Dear Friends,
None of us will forget 2020 anytime soon. The pandemic, together with the social unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s unjust death, have taken a heavy toll. At the same time, I’m very proud of how our Catholic community has responded. In the midst of dual crises, in a time of fear and uncertainty, we have come together to help our neighbors and support Catholic organizations.
Only together can we achieve success, as Archbishop Hebda says, “On our own, there’s little that we’re able to accomplish. It’s only with collaboration, involving the thinking and generosity of many folks that we’re able to put together a successful plan.”
The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) has never been better prepared to meet the challenges of the moment. Within days of the suspension of public Masses in March, CCF established the Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund. Immediately, hundreds of generous people made extraordinary donations to support our local Catholic community. Shortly thereafter, CCF began deploying monies to parishes and schools in urgent need. This was all possible because CCF had the operational and relational infrastructure in place to act swiftly: the connections, the trust, the expertise, and the overwhelming support of our donors.
CCF has proven it’s just as capable of serving the long-term needs of our Catholic community. Through our Legacy Fund and a variety of endowments, individuals can support Catholic ministries in perpetuity, while parishes partner with CCF to safeguard their long-term financial stability. For all of these strengths, we must credit our founders and board members. Their collective vision, wisdom, and expertise, so generously shared over the years — combined with the trust and confidence of our donors — has created stable systems and strategies responsible for CCF’s tremendous growth.
We never know what the next year will bring, but we do know that CCF will be ready. Guided by our mission and commitment to working together, we will face the challenges, welcome the opportunities, and prepare for our shared destination — the future of our Catholic community.
Sincerely,
Anne Cullen Miller, MBA
President