The Catholic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was established in 1955 by a group of visionary Catholic business and professional leaders in the midst of a period of remarkable growth and...
The Catholic Foundation
The Catholic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was established in 1955 by a group of visionary Catholic business and professional leaders in the midst of a period of remarkable growth and prosperity in the Dallas area to ensure that the physical and spiritual needs of those in the community who were less fortunate would never be overlooked.
Since its inception, the Foundation, a perpetual endowment, has grown both monetarily and in services provided. In 1965, managed assets of the Foundation were less than $1 million. A $2.6 million gift received from the Simmons Foundation following the death of James W. Simmons, Jr. in 1972 led to exponential growth over the next 10 years, and by 1985, managed assets had grown to nearly $21 million. Today, operating as a community foundation, The Catholic Foundation is home to more than 350 different funds and manages over $121 million in assets.
Virtually every Catholic institution in the Diocese of Dallas and most other established social service agencies, arts and cultural, educational and health care organizations serving the community have benefited from Catholic Foundation grants ranging in size from as little as $25 in the early days to a series of $1 million grants made in the 1990s. Today, The Catholic Foundation regularly awards grants in excess of $5 million a year.
Plaza Art Competition
The Catholic Foundation's 50th Year Anniversary gift to the people of Dallas is an open-air plaza in the new Dallas Arts District across from the Meyerson Symphony Center, and adjacent to the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Each fall a new piece of art is installed in this unique urban oasis following a rigorous competition among local artists. Listed below are previous the winners of The Catholic Foundation Art Competition:
2006-07: "Celebrate Life, Celebrate Art," Marty Ray 2007-08: "Trumpeting Angel," Ann Cushing Gantz 2008-09: "Magic Carpet," Pamela Nelson 2009-10: "Music on Parade," David Zvanut 2010-11: "Downtown Playground," J. Lynn Kelly 2011-12: "Dallas in Wonderland," Rebecca Guy 2012-13: "When the Troops Come Marching Home to the City of Dallas, What a Day of Celebration That Will Be!" Cornelious Brackens Jr.
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