A humble upbringing, a remarkable call to the Catholic faith and a fulfilling career as a lawyer in a non-profit law firm highlight the path that brought Edith Benson to the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania.
Born in Columbia, SC, Edith recalls her early life in Georgia with close ties to a large extended family that lived in various regional communities. As an adolescent she moved to New York City with her mother. “My values developed as a young person expected to help your neighbors,” Edith reflects. In each of the poor minority neighborhoods in which Edith lived and visited she was also impacted by the presence of the Catholic churches in their midst.
In New York she appreciated the Catholic Church’s involvement in her poor, minority community. Edith’s mother was not a member of the Catholic Church yet wanted that for her children. Edith says, “I don’t recall her sharing why she wanted that for us, yet I was definitely inspired by my mother’s desire for her kids to be Catholic.”
Edith’s upbringing drew her into a faith life that had staying power. She earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1974. Edith went on to spend her entire career accompanying those on the margins of society. For many years she worked with Northwestern Legal Services, a law firm that provides free legal aid to eligible clients in northwest Pennsylvania. Throughout the years her awareness of the challenges faced by disparate groups was matched by her desire to serve them.
Now retired from her professional legal work, Edith’s resolve to serve those in need continues. Today she is planning charitable gifts that will ensure supportive programming beyond her lifetime through endowments in the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania. "I am planning gifts now, deliberately, to have more control over how things are set up and secured, and it's been a nice journey talking through my ideas and wishes to set up this endowment," she explains.
As an Associate of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania Edith was encouraged to become involved with the Sisters’ St. Patrick’s Haven ministry. St. Patrick’s Haven has provided for the needs of homeless men in the City of Erie since its founding in 1984 as an outreach of Saint Patrick Parish. In the mid-1990’s it became a sponsored ministry of the Sisters. Today “the Haven” offers 26 men the ministry of presence offered by the Sisters and provides a place of welcome, nightly refuge, food, comfort and friendship for homeless men.
Edith’s active participation on the board of directors helps to advance the mission and steward the Haven’s financial resources. She understands how endowments round out the financial portfolio of a ministry with a permanent and secure source of annual income. Her affinity for the programming led to her desire to leave a lasting legacy for the Haven by establishing the St. Patrick’s Haven Shelter for Homeless Men Endowment in the Catholic Foundation to support the needs of the shelter in carrying out its mission, including operations, capital improvements and repairs.
"The Catholic Foundation is an instrument through which I can live out my values and beliefs. It helps me use my resources to show my love of neighbor and God,” Edith explains. As an aside, Edith was deliberate in leveraging a charitable giving tool that offers tax advantages. “Giving from my IRA directly to the Foundation to benefit those in need is good stewardship,” she offers.
By establishing this endowment Edith will continue to give to a beloved ministry beyond her own lifetime. It also opens the door for others to give in this way. “My hope is that others inspired by its mission will join me with gifts that will contribute to the financial stability of St. Patrick’s Haven.”
“My hope is that others inspired by its mission will join me with gifts that will contribute to the financial stability of St. Patrick’s Haven.”