More than 200 Catholic schools, parishes, nonprofits and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland are geared up and ready for the ninth annual #weGiveCatholic online day of Catholic giving.
Powered by the Catholic Community Foundation, the crowdfunding event will take place on Dec. 3, Giving Tuesday. However, early giving already is underway.
“The goal of #weGiveCatholic is to inspire our Catholic community to unite to raise awareness for and to support organizations that shape our souls: our parishes, schools, Catholic Charities and nonprofit organizations,” said Bishop Edward Malesic.
Funds raised during #weGiveCatholic will support a myriad of projects including the following.
- St. Helen School in Newbury plans to use the funds raised to help defray the cost of a new playground. They obtained some matching gifts to help them reach their goal.
- SS. Peter and Paul School in Doylestown is hoping to get enough money for a new sign.
- Camp Christopher in Bath, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, will use funds raised during #weGiveCatholic for camperships to help families who cannot afford the full cost of summer camp. During its first century of operation, thousands of campers have enjoyed the programs offered at Camp Christopher.
- Roo Catholic at the University of Akron, an active campus ministry program, is planning to expand programs with St. Bernard Parish in Akron and the community.
- Joseph & Mary’s Home in Cleveland set a $40,000 goal for #weGiveCatholic. The nonprofit, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, provides hope and healing to medically fragile men and women experiencing homelessness. The Gallagher family made a $20,000 matching gift in honor of Sister Joan Gallagher, CSA the first executive director of Joseph’s Home.
- St. Aloysius School and Mary Queen of Peace School, both in Cleveland, would like to raise funds to help defray the cost of a school trip to Washington, D.C. for their students.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Cleveland wants to raise money to refurbish its organ in order to enhance its music ministry.
- And St. Augustine Child Enrichment Center in Cleveland hopes to raise enough money to purchase a new, freestanding playground structure for the children who attend the center.
Among the other entities participating in #weGiveCatholic 2024 are Regina Health Center, CYO, Fatima Family Center, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio, the West Side Catholic Center, Holy Family Hospice, dozens of parishes, Catholic elementary, high schools and colleges throughout the eight-county Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Donations can be made from a computer, tablet or smartphone. Accepted forms of payment are all major credit cards, bank account debit, Apple Pay, donor advised funds, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo. Donations also can be made through a donor’s IRA. Secure, tax-deductible donations will be accepted on the website.
By designating your favorite organization, the money contributed will benefit that organization directly. Participating parishes, schools, nonprofits and organizations can vie for prizes throughout the day on Dec. 3.
Some of the #weGiveCatholic participants have special events planned to help generate interest and excitement for their campaigns.
The bishop plans to make some media appearances that day, including early morning calls to radio stations WTAM AM 1100 and Catholic radio station The Rock 1260 AM and an appearance on WKYC TV3’s “Good Company.” He also hopes to visit St. Francis Xavier Parish and School in Medina to spend time with students, parishioners and #weGiveCatholic donors.
According to the Catholic Community Foundation, which oversees #weGiveCatholic and assists participating entities, the goal of the event is to “inspire our Catholic community to unite awareness for and support organizations that shape our souls: our parishes, schools, Catholic Charities and nonprofit organizations.”
“Let’s come together on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, to raise awareness and inspire our Catholic community to generosity in support of Catholic parishes, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities sites/programs and Catholic nonprofits in our region,” Bishop Malesic said.
To learn more about #weGiveCatholic, click here. Get details on some of the participants and the reasons they are raising funds here.