The Women’s Giving Circle, a new initiative of the Catholic Community Foundation, which coordinates diocesan fundraising, launched this month with a Mass and a lunch gathering for the founding members.
The purpose of the Giving Circle is to raise awareness and funds to support organizations serving the community through engaged and collective philanthropy, said Mary Lou Ozimek, assistant CCF director.
Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on March 8 for members of the Women’s Giving Circle. He noted the event took place on International Women’s Day, which was no coincidence. In fact, he said even Pope Francis acknowledged the day, offering some remarks about the important contributions of women. And he refers to the Church as feminine, the bishop added.
(See photo gallery above from the Mass and lunch program.)
The Giving Circle is new to the diocese, the bishop said, and it offers women another opportunity to support the community and to engage in fellowship.
When he learned of the new initiative, he said it reminded him of the many contributions of women throughout history, particularly in the early Church. Mary and her fiat – saying “yes” to God and becoming the mother of Jesus – was the first. Mary Magdalen also was noted for her deep faith and devotion to Jesus. In addition, the bishop mentioned the seven women saints who are named in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass – Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia and Anastasia – as well as some other well-known women saints, including Joan of Arc, Catherine of Siena and Hildegard of Bingen, who also is a doctor of the Church.
A quote from St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things” – was the tagline used for the event and was emphasized by the bishop in his homily.
He also mentioned St. Francis Cabrini, the subject of the recently released movie “Cabrini.” She was the first canonized American and a staunch advocate for Italian immigrants. “She did great things,” he added.
The first commandment tells us to love God, but we also are told to love our neighbor, the bishop said, and Lent is a good time to balance both. “How well are we calculating our spiritual life? Prayer is the spiritual side (loving God) but we need action to love our neighbor. The goal of our spiritual journey is heaven and Jesus bridges that gap between heaven and earth,” he added.
“We give thanks to God for the gifts we’ve been given but we also must take the gifts we’ve received to become a blessing for others,” he said, noting that Mother Cabrini offers motivation for what women can do.
Through the new Women’s Giving Circle, women can use philanthropy as a way to share their faith. “And we can do more together than alone,” he added.
After Mass, the group moved to the Rappe Room in the Cathedral Square Plaza diocesan headquarters building for a lunch program. Sister Ingberta Tarimo, diocesan delegate for religious, led the prayer before a simple soup, salad and bread lunch.
Diane Fusco and Maria Ruddock, CCF board members and steering committee members for the new initiative, spoke briefly about the new Giving Circle. The mission is to invite, inform and involve women of faith in the charitable, educational and spiritual work of the Church in Northeast Ohio. The group will raise awareness and funds to support organizations that serve the communities through engaged and collective philanthropy. The goals are to recruit other women to share insights and ideas, to make decisions about grant awards and to help spread the word about the work being done by the Church in Greater Cleveland.
Ozimek also thanked Elisa Budoff, Meg Hopp, Sandi Koenig and Maria Patrick for their contributions as members of the steering committee.
Ozimek said an anonymous woman donor contributed $25,000 to help launch the Giving Circle. “We had hoped maybe 30-50 women would join us and as of today (March 8), we have 110 members. We are so grateful.”
There are two membership levels: 40 and older, $500, and women younger than 40, $250. Ozimek said members can donate more and companies can sponsor employees for membership. New members are welcome at any time.
With nearly $80,000 raised so far, the group sought grant proposals from nonprofits in the community. In April, Giving Circle members will gather at the Center for Pastoral Leadership to hear presentations from the organizations. After that, members will have an opportunity to vote on which groups should receive grants during the first distribution.
“Women like to hear the impact of their philanthropy,” Ozimek said. “This is a wonderful way to put our faith in action and some skin on our stewardship.”
Bishop Malesic thanked the group for its generosity. “This is an exciting new way of looking things,” he said, noting they also will learn more about what the grant-seeking nonprofits. “There are so many ways to help our communities. We need to look at what is out there and ask how we can be a blessing for others. Thank you for being a part of this initiative and for letting us use your particular brand of genius.”
Ozimek said the group also will gather in June at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine to hear a presentation from Jim Towey, former attorney for St. Mother Teresa. Another meeting will take place in the fall.
Click here for more information on the Women’s Giving Circle, email mozimek@catholiccommunity.org or call 216-696-6525, Ext. 4070.