Nov. 13, 2007

Decade Later, Still Alive in Hope

Ten years later, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s historic Alive in Hope capital and endowment campaign continues to nourish the fiscal needs of programs and services that minister to the faithful of all ages.

Through the Alive in Hope Foundation, pastoral works ranging from evangelization and faith formation to the education of youngsters and the care of aging priests are benefiting from the generosity of donors a decade ago, said Msgr. John J. Bracken, who directed the highly successful campaign and now serves as Vicar General for Temporalities.

“With the addition of new funding sources since Alive in Hope, the foundation has been able to expand its response to so many vital pastoral needs,” he said.

Launched by Bishop Thomas V. Daily, now Bishop Emeritus, in January 1996, the year-long campaign had what was seen as a daunting goal of $50 million, with half to go to the Diocese and half to the parishes. Parishioners were asked to make pledges payable over many months. Through their extraordinary generosity, more than $63 million was received.

At the time, Bishop Daily called the strong response to the appeal a sign of the “generosity and faithfulness of the people,” saying they were “sacrificing from their substance.”

Reflecting on the “remarkable success” of the appeal, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has called Alive in Hope “one of Bishop Daily’s finest achievements.”

In June 1998, with the aim of looking toward future needs, the Alive in Hope Foundation was incorporated, funded by $32 million in campaign proceeds. Over time its fiscal base has grown to $77 million. To date the foundation’s board of directors has distributed $10 million to parishes, schools and ministries.    

“The impressive response to the original campaign continues to pay dividends today as individuals and families contribute both restricted and unrestricted gifts” to the Alive in Hope Foundation, said Bishop DiMarzio.

During 2007, the foundation made 86 grants totaling $1,930,000, according to Thomas F. Flood, the executive director of the Alive in Hope Foundation. The core endowments and the amount of funds each committed to grant recipients were:

---Bishop John Loughlin Fund for Religious Education and Evangelization, $210,000.

---St. Charles Borromeo Fund for Continuing Education for Clergy, $120,000.

---Bishop Charles E. McDonnell Fund for Vocations, $126,000.

---Pope John Paul II Fund for Lay Leadership Development, $240,000.

---Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy Fund for Retired Clergy, $300,000.

---Archbishop Bryan J. McEntegart Fund for Catholic Education, $600,000.

---Bishop Francis J. Mugavero Fund for the Elderly, $270,000.

---Bishop Thomas V. Daily Fund for Migrant Affairs, $88,000. Bishop DiMarzio established the fund in September to honor his predecessor as Diocesan Bishop on his 80th birthday.

Bishop DiMarzio expressed the hope that the Alive in Hope Foundation “will continue to grow” so that the Diocese may meet “future challenges and opportunities.”

For further information about the foundation, contact Mr. Flood at (718) 965-7300.

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