparation, estate planning, and real estate, serving clients from her Birmingham and Downriver offices.
“Our Professional Advisor Group continues to grow with professionals who are not only leaders in their fields, but are also committed to serving others. Together, they help connect individuals and families with charitable giving opportunities that reflect their values and strengthen Catholic ministries across Michigan.”
Jean Ann Montagna Director of Development, Catholic Foundation of Michigan
The Catholic Foundation of Michigan is grateful for the members of its Professional Advisor Group who generously share their time and expertise. As the group continues to grow, so does its ability to connect generous people with the ministries and causes they care about most.
Interested in Learning More?
The Catholic Foundation of Michigan welcomes professional advisors who are interested in charitable planning and supporting Catholic or faith-based clients.
To learn more about the Professional Advisor Group or future gatherings, please click here.
Catholic Foundation Hosts Grant Writing Workshop to Strengthen Local Ministries
Strong grant proposals can open doors to new opportunities for Catholic ministries. To help organizations strengthen their applications and better tell their stories, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan recently welcomed more than 50 leaders from parishes, schools, and nonprofit organizations for its annual Grant Writing Workshop.
Made possible through the generosity of Catholic Foundation donors and the support of Alliance Catholic Credit Union, the workshop was offered at no cost to both first-time applicants and seasoned grant seekers. “The Foundation’s commitment goes beyond grant funding. We also want to provide ministries with the education, resources, and practical tools they need to strengthen their work and grow their impact,” shared John F. Biskner, the Foundation’s President & CEO.
The workshop was led by Dr. Sigrid Streit, Professor of English at the University of Detroit Mercy and an experienced grant writer and educator. She shared practical strategies for understanding a funder’s priorities, communicating community need, developing measurable outcomes, and creating realistic project budgets.
Beyond the practical guidance, the workshop created space for participants to exchange ideas and build connections with fellow nonprofit and ministry leaders from across Southeast Michigan. For many, the value of the morning was found not only in the information shared, but also in learning alongside others committed to serving their communities.
Participant Reflections
“Thank you for the informative grants workshop and all of the tips you and the team provided! This was very helpful as a first-time applicant. Great and meaningful work you all are doing!”
Antonette Slobodian Alumni Engagement Coordinator Interim Advancement Director Bishop Foley Catholic High School
“I found the workshop very helpful and really enjoyed meeting fellow nonprofit leaders in the area. I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you and your colleagues put into this session!”
Katie Patterson Corporate & Foundations Relations Manager Madonna University
From “hope” to “compassion” participants captured the heart of their ministry in a single word, illustrating the shared commitment to serving others.
During one interactive activity, participants were invited to describe what inspires their ministry in a single word. Responses such as hope, compassion, healing, dignity, service, faith, and community served as a reminder of the shared mission that brought organizations together.
The Catholic Foundation is grateful to Alliance Catholic Credit Union for hosting the workshop, to Dr. Streit for sharing her expertise, and to everyone who joined us for a morning dedicated to strengthening ministries through effective grant writing.
As the Foundation continues to expand its grantmaking efforts, workshops like these help ensure ministries have the knowledge and confidence to pursue funding opportunities that strengthen their communities and advance the mission of the Church.
By investing in the people and organizations serving our communities, donors help strengthen Catholic ministries long before a grant is awarded—creating a lasting impact across Southeast Michigan.
Learn More About Our Grant Opportunities
Explore the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s grant opportunities, eligibility requirements, funding priorities, and upcoming application deadlines.
More Than a Memory: Frank Morelli’s Legacy at Work
On October 3rd 2020, Frank Morelli tragically passed away after a horrible car accident. Gone too soon, family and friends remember him as being a man of strong faith and character, who brought a smile to everyone he met. His warmth, jovial personality, and big heart brought a smile to everyone he met. He worked as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch and was a committed supporter of St. Vincent de Paul.
In partnership with St. Vincent de Paul, Frank’s business partner and dear friend, Frank Migliazzo helped launch the Frank Morelli Legacy Fund to support the mission of sending economically disadvantaged youth to St. Vincent de Paul’s Camp Ozanam.
Carrying Frank’s Legacy Forward
Annually, friends, family and colleagues come together at the Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester Hills to honor Frank’s memory. It is a day of unity, remembrance, and joy that raises funds to continue support more young people in his name.
