MARCH 2018 40 | {charity spotlight} GIVING BACK CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION The Catholic Community Foundation was founded 35 years ago to raise funds to support the future of Catholic education and communications. “The point was to support Catholic education and to fill in the gaps for families trying to send their kids to Catholic school,” said Catholic Community Foundation CEO Deacon James Carabajal. “It’s expensive, so that’s where we were focusing. We also have many, many endowments for parishes and individuals that like to designate their funds for a particular purpose, such as scholarships for kids going to high school or college, or feeding or clothing the poor — those corporal works of mercy.” Over the years, the foundation added several services, from youth associations that encourage Catholic leadership to legacy planning. In 2003, the Catholic Community Foundation became a separate nonprofit but continued its original mission of supporting the supporters of the Phoenix diocese. “We were created to serve the people of the diocese of Phoenix, essentially on behalf of the diocese of Phoenix, because we’re a separate entity altogether,” Carabajal said. Today, the foundation continues to support the diocese by making a Catholic education possible for community members through scholarship programs. It has granted millions of dollars back to the Catholic community, awarding more than $2 million in Catholic high school scholarships and managing endowment funds for 150 agencies. “We were created to love God and love one another, and by loving God we serve one another,” Carabajal said. “A Catholic education helps not only give them the basis to be able to reason through things in life but also to question, to think and to have that ability to understand what love is about.” THE STORY Jamie Killin | WEB EDITOR

MARCH 2018 | 41 THE CAUSE The Catholic Community Foundation supports the diocese through an array of programs, but particularly through scholarships such as its its service-based Christian Service Award and the Crozier Catholic School Scholarship for diocese and diocese agency employees’ children. “Our mission has not changed,” Carabajal said. “We just know that we have to focus because economically it’s more expensive to educate children in private schools, especially private Catholic schools. It’s very important to many faithful families. That’s where our continued focus will be.” “Without question, the Catholic Community Foundation educational scholarship fund truly serves our entire community,” said Crozier Gala co-chair Pat Bondurant. “Historically, so many Catholic and non- Catholic children in the Valley enjoy the privilege of attending the high-level private education provided at any of the 34 Catholic parochial schools.” Meanwhile, the Christian Service Award is bestowed upon students who embody the service-based teachings of Catholicism. One of its recipients has even chosen to join the priesthood. “It’s a focal point because we’re all called to serve one another,” Carabajal said of the award. “The Christian Service Award is our largest scholarship offering and it’s based purely upon service — young adults serving others, their brothers and sisters in Christ, here in the diocese.” In addition to its scholarship programs, the foundation offers several other programs, such as legacy planning and the Youth Ambassador Association, a program that aims to engage and connect Catholic youth by demonstrating Christ-centered behavior and the creation of philanthropic leaders. It also connects Catholic community members through its professional advisors program, which connects Catholic people working in finance, healthcare and charitable giving to other members of the Catholic church. Community members can also take part in the Catholic Leadership Circle, which Every year, the Catholic Community Foundation offers Christian Service Awards to students who selflessly give of themselves to benefit others.