Josephine L. Trahan Fund for Vocations

Established by Patty and Gus Trahan

Are you currently planning your estate and want to explore charitable giving? Do you want to honor a loved one and simultaneously support an important cause? Through the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, Patty and Gus Trahan were able to do both.

The Trahans first heard about the Catholic Foundation through a Life & Legacy presentation held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, which they had read about in The Georgia Bulletin. In the midst of revising their estate documents, they were curious about planned giving options. After learning more about the services of the Catholic Foundation at the presentation, they ultimately decided to establish the Josephine L. Trahan Fund for Vocations, named in honor of Gus’ mother.

When Patty and Gus Trahan were asked to describe Josephine, they said, “Josephine was the spiritual soul of our family. Throughout her life she had an unwavering love and respect for the clergy. She not only impacted her children but also impacted those around her and those that became part of her extended family.”

Patty and Gus wanted a way to pay tribute to their mother/mother-in-law’s impact and her support for the clergy. The Trahans opted for an endowment fund, as “we need more priests and we will always need more priests; the need is perpetual. The endowment is also perpetual.”

As a Christ-centered family, they realized the importance of a strong Catholic faith and the need for priests to support that faith. Whether you want to honor a loved one, support a cause in perpetuity, or both, establishing an endowment fund with the Foundation is a great option.

Give to the Josephine L. Trahan Fund for Vocations

Supporting the Catholic Community Through the Foundation

James A. Lanier, Jr. Operations Fund

When most people think of charitable giving, they think of a simple donation to a charity of choice. But did you know that through the Catholic Foundation you can establish a fund that directly benefits a certain need of a charity? Just ask Jaime Lanier.

As a cradle Catholic, Jaime’s Catholic identity and faith have been paramount to him. “I owe everything good about me, how I serve my family, my church, and my community to my Catholic upbringing and life,” shared Jaime.

He first got involved with the Catholic Foundation upon receiving a pamphlet in the mail about the organization. Just minutes after reviewing it, Nancy Coveny, President of the Catholic Foundation, called him to meet with her about being on the Board. “This happened at a time when I was ready to give more of my time, talent, and treasure to the Church,” shared Jaime.

His time on the Board showed him the good work the Foundation does serving all organizations in our Catholic community, and he hoped to support the continued development of this work through his endowment fund. Jaime’s endowment fund will help provide for the daily operational expenses such as staff, rent, office needs, and technology, ensuring the long-term strength and stability of the Foundation.

For those unfamiliar with an endowment fund and how it compares to current giving, Jaime explained, “The beauty of endowment funds is they can give in perpetuity as opposed to a year-to-year plan, which could be negatively impacted in a very challenging economic year.” Endowments make funds predictable and dependable.

Whether you’re looking to start an endowment fund, apply for a grant for your Catholic organization, or explore other avenues of charitable giving, join Jaime and the hundreds of other Catholics at the Catholic Foundation working to give back to their Catholic communities in personal, meaningful ways.

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Doug Harmon – Creating a CGA

A Reconversion Inspired a Charitable Gift

Having left the Church for over 20 years, Doug Harmon was willing to give it a second chance when his sister-in-law invited him and his wife, Katrina, to attend the Christmas service with her at the Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sharon. He thought it might be a sign to return to the Church, and after experiencing a powerful encounter during Mass and receiving many blessings, he knew he was right.

Eager to give back to his Catholic community but unsure where to start, he happened to talk to someone after Mass who was a board member at Heritage and the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia. She shared with him some options for charitable giving and after some researching and talking to the Catholic Foundation staff, he made the generous and savvy decision to open a charitable gift annuity (CGA).

A CGA serves as a contract between a donor and the Catholic Foundation where, in exchange for the donor’s charitable gift, the Catholic Foundation pays the donor a fixed income for the rest of his or her life. Upon the donor’s passing, the annuity ends and the remaining principal goes to the endowment fund the donor selected when establishing the CGA.

Doug used a qualified charitable distribution from his individual retirement account (IRA) to create the charitable gift annuity, which provided him with an additional tax benefit. Beyond its financial benefits, the CGA has allowed Doug to both express his gratitude and give support to the Purification Heritage Center where he now attends Mass regularly.

If you’re feeling inspired by Doug’s story, contact us to see if you qualify for a charitable gift annuity today!