Supporting Young People in Frank’s Memory
In 2024, the Frank Morelli Legacy Fund expanded to support two causes.
Camp Ozanam: Helping children from economically disadvantaged families attend camp, build meaningful friendships, experience the outdoors, and connect with supportive mentors.
Catholic School Scholarships: Providing tuition assistance for Catholic high school students who have experienced the loss of a parent, legal guardian, or sibling.
Frank Morelli was remembered for his warmth, joyful spirit, strong faith, and generous heart. He had a gift for bringing people together and making those around him feel welcomed and supported.
Today, his legacy lives on through every child who experiences the joy of Camp Ozanam, every student who is able to continue a Catholic education, and every person who comes together to support the fund established in his memory.
Continue Frank’s Legacy
One-time and recurring gifts to the Frank Morelli Legacy Fund help carry Frank’s kindness and generosity forward for generations to come.
Holy Redeemer Students Honor Our Lady by Transforming School with the Marian Project
Editor’s Note
This article was originally published by Detroit Catholic, with reporting and photography by Daniel Meloy, and is republished here with permission. Additional quotes highlighted in blue have been added by the Catholic Foundation of Michigan to show the project’s wider impact of the Church in the City grant— inspiring donors, school leaders, and Catholic communities beyond Most Holy Redeemer in Detroit.
Students show off various Marian crafts to benefactors and alumni during school tour
DETROIT ─ Holy Redeemer students in Southwest Detroit have embraced Marian spirituality this academic year, culminating in turning their school into an immersive tour highlighting different aspects of devotion to Our Lady.
Students hosted alumni, donors and school sponsors on May 4 to showcase their Marian Project — “Growing as Disciples of Jesus Through Mary” — and highlighted various aspects of Marian spirituality.
The project was made possible by a $5,000 “Church in the City” grant from benefactors through the Catholic Foundation of Michigan, which enabled the students to create various displays throughout the school.
“Part of our mission statement as a school is that we are to become Catholic disciples who are proud Catholics growing as disciples,” Laura Ilov, assistant principal at Holy Redeemer School, told Detroit Catholic. “So, what we wanted to do is find a way that we could grow, and what we decided on was looking to Mary and finding a way to integrate Mary’s virtues in our school throughout the year.”
Each grade from pre-K through eighth grade completed various arts and crafts projects showcasing various aspects of Marian spirituality, including the rosary, the story of Mary, Marian shrines and the history of Marian apparitions.
“Our school took a group of students to see the project, and now we are inspired to follow their lead! It was an amazing experience!”
— Bridget Dean-Hondzinski, Head of School at Holy Family Regional School
“The grant allowed us to purchase what we needed in order to complete our projects,” Ilov said. “It is also going to help us with our retreat team and planning our trip where the whole school will go on pilgrimage to the Solanus Casey Center on May 13 — the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima.”
Sixth-grader Ivan Rodriguez and his team crafted a 3D depiction of Our Lady of Fatima appearing before Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto. In addition to creating it, they had to give a report to school benefactors and alumni who wanted to check out the students’ work.
“We have been working on these displays of Marian apparitions, when Mary has appeared to different people in the world in the past,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been working hard, and we had to stay on budget and meet a deadline. A lot of work went into this.”
Sixth-grader Maria Belen and her team worked on a display spotlighting Our Lady of Lourdes, wanting to depict the natural elements present in Our Lady’s apparition in Lourdes, France. Photo by Daniel Meloy | Detroit Catholic
Sixth-grader Maria Belen and her team worked on a display spotlighting Our Lady of Lourdes.
“We made the apparition when she made the miracle of the flowering spring, the healing water,” Belen said. “Our display was about nature and the rosary, because during the apparition, every time Bernadette went to see Our Lady, they prayed the rosary. My group and I were very proud, and we were excited to show people our project; I think we did a good job.”
“Being there in person and witnessing the faith and reverence these young children have for Mary was truly inspiring and moving. God bless them all, along with the staff and this school, for providing such a strong faith-based education.”
— Doug Noble, Catholic Foundation of Michigan Board Member
The tour featured school benefactors who sponsored individual students, donors through the Catholic Foundation of Michigan and Holy Redeemer alumni who wanted to see the school’s next generation of scholars.
