'Funds of Love' supports programs that create hope

Intermountain Catholic

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Cheri Bursell (left), Benedictine Sister Stephanie Mongeon, Yvonne Coiner, Benedictine Sister Danile Knight, Prioress, and Andrea Kindschi prepare for the Funds of Love event.IC photo by Christine Young

OGDEN — St. Benedict’s Foundation is busy preparing for their annual "Funds of Love" boutique and silent auction Nov. 2, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mount Benedict Monastery.

Jason Wright, author of "Christmas Jars," will speak at 6 p.m., followed by a book signing at St. Benedict Monastery, 6000 South 1075 East, South Ogden. Christmas Jars is a story about giving and daily sacrifice.

"We work all year, and as a family or a group of office workers, we can put a jar on the counter and everybody can contribute extra change to the jar," said Yvonne Ulloa Coiner, executive director of St. Benedict’s Foundation. "