The Catholic Foundation of West Michigan’s second annual Love & Charity Event was a huge success! Together, we celebrated our community’s dedication to love and charity, which encapsulate the essence of Christian life. At the reception, donors, business and nonprofit leaders, along with Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, came together to celebrate programs and ministries spreading the Good News throughout West Michigan. 

The Catholic Foundation continues to expand its impact through this pool of funding provided by the Bishop’s Angels and our sponsors. At this year’s reception, the Catholic Foundation presented $92,510 in grants to eight nonprofit organizations, up from $52,000 to four nonprofits the prior year. Grant recipients include:

Catholic Information Center – $8,000
The Leadership Formation Institute for Hispanic Ministry is a three-year leadership development program for lay leaders in Catholic parishes serving the Hispanic community in West Michigan. The program is in its second year with 65 individuals currently enrolled. The goal of the program is to affirm God-given gifts and equip individuals with the skills necessary to create ministries within their parishes, serving Hispanic families that live within every ZIP code of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School – $1,000
Project Blaze is an extracurricular lunchtime program for middle school girls at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School. Currently in its pilot year, the program guides students through tough topics like friendship, body image, conflict resolution, bullying, and modesty — all through the lens of the Catholic faith. The guided curriculum teaches girls how to walk with purpose and discern God’s truth among the common lies in today’s culture.

Bishop Baraga Academy – $15,640
Bishop Baraga Academy is a forthcoming daycare and school that will be the only Catholic school in Newaygo County. Set to open soon, the facility will house two multi-age classrooms for kindergarten through fifth-graders, and childcare rooms for newborns through age 6. The micro-school will utilize curriculum from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, nurturing the spiritual life of children through hands-on, experiential learning in a prepared environment.

Diocese of Grand Rapids – $20,000
The Mass is a communal celebration where Catholics come together as the Body of Christ to receive the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The Diocese of Grand Rapids knows the power of community unifying to offer praise, thanksgiving, and adoration to God. As a means of evangelization, the diocese launched an advertising campaign to invite and encourage the faithful to return to Mass. The diocese hopes continuing the campaign will increase Mass attendance between 2 and 4% year over year.

Prince of Peace Parish – $9,870
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program for children aged 3 to 12. It focuses on nurturing the spiritual life of children through hands-on, experiential learning in a prepared environment where they engage with materials and activities based on Scripture and liturgy. This non-traditional, parables-based method helps form a deeply-rooted relationship with Christ at a young age. Prince of Peace Parish offers Adult Formation Certification to train parishioners in the guidance of children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.

Catholic Charities West Michigan – $20,000
St. Gianna’s No Cost Baby Boutique opened in October 2023 in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids. The pantry expanded from its original location in Muskegon, offering clothing and supplies free of charge. Additionally, the boutique also hosts free “Safe Sleep” and “Car Seat Safety” classes twice monthly. A major incentive for parents to participate in these safety programs has been the provision of a complementary child safety item — such as a car seat or portable playard — upon completing the course.

Revive & Thrive Project – $3,000
Revive & Thrive nonprofit cooks and delivers healthy meals to individuals in a health crisis and their families throughout greater Grand Rapids. With an in-house chef, the staff adheres to the belief that food is medicine, and served almost 18,000 meals to 271 clients last year. The nonprofit employs only five paid staff members, and relies on 40-45 volunteers — including teens who benefit from the mentorship opportunity — and 15 delivery drivers each week.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School – $15,000
For school-aged children with learning challenges, the traditional classroom can be a difficult setting to succeed academically. The Arrowsmith Program harnesses the principles of neuroplasticity through the application of targeted cognitive exercises to overcome specific learning difficulties. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School adopted the program in the 2023-24 academic year, which helps serve students justly and inclusively in a Catholic school setting.