Ilov is deeply devoted to Mary and has always wanted to incorporate more Marian spirituality into school life at Holy Redeemer. She was so proud of her students delving into the Marian Project, learning more about Mary and, in turn, growing closer to their Blessed Mother and her Son.
“I loved the way the students worked as groups and the collaboration,” Ilov said. “It kind of gives me hope for the future because the more they know about Mary, the stronger they’re going to grow in their faith and bring it on to others, pass it on to their families. It’s our main goal to make them disciples and have a faith they can go out and take it to their families and then out to the community.”
This article was originally published by Detroit Catholic and is republished here with permission. All reporting and photos are credited to Daniel Meloy | Detroit Catholic.
Your Generosity Is Bearing Fruit in Lourdes, France (in honor of Sr. Rose Mary Sam!)
Today in Lourdes, France, the impact of the Our Lady of Lourdes Pilgrimage: Legacy of Sr. Rose Mary Sam Scholarship is on full display.
Photo credit: Order of Malta and Robert Preston, KM
Riya Panicker, this year’s scholarship recipient, is walking in the footsteps of Sr. Rose Mary Sam, serving alongside members of the Order of Malta and accompanying malades seeking healing of spirit, mind, and body.
She is joined by Joseph Francis and Justin Francis, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s 2024 and 2025 scholarship recipients. Joseph and Justin were first introduced to the Order of Malta through this scholarship. Now, they have returned to Lourdes to serve as Auxiliary Members.
The Order of Malta offered only a limited number of pilgrimage spots for the 2026 journey. In Michigan, just four individuals were selected and three of them were Riya, Joseph and Justin.
Their presence is a powerful reminder of what donor generosity makes possible.
This is the fruit of generosity: providing opportunity, forming exceptional young people, and helping students encounter Lourdes in a way that transforms how they see faith, service, and care for others.
Sr. Rose Mary Sam during her last visit to Lourdes in 2023 with scholarship recipients, Emma and Allison.
Though Sr. Rose Mary Sam can no longer make the journey herself, this scholarship fund carries forward what she so faithfully lived for nearly fifty years: inviting others to Lourdes, forming young hearts through service, and bringing Christ’s compassion to those seeking healing. Through this scholarship, Sr. Sam’s legacy continues not only in the lives of the medical students it supports, but also in the many lives they will go on to impact.
We are grateful to the Order of Malta and for all who make stories like Riya’s, Joseph’s, and Justin’s possible, helping form young people whose care reflects God’s mercy and brings healing into the world.
As we welcome John F. Biskner as the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s new President and CEO, we are grateful for the many experiences that have shaped his life, faith, and leadership. Rooted in faith and guided by a call to serve, his journey reflects a lifelong commitment to the Church and community
John’s faith, education, and leadership journey have been influenced by many institutions that have helped form his life and vocation, including:
“John brings a rare combination of deep Catholic ministry experience, executive leadership, and the ability to build systems that support stewardship and growth. He has consistently helped Catholic organizations align their efforts with real pastoral and operational needs, strengthening both engagement and long-term impact.” — Mike Vlasic, 2026 Board Chair
A native of Pontiac, Biskner graduated from Cranbrook Schools and was active in young adult ministry at the National Shrine of the Little Flower. He holds a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business (2013) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering (1996). He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2001 and, through prayerful discernment, recognized a call to serve the Church through leadership in the lay vocation.
Earlier in his career, Biskner was co-owner and Director of Business Development at Gabriel Software (now part of eCatholic), where he helped guide the company’s rapid growth and expansion into new markets. He also held leadership roles with Ave Maria Radio and ParishSOFT, where he worked extensively with dioceses on stewardship strategy. Most recently, Biskner founded Biskner & Associates, where he advised dioceses and nonprofit organizations nationwide on stewardship models, development strategy, parish ministry, and the strategic use of data to support mission-driven outcomes.
These experiences, combined with more than 20 years of Catholic ministry and leadership experience, have prepared John to serve the Foundation and the Church in this important role.
Rooted in Faith, United in Mission: Founders Circle Mass & Breakfast
The Catholic Foundation of Michigan was honored to gather on April 28th with members of its Founders Circle and Board at the Solanus Casey Center. The annual mass and breakfast was a powerful reminder of what it means to be rooted in faith and united in mission.
