During a 24-hour fundraising marathon on Nov. 28 – Giving Tuesday -- faithful throughout the Diocese of Cleveland rallied to support #weGiveCatholic, raising a record-setting $3.4 million.
The event, Northeast Ohio’s online day of giving, supports Catholic organizations that serve people of all faiths, races and backgrounds in the eight-county diocese.
This year, 235 organizations participated and 11,056 donors provided charitable gifts.
The total raised represents a 7% increase over 2022 and is the most raised in the event’s eight-year history.
“Yesterday, the faithful of this diocese came together, and through their generosity, showed great compassion for the charitable, educational and spiritual mission of their organizations,” said Bishop Edward Malesic. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s #weGiveCatholic effort. May God bless you all for supporting the great Catholic organizations serving our Northeast Ohio community.”
Of the 235 organizations participating in WGC, 19 participants raised more than $50,000 and five organizations raised more than $100,000. Assumption Church and St. Albert the Great at Assumption Academy in Broadview Heights topped the leaderboard by raising $425,921. Click here to see how others fared with their fundraising, including Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid, which surpassed its goal to install new steps to the candle house and to continue with repairs to the Trinitarian Sisters' convent. Bishop Malesic visited the shrine during the fundraising event to learn about its project.
New this year, early gifts were accepted from Nov. 19-28. Then, throughout the day on Nov. 28, ministries, organizations, schools and parishes took to social media to raise awareness, encourage participation, report on progress and share video messages that spoke to the importance of their ministries.
“The great success of the 2023 #weGiveCatholic event highlights the incredible spirit of philanthropy that exists within the Diocese of Cleveland,” said Patrick Grace, executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation. “Heartfelt thanks go out to each of the 11,056 donors and devoted volunteers, pastoral leaders and staff of nonprofits, ministries, schools, Catholic Charities and parishes -- all of whom spent a great deal of time planning to raise awareness and funds that culminated in this extraordinary day. We feel immense gratitude for our benefactors and the gifts they have shared with Northeast Ohio,” he added.
Throughout the day, participating organizations engaged in a friendly competition to gain the most supporters and win awards from a $65,000 prize pool raised in advance by the Catholic Community Foundation and generous donors. In addition, two matching gifts were presented by the Catholic Community Foundation: a $25,000 match sponsored by Boyd Watterson and an anonymous donor, and a $100,000 diocesan tuition assistance match. Both donations were matched fully during specific times throughout the day. The 2023 sponsors included:
- An anonymous donor
- Dustin Applegate and Chris Hardesty
- Richard Beckwith
- Roger Bobowicz
- Boyd Watterson Asset Management, LLC
- Kathleen and John Castrataro
- The Heart of Richard Foundation
- Phil and Connie Kramer Charitable Fund
- Lamar Advertising
- John and Mary Leonbruno
- Chet Madej
- Mr. and Mrs. James Mason
- Diane Oster
- Rev. Louis A. Pizmoht
- Karen and Andy Rebholz
- James F. Sweeney
- Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union
All are invited to mark their calendars for Dec. 3, 2024, and to save the date for the ninth annual #weGiveCatholic.
The Catholic Community Foundation is dedicated to enriching lives by encouraging faithful philanthropy. The foundation supports the mission of the Diocese of Cleveland to provide for the spiritual, educational and charitable needs of people throughout Northeast Ohio. Since its inception in 2000, the foundation has raised more than $465 million to support Catholic Charities, Catholic education, priestly formation and other ministries in the diocese.