Summer 2024 Newsletter

Experience Flexible Giving with a DAF

A Donor Advised Fund, or DAF, is an investment account that allows a person to support a variety of charitable organizations, including the Central Washington Catholic Foundation. A DAF is a flexible, tax efficient, and simple way to support multiple non-profit organizations with one gift. Once established, a DAF can experience tax-free growth that can give you more giving power to support your favorite charities over time. The Central Washington Catholic Foundation is proud to be able to offer, assist in managing the account, and distribute Donor Advised Funds.
To learn more, visit: https://cwcatholicfoundation.org/donor-advisedfunds/

Angel Donors Uplift Tuition Assistance Program

The Central Washington Catholic Foundation’s Angel Donor Program has created a new way to continue supporting the growing needs of tuition assistance in local Catholic schools. The Angel Donor program seeks shareholders to sponsor a currently enrolled, Catholic school student for $1,200 that goes directly to their tuition cost. These students are selected based on highest need and are located across 6 elementary and 2 high schools in Central Washington. This year, there was a record number of applicants for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). The Angel Donor Program is just one way the Foundation is trying to impact as many students as possible. When a donor becomes an Angel Donor, 100% of the gift goes directly to the tuition cost of a student at the school of the donor’s choice.

If you are interested in joining this impactful program, please visit our website at or contact Nicole at NFranson@CWCatholicFoundation.org.

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FROM THE DIOCESE OF YAKIMA

Dear Friends:
Summer vacation! No school! Cherries are being pulled! Hot weather! When the smoke is not bad we love outdoor barbecues! But for us in the educational world it’s a time of preparation. Our teachers often fulfill clock hour requirements in keeping their teacher credentials current and their skills sharp. Principals often review where they are on their six-year cycle towards accreditation renewal. Our school priests attend their institutes at Notre Dame University. And I will be on a plane shortly to Notre Dame University again presenting as a keynote speaker in the Adelante program. This outreach from Notre Dame’s Alliance for Education brings together educational leaders from across the country to look
specifically on how to grow our Hispanic enrollment. Adelante not only refers to the Spanish word “forward” is referring to Christ.

Christ calls us to journey forward with all of our people regardless of their language, race or cultural background. We do so as we anchor all our academics and all of our faith instruction in our rich Catholic intellectual heritage. This is especially the case now. The overall pool of school age children is down. All educators, public and private, are dealing with a shrinking cohort of students for instruction. This is the case for our Catholic grade and high schools that serve the Diocese of Yakima. But we also know in a Diocese that is 70 to 75 percent Hispanic that our young people in our parishes are about 85 to 90
percent Hispanic. With a shrinking school age population, this is our growth potential. There are other bright spots too! St Joseph in Wenatchee is expanding into middle and junior high for the first time in decades.

They’re adding a sixth grade bucking the headwinds of lower number of students in North Central Washington. And as they do this, Fr Edgar Quiroga, who will be at Holy Apostles Parish in East Wenatchee, will bridge the expanding school so it serves East Wenatchee as well! The other bright spot is you. Your generous support of our student grants and scholarships allow us to live the word “Adelante” growing our enrollment especially in the Hispanic community which is where our most natural growth potential lies. You are also the bright spot in your generous support of our parish grants for religious education especially in our more rural parish communities.

As you know I have two firm intents as bishop. First is that everyone gets a Catholic education regardless of ability to pay. Second is that everyone learns about Jesus Christ regardless of whether they are rural
or urban, in a Hispanic or Anglophone community, and regardless of whether their parish has or does not have a parish school. So, thanks.
Thanks for your support of all our children and all their families.
Thanks for your support of our Catholic schools as well as our programs of religious education especially in our parishes without access to schools. With every best wish and blessing!

Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
Bishop of Yakima

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Public Policy Rooted in Faith

Message from Jean Hill WSCC Executive Director

As the director of the Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), it is my honor to continue the long tradition of bringing our faith-based perspective into public policy discussions of issues that impact the most vulnerable in our communities. Despite decades of advocacy, the WSCC continues to be asked why we are immersing ourselves in politics in general or on a specific issue. The answer is quite simple – because it is one way we respond to the Eucharistic call to “share the Gospel with your lives.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear about our role in the political sphere: “Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority. . . . It is the Church’s role to remind men of good will of these rights and to distinguish them from unwarranted or false claims” (CCC 1930). Providing that reminder to political leaders is both our right
and our privilege as the WSCC and as individual Catholics. Thankfully, we live in a nation and state that protects this right to practice our faith in the public square.

Just as our existence as a conference is rooted in Catholic teaching, so is our message at the state Capitol or to our congressional delegation. We do not provide a liberal or conservative perspective, but one that is based in our understanding that every human being is equally loved by our God and therefore equally entitled to life and to live with dignity. Catholic teaching grounds our efforts. From the Biblical call to care for the poor, the stranger and those denied access to justice to the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, our teaching directs us to ensure “conditions of equal opportunity for men and women and guaranteeing an objective equality between the different social classes before the law” (CSDC 145). We are best able to accomplish this large task when we start with prayer, reflection, and careful listening to one another to discern a path that follows our teaching.