The morning began grounded in prayer with mass celebrated by His Excellency, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, followed by breakfast, fellowship, and a short presentation.
The Foundation is deeply grateful to the Capuchin Franciscan friars and the entire Solanus Casey Center team for their incredible hospitality and care. Guests were treated to breakfast prepared by On the Rise Bakery, a Capuchin ministry that provides job training and support for individuals working to rebuild their lives.
This event also marked a special moment to gather with John Biskner in his new role as CEO and President. Guests had the opportunity to meet him, hear his vision, and engage in meaningful conversation about the future of the Catholic Foundation.
“In these early days, I have begun by listening. What is immediately clear to me is that our impact is defined by a shared commitment to serving the Church through thoughtful generosity, careful stewardship, and trust,” said John Biskner.
Together, guests also celebrated the release of the 2025 Annual Report and reflected on the relationships that have shaped and sustained this work. Because of this community, lives are being changed, ministries are growing, and the Church is alive in new and meaningful ways across Michigan.
We invite you to explore our 2025 Annual Report by clicking here to see this impact firsthand. To all who support, pray for, and believe in this mission—you are part of this story.
It is not too late to be a part of this vital group of supporters, the Founders Circle.
The Catholic Foundation is proud to host annual events to celebrate the vision, leadership, and faithful commitment of the individuals and families who make up our Founders Circle. Membership is a lifetime opportunity to make a difference in our community of faith. Individuals who contribute $5,000 per year for five years to support the work of the Catholic Foundation and will be invited to join the Founders’ Circle. Members are publicly recognized by the Foundation, in perpetuity, and will be invited to the annual education, social and spiritual events hosted by the Foundation.
Join our critical mission today. Your partnership enables the Catholic Foundation to be in a position to continue preserving our Catholic values for present and future generations. Contact John Biskner, President and CEO of the Catholic Foundation at Info@CatholicFoundationMichigan.org or call (248) 204–0332.
We are excited to share the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s 2025 Annual Report: Connections. This report celebrates the extraordinary generosity and faith-filled commitment of our Catholic community throughout the past year.
Since our founding in 2017, we have witnessed faithful impact grow through the generosity of our Catholic community. In 2025 alone, hundreds of new donors joined this mission, establishing over 80 new funds and expanding our reach, including new partnerships such as the Diocese of Kalamazoo. At the heart of this work are the relationships that bring people together to encounter Christ through faith, generosity, and service.
Throughout the report, you will see how these connections come to life: strengthening parishes, advancing Catholic education, and supporting ministries that serve those most in need. Each story is a reflection of a community rooted in trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to living out the Gospel.
Explore the report below and be inspired by the power of connection and the impact we can continue to make together.
Laudato Si’: Students Lead the Way in Caring for Creation
Happy Earth Day from the Catholic Foundation of Michigan!
This Earth Day, we celebrate the beauty of God’s creation and the many ways our Catholic community is answering the call to protect and care for it. This call comes to life in a special way through the students at Gesu Catholic School in Detroit, whose leadership is turning everyday choices into meaningful action.
Their work to reduce cafeteria food waste reminds us that caring for creation begins with small, faithful choices. By noticing a need in their own school community and choosing to respond, these students are practicing stewardship in a tangible way — and helping others see that they can do the same.
Last month, we had the joy of hearing from these students at our annual St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Schools Celebration. In the video below, they share how they are leading efforts to reduce cafeteria food waste and even teaching other schools how to do the same.
We are honored to support work like this through the Laudato Si’ Granting Fund held at the Catholic Foundation of Michigan. Made possible by the generosity of a community member, this fund advances environmental sustainability, ecological education, and community-based projects throughout our Catholic community.
Through the Laudato Si’ Granting Fund, generosity becomes action. Donor support helps Catholic schools, parishes, and ministries bring projects like this to life — projects that educate, inspire, and create lasting habits of care for our common home.
The morning began grounded in prayer with mass celebrated by His Excellency, Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, followed by breakfast, fellowship, and a short presentation.
“In these early days, I have begun by listening. What is immediately clear to me is that our impact is defined by a shared commitment to serving the Church through thoughtful generosity, careful stewardship, and trust,” said John Biskner.
