To provide general support for Catholic activities in Kampala, Uganda.
Sarnaik Family Endowment to Support the Capuchin Soup Kitchen
To ensure a lasting legacy of nourishment for those experiencing food insecurity at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, MI.
2026 Igniting Our Future Gala
An Evening of Faith, Community, and Impact
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.
Date Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Time 6:00–10:00 p.m. | Location The Henry Ford Museum Dearborn, Michigan |
 | Meet Our Keynote Speaker Curtis MartinFounder of FOCUS 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. |
▶Watch Curtis Martin in Action
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.
- Tickets are now available online:Secure your seats today!
- Sponsorship Opportunities: Click here to view the sponsor packet.
For more information about the gala and to purchase tickets, visit: bit.ly/cfmgala26
A Lasting Legacy of Life and Love
A Legacy of Two Courageous Mothers
The Catholic Foundation of Michigan is honored to steward the Mary Jo and Marjorie Courageous Mothers Endowment Fund, established by Marco DeCapite in memory of the two women whose courage, sacrifice and love shaped his life.
Mary Jo CrowleyThe fund originally honored Marco’s birth mother, Mary Jo Crowley. Mary Jo discovered she was pregnant at the age of 24 and made the courageous decision to bring Marco into the world despite the challenges she faced. She endured the emotional struggles of being an unwed mother and the discomfort of pregnancy and childbirth.
Only days after his birth, Marco was placed with his adoptive parents, Armando and Marjorie DeCapite, who raised him and his sister in a loving home.
Decades later, Marco came to better understand the sacrifices made on his behalf. When he began searching for information about his biological family as a young adult, Marjorie encouraged and supported him in that journey. At age 23, Marco was able to connect with Mary Jo and begin a meaningful relationship with her.
“In many senses, I got a more complete picture of my identity, but even more so, my identity as a child of God, because He had a hand in all of this.”
— Marco DeCapite
Although their roles in Marco’s life were different, the love and sacrifice of both women became inseparable parts of his story.
After Marco’s adoptive mom, Marjorie passed away in 2025, Marco expanded the fund as a memorial to both of his mothers. The renamed Mary Jo and Marjorie Courageous Mothers Endowment Fund honors Mary Jo for courageously giving him life and Marjorie for lovingly receiving that life and devoting herself to raising him.
Together, the lives of Mary Jo and Marjorie offer a powerful witness to the many forms a mother’s courageous love can take: giving life.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to not only meet my birth mother, but also for the fact that she chose to bring me to life—a life the Holy Spirit has blessed. Setting up this fund is a way for more people to learn about her story and her sacrifice, while also honoring the mother who raised me and formed me in love.”
— Marco DeCapite
Carrying Their Legacy Forward
The Mary Jo and Marjorie Courageous Mothers Endowment Fund carries the legacy of both women forward by supporting ministries that serve mothers, infants and families experiencing difficult or unexpected pregnancies including:
- Heart of Christ Clinic in Detroit, which provides medical care and compassionate support to mothers and infants.
- Christ Medicus Foundation, which helps strengthen the clinic’s Christ-centered Catholic identity and provides Catholic bioethical formation.
Support the Mary Jo and Marjorie Courageous Mothers Endowment Fund
Professional Advisor Group Connects Expertise with Mission
Professional Advisor Group Gathers for Morning of Connection
Last Wednesday, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s Professional 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.
FIND AN ADVISOR
Investing in the People Behind the Mission
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.
“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, KMRiya 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.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Learn More About the Scholarship
SUPPORT MORE STUDENTS IN HONOR OF SR. SAM
Learn More About John Biskner
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:
- Cranbrook Schools
- University of Michigan College of Engineering
- University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business
- The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica
- Sacred Heart Major Seminary
- St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Ann Arbor
“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.