Helping people put their charitable vision into action is one of the many things I love about my role at the Community Foundation.  One of our recent experiences is one that I think some folks may not realize is an option…creating a Designated Fund to benefit causes important to them.

It’s a good problem to have…an IRA with a healthy balance and other resources to fulfill your family’s annual operating budget.  The ability to give a Qualified Charitable Distribution from their IRA, allowed a retired engineer and his wife to partner with the Foundation to achieve their charitable goals. This family created a fund benefitting two causes important to them: Catholic Charities and Tend My Lambs, the Haiti Education Mission of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. In my role as the CEO of the Community Foundation, I am honored to work with people who have a big heart and want to demonstrate that by sharing their financial resources, and often hands on volunteer work as well, with the causes that really touch their heart.  I also am honored to work with the ones carrying out those missions across our five parish area.

“This is my first experience of having someone create a fund to benefit our Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana,” said Sister Marie Josepha, Executive Director.  “We are full of gratitude and encouragement to know that this family believes in our mission so much they are supporting it today and forever.”

The mission of Catholic Charities is to be Christ’s merciful love to those who suffer and is to be carried out by Catholic people and others in fraternal goodwill pooling their resources to reach out and assist those in need.  The Designated Beneficiary Fund created at the Community Foundation will help Catholic Charities carry out this mission in 2024 and forever.  In my visit with Sister Marie Josepha, she shared how having the financial resources that will be provided annually by this fund will give them a way to say “yes” to some creative ways of helping others.  It will allow them to be generous in different ways which she finds so encouraging.  She shared how much a burden is lifted from someone when you help them pay a $50 water bill.  From shower and laundry stations, food distributions and help with water and electric bills, Catholic Charities is helping people in need.  With additional funding it gives them more ways to be creative and make a lasting impact for people and families.   

Local family physician, Dr. Ben Williams, has been an advocate for Tend My Lambs since he was 11 years old when he met Pere (Father) Albert, an Episcopal priest from Haiti.  “He was a remarkable man with such a Godly presence that my brief encounter with him resonates with me to this day.” He explained that Pere Albert was partnering with American churches to build schools in the mountains of Haiti.  Despite the difficulties he faced he would always say “If God wants schools in the mountains of Haiti, then there will be schools in the mountains of Haiti”.  Here we are 32 years later and years since the passing of Pere Albert and there are over 30 schools in the mountains of Haiti.

I wonder if Pere Albert envisioned this Fund in Lake Charles being one of those ways to provide education for the Haitian children. Dr. Williams shared that he was surprised and humbled when he learned of the generosity of this family and the fund that will benefit this Haitian education mission both now and forever.    “Knowing that there will be support for this mission that I believe in so deeply, for years to come, touches me to the point of tears.”

When someone gives to Tend my Lambs it all goes to the children and the school.  The effect of a single scholarship is hard to quantify because of all the good that it can do. It not only changes the life of a child but impacts the entire community for the better.  While a child is being educated, they are also employing teachers and staff which impacts the local economy. “Our students have gone on to become accountants, priests, nuns, engineers, and teachers.  These opportunities for employment and growth began with a single donation that seemed like a small thing at the time.”

These stories of impact locally with Catholic Charities of SWLA and in Haiti, both demonstrate how the Community Foundation helps connect people who care with causes that matter.  In this family’s example, they are using their Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to donate directly to their fund with the Community Foundation.  To fulfill their charitable goals, grants are being made annually to both causes. Since the fund is an endowment, the grants will be made forever.

What causes are important to you?  We are here to help you achieve your charitable goals using tax smart strategies.  We look forward to connecting more people who care with causes that matter.

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To learn more about  how the Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter, sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website, foundationswla.org, follow us on Facebook, or give us a call at 337-491-6688.

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Sara McLeod Judson is the CEO of the Community Foundation SWLA. She can be reached at 337-491-6688 or sjudson@foundationswla.org.