Catholic Foundation awards nearly $1 million to Southern Arizona programs

On April 5, the Catholic Foundation awarded $950,000 in grants to 64 organizations. These churches, schools, and non-profits are located across all of Southern Arizona, including the entire Diocese of Tucson. Read the full list below.

Catholic parishes, schools, and social organizations can apply for grants of up to $15,000, awarded by the Catholic Foundation. 

Fire Department and CCS each received $100,000 grants

Through the St. Joseph Healthcare endowment, the Fire Department received a grant of $100,000 and Catholic Community Services received the same amount for their Medical Respite program. Bishop Edward Weisenburger explained where this money came from, and assures us that no funding from the Diocese's Annual Appeal, the Catholic Foundation's own funds, or the Diocese of Tucson was used.

"When the two Catholic Hospitals of Tucson were sold to for-profit corporations prior to my arrival," he said, "it was no longer possible for them to hold the perpetual charitable endowments formerly held by the Catholic (charitable) hospitals. The Religious Orders who previously owned the hospitals asked the Diocese of Tucson (through our Catholic Foundation) to take over and manage the endowments. The Catholic Foundation did so with a new, separate endowment board specifically dedicated to overseeing those restricted grants: the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation Board."

"I am very pleased that our Catholic Foundation is able to manage the corpus of these funds and provide a certain oversight and ongoing leadership to assist the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation Board. It is a way that our Catholic Foundation can help carry out the good works established by the Sisters and their donors in the healthcare and public health ministries they initiated."

"However, the perpetual endowments that were formerly owned by the hospitals remain legally restricted and we are unable to repurpose or redirect the funds from their established purpose and goal. Thus, it would be not only unethical but illegal for us to take monies dedicated perpetually by the donors for purposes such as nursing scholarships, healthcare prevention and education, etc., and use them now for parish or diocesan ministerial needs. However, please know that no funding from the Diocese's Annual Appeal, the Catholic Foundation's own funds, or the Diocese of Tucson was used in the St. Joseph Healthcare grants in question."

Learn more about the Catholic Foundation here

Grant Recipients

Catholic Foundation Grants:
Holy Angels Parish, Globe
Holy Cross Parish, Tucson
Immaculate Conception School, Yuma
Immaculate Heart High School, Tucson
Infant Jesus of Prague Parish, Kearney
Loretto Catholic School, Douglas
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Tucson
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Tucson
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Benson
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Miami
Patronato for San Xavier Mission, Tucson
Sacred Heart Parish, Clifton
Sacred Heart Parish, Tucson
Sacred Heart School, Nogales
San Xavier Mission Convent, Tucson
St Anthony of Padua School, Casa Grande
St Augustine Cathedral, Tucson
St Augustine High School, Tucson
St Cyril Parish, Tucson
St Francis de Sales Parish, Tucson
St Francis of Assisi Mission, Elfrida
St Francis of Assisi Parish, Yuma
St Francis of Assisi School, Yuma
St Helen of the Cross Parish, Eloy
St James Parish, Coolidge
St John Evangelist Parish, Tucson
St John Evangelist School, Tucson
St Joseph School, Tucson
St Joseph Parish, Hayden
St Jude Thaddeus, Pearce
St Jude Thaddeus, San Luis
St Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Tucson
St Odilia Parish, Tucson
Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma
Diocese of Tucson Office of Formation and Worship
Diocese of Tucson Office of Hispanic Ministry
Diocese of Tucson Office of the Tribunal
Diocese of Tucson Department of Catholic Schools
Catholic Community Services: Casa Alitas
Catholic Community Services: Kolbe Society Prison Ministry
Catholic Community Services: Pio Decimo Center
Catholic Community Services: St Jeanne Jugan Ministry to Elders
Poverello House
Reachout Women's Center
Gallegos Family Youth Ministry: San Martin de Porres Parish & St Odilia Parish

St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation Grants:
Catholic Community Services Medical Respite Center
Carondelet Health Network
Tucson Fire Department
University of Arizona Critical Care Burn Program
Pima Community College Nursing Scholarships

View photos of the event here
Read more about Programs in Tucson