(Pictured L-R Monsignor Richard Walsh, Deacon Gary Tester; Kevin Casey CFO, Diocese of Orlando)
Our Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC) met at Bishop Moore Catholic High School to discuss how bequests affect ministries in The Diocese of Orlando. PGAC Chairman, Rob Thomson, facilitated the conversation with Kevin Casey, CFO of the diocese; Monsignor Richard Walsh, Pastor of St Margaret Mary and Vicar General of the Diocese of Orlando and Deacon Gary Tester, President of Catholic Charities of Central Florida.
Gifts made through bequests are a foundational element of the ministries of St. Margaret Mary parish in Winter Park. These gifts support the parish school and area outreach, for example, as Monsignor Walsh shared. Parishioners come to him to learn how to support the future needs of the parish and school, and he’s able to advise them on ways their gifts can be most effective.
Deacon Tester showed examples of how planned gifts support Catholic Charities’ existing ministries, while also providing funding to achieve future goals. Mr. Casey offered a broader view, as he discussed a variety of ways in which bequests have supported parishes and schools throughout the diocese. So examples were shared by all those in attendance of the ways planned gifts can make a significant impact on both a localized, parish level, as well as in achieving broader, diocesan-wide goals. Your support of The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida makes all these achievements possible.
PGAC Chairman Thomson fostered dialogue regarding how donor intentions can be documented in an estate plan properly, and how to engage with pastors and ministry leaders to learn about their parish’s future needs. The Catholic Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Council is made up of Catholic professionals who are tax accountants, estate planning attorneys, and wealth advisors. PGAC members support our community in realizing philanthropic impact. To learn more about our PGAC visit https://www.cfocf.org/advisorycouncil/