Sep 21, 2025

Catholic Foundation Legacy Society members and donors were honored at a recent gathering of donors, board members, staff, and friends of the Foundation. The evening began with a prayer service led by Bishop Lawrence Persico, Lisa Louis, executive director, Ken Kane, board chair, and board members Mike Lewis and Mike Vereb.

Ken then welcomed the guests to begin a short program. He recalled the previous Sunday’s scripture, Philemon 9-10, 12-17 , and related it to the donors gathered there. “Just as Paul was selfless in letting Onesimus go, so are you, generous donors, in freely giving your treasure. The good you do through the Foundation is not unnoticed.”

Lisa shared some “new news” from the Foundation since the last donor gathering. In particular, she introduced the new giving option available to donors, a non-endowed fund. She also highlighted the Foundation’s recent impact at the 2025 Emmaus Convocation for clergy. Unrestricted grants from several endowments funded most of the hotel expenses so clergy could attend without having to worry about that additional cost. A poster of thanks from the Emmaus committee was displayed in the ballroom.

Lisa also welcomed our newest Legacy Society members:

Anonymous (5)
Carla and Jack Bell
Phil Eberl
Kathy and Charles Frame
Dan Hamilton
Lisa and Mike Lewis
Joanne and Sam Malene
Frances Petruzzi

Catholic Foundation Legacy Society members are those who have committed to providing for the future of our shared Catholic community with an estate gift or by establishing an endowment fund. These faithful gifts from the heart will provide financial support to the Catholic ministries they love for generations. View full list of members.

To close the program, Lisa invited Bishop Persico to participate in an informal question and answer session. She asked him to share his thoughts about his time as Bishop of Erie, the processes of an episcopal transition following a bishop’s retirement, and the impact of the Catholic Foundation over the past 10 years. As a Legacy Society member himself, Bishop Persico shared his inspiration to establish a donor designated endowment in the Foundation and thanked the donors for their continued generosity.

Photos by Tim Rohrbach. Click a photo to expand and scroll through all.