The benefits of a quality education can offer a student the opportunity to have a better chance to succeed in life. This is at the core of a new scholarship endowment fund created for the express purpose of providing financially disadvantaged children with the opportunity to attend one of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools.
The St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Women’s Guild Scholarship Fund was established in January 2025 to create a lasting legacy for this and future generations of students.
“Given the incredible importance of a good education, we believe this will serve a deeply meaningful purpose in the lives of young students in need and provide them with more positive life opportunities” explained Kay Kochenderfer, President of the Women’s Guild based in Longboat Key.
The Women’s Guild Scholarship Endowment Fund was initially started in January with $10,000 in seed money, but incredibly, through outreach at the Parish and in the local community, the Fund has now exceeded $80,000 toward a $100,000 base goal.
“The response has been incredible, because people understand the importance of a quality Catholic education,” Kochenderfer said.
Only recently elected as the Women’s Guild president, Kochenderfer added that the idea for the Scholarship Endowment Fund came about when the Guild leadership was looking for ways to create a value-added program beyond what the group already does for the community.
Through annual events, such as the Royal Rummage Sale, Christmas Bazaar, and more, the Guild has been a long-time supporter of various outreach programs including the religious education program at St. Michael Parish in Wauchula, food pantries, and helping the homeless. Most recently, the Guild aided many impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which did extensive damage to the island community.
The vision for the Scholarship Endowment Fund was to set up the initial Fund, and that it would increase every year going forward.
“Instead of a one-time donation, we wanted to create a Fund, which would be something that can be depended on in the long term,” Kochenderfer said.
To maximize its impact, the Scholarship Fund will be managed by the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Foundation Executive Director Michael Morse said the new Fund is an example of an organization seeing a need in the community and then taking action to ensure that parents who seek Catholic education for their child can get the help they need to make that a reality.
“What the St. Mary, Star of the Sea Women’s Guild has done by creating an endowed scholarship will make a huge difference in support of Catholic education for many years to come,” Morse said. “The Catholic Community Foundation was established specifically to support such a vision.”
The Catholic Community Foundation was established in 2004 by Bishop John J. Nevins as an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, with its own by-laws, Board of Directors, and staff professionals. The Foundation helps donors create lasting Catholic Legacies by working with them to provide long-term support and sustainability to the Catholic entities and programs about which they care most. These include Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities, Parishes, Seminarian education, programs for the needy, college scholarships and more.
If you would like to support the St. Mary, Star of the Sea Women’s Guild Scholarship Endowment Fund, please visit St. Mary Star of the Sea Women’s Guild Scholarship Fund – Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, or use the QR code.
To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc., please visit https://ccfdioceseofvenice.org/, or contact Michael Morse at 941-441-1124 or morse@dioceseofvenice.org.