Thus, consistent with our Gospel call, we advocate in the political community with the goal of ensuring that each of our brothers and sisters has access to all that is required for a life of dignity from conception to natural death – housing, adequate food, clean water, health care, education and meaningful employment, as enumerated in our Catechism and the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. In practical terms, this means, among other issues, we champion protections for every life from destruction or degradation due to poverty, addiction, abuse or neglect, or a sheer lack of access to basic needs. Consistent with Catholic teaching, we seek to safeguard refugees and immigrants, regardless of legal status, from exploitation and abuse, help people with complex behavioral health needs access quality treatment and care, provide safe and stable housing for the homeless, ensure no person feels forced to end a life through abortion or assisted suicide due to economic, mental health or other resolvable issues,
and protect the quality of our environment. We also recognize that budgets reflect state and national values and we advocate for political leaders to prioritize the poor and vulnerable when determining expenditures of public funds.

The WSCC understands that people of good will, including our fellow Catholics, may not always agree on how best to protect and promote the dignity and sanctity of life. We expect disagreement with our positions on issues and respect opposing viewpoints on the policies that might best achieve our common goal of making Washington a place where all are welcome and able to live full and productive lives. Catholic respect for the dignity of every individual includes ample room for each of us to discern the best path forward when making voting, advocacy, and related political decisions. While we may not always agree on policy, we assume a common goal across the political spectrum of promoting the common good of all and strive to regularly remind political leaders and voters that our political and economic systems exist to serve the human person, not the reverse.

We thank the many Catholics who have joined us through our advocacy network. Please continue to engage in our political communities on behalf of our brothers and sisters across the state, in our nation, and globally.

Jean Welch Hill
Executive Director

For those who have not yet joined the WSCC Catholic Advocacy Network, you may sign up at wacatholics.org.

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am writing to share some significant updates from the Central Washington Catholic Foundation (CWCF). Despite facing unprecedented challenges this year, our commitment to supporting Catholic education and community programs has remained steadfast.
We are pleased to report that for the 2023-2024 school year, we awarded over $100,000 in tuition assistance to eight local Catholic schools. This Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) benefited 105 students, with each student receiving an average award of $1,000. This support is crucial in ensuring that these young learners continue to have access to quality Catholic education. In addition to tuition assistance, we also awarded over $16,500 in college scholarships, helping our graduates pursue higher education.
Furthermore, more than $6,000 was allocated to support parish religious education programs, nurturing the faith and knowledge of our younger parishioners. Our 41 endowments provided over $200,000 to various Catholic schools, parishes, and ministries across the Diocese of Yakima. These funds are essential in maintaining and enhancing the services and outreach programs that form the backbone of our community. This year, more than ever before, the need for help continues to grow. Economic hardships and other challenges have intensified the demand for financial assistance among our families and institutions. Your generous support has enabled us to meet these needs and continue our mission of fostering Catholic education and faith-based initiatives.

We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, benefactors, and community members. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and families, reinforcing the foundation of our faith and community. Thank you for your continued partnership and generosity. We look forward to working with you to further our mission in the coming year.

Warm regards,
Agustina Rankin, President
Central Washington Catholic Foundation

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Donors from January 1st – June 30th, 2024

Board of Trustees (July 1st, 2024 – June 30th, 2025)

Officers
President, Wendy Flanagan (St. Joseph, Wenatchee)
Vice President, Agustina Rankin (Christ the King, Richland)
Treasurer, Linda Orozco (Holy Family, Yakima)
Past President, Steve Mercy (Holy Rosary, Moxee)
Secretary, Anthony Mejia (Our Lady of Fatima, Moses Lake)
Members
Rev. Brooks Beaulaurier (St. Juan Diego, Cowiche and St. John, Naches) Steve Baldock (St. Joseph, Wenatchee)
Gordon Beecher (Christ the King, Richland) Jon Lane (Our Lady of Fatima, Moses Lake)
Kevin Maas (Holy Spirit, Richland) Fr. Richard Sedlacek (Our Lady of Lourdes, Selah)
Betty Jo Murray (St. John, Naches) Ronald St. Hilaire (St. Joseph, Kennewick)
John Stadsvold (Christ the King, Richland)
Advisors
Matt Beaton (Holy Spirit, Kennewick) George Ahrend (St. Rose of Lima, Ephrata)
Jane Baldock (St. Joseph, Wenatchee) John Riel (Holy Rosary, Moxee)
Terry Sliger (Christ the King, Richland) Ann Sonn (St. Joseph, Wenatchee)
Russ Mazzola (St. John, Naches)
Ex-Officio Member
Most Rev. Joseph J. Tyson
Doug Rich
Executive Director
Nicole St. Mary – Franson (Holy Rosary, Moxee)
Staff
Melissa Richter and Jo Spencer