Holy Guardian Angels Regional School Partners with the Catholic Foundation

In an effort to generate future income and stability, local parishes and schools have partnered with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania to create long-term endowment funds. Holy Guardian Angels Regional School has a fund to provide support for academic programs, special programs, scholarships, maintenance and capital improvements.

“Recent events revealed the vulnerability of our parishes, schools and ministries,” Pete Waldron, President of the Catholic Foundation, said. “To safeguard their future, Catholic causes need to build ‘true’ endowment funds to back up their operations and generate steady income so they may fulfill their missions forever.”

Ten years ago, a group of Catholic community leaders gathered together to discuss “a big idea” that would provide Catholic institutions in the region needed funding so they could remain sustainable over the long run. From the big idea, the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania was born.

As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, independent from the Diocese of Allentown, the Catholic Foundation was designed to manage long-term assets and generate much needed income to continue vital services. Services include providing top-notch academic programs in Catholic schools, feeding, and caring for the sick, poor and under-served, and ensuring the gospel message was offered through daily Mass and parish activities.

The Catholic Foundation has grown considerably during the past five years and now manages more than $40 million in assets for 107 partners in 140 funds. Through its best-in-class investment strategy, the Catholic Foundation has kept a watchful eye on the geopolitical and economic events that continue to create market volatility.

“We have built an independent, low-cost investment strategy that focuses on consistent returns while incorporating Catholic values and protecting donor intent,” said Paul Huck, chairman of the Board for the Catholic Foundation and retired CFO of Air Products.

Holy Guardian Angels Regional School sees the importance of its partnership with the Catholic Foundation.

“The Catholic Foundation helps us focus on the long-term,” Kelly Prechtl, Head of School of Holy Guardian Angels Regional School, said. “Healthy endowment funds will make a tremendous difference for the future of our program.”

Holy Guardian Angels Regional School is working closely with the Catholic Foundation to market and grow its endowment funds, particularly through planned giving such as gifts in a will, IRA transfers, and insurance and investment beneficiary programs.