Connections

• An Explosion of Joy
• Reflections
• CYFUSA Collection
• Thanks

NCYC Collection Strengthens CYFUSA’s Efforts
By Cathy Buntua
Director of Development, CYFUSA

Over twenty-thousand young people attended the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Columbus, Ohio. Sponsored by NFCYM, NCYC was the largest single gathering of Catholic youth in the United States in 2007.

Catholic Youth Foundation USA was able to provide $60,000 in economic need scholarships, so hundreds of Catholic teens could attend NCYC. In return for our gifts, our youth blessed us with the largest collection to benefit our foundation. At the closing Mass at NCYC, our teens donated over $110,000 to the offertory collection. We are blessed!

Under the scholarship program, CYFUSA also provided $3,000 in scholarships for the 2008 NFCYM Membership Meeting. The annual grant program provided $17,000 to projects enabling our young people, and the leaders that support them, to develop their gifts to serve the Catholic Church. Projects funded in 2007 include an institute for new youth ministers, a trip for youth to attend the National Black Catholic Congress, a video promoting alternatives to drug use, a bilingual musical based on the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a music ministry program, summer internships, and leadership programs.

CYFUSA is making progress with its 25th Anniversary Campaign. Launched in 2004, the campaign has received $247,325 in pledges. The campaign will continue until 2009.

Cathy Buntua joined CYFUSA in August 2007 as the full-time development director. Since that time, she has attended the National Catholic Development Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, and workshops with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement in Washington, D.C. Cathy has also started course work for the certificate of fundraising management through the Center of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, Indiana.

CYFUSA welcomed four new members to its board in October 2007: Diane Lampitt, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Religion Publishers; Mary Pittelli, Discovery Communications; Bro. Albert M. Rivera, FMS, Marist Brothers; and Anna Scally, Cornerstone Media.

Also in October, CYFUSA made available $9,000 to aid relief efforts for or by young people affected by the southern California fires. If your diocese was affected by these fires, please download and complete the application (36 KB).

Dr. Carole Goodwin, NFCYM chair, will present the in-service at the January 2008 CYFUSA board meeting. Her topic is Fostering Catholic Identity in Youth. That theme will be the NFCYM’s priority for CYFUSA grants in 2008. More details about the grant process will be available soon.

CYFUSA is thankful for the support that donors have provided during the recent months. This is an exciting time for CYFUSA! Please continue your support of our foundation by helping to promote for us. The CYFUSA commercial premiered at NCYC and is available for your youth events. Please consider designating CYFUSA as the recipient or corecipient of your diocesan youth rally collection. For assistance, contact Cathy by e-mail or call (202) 636-3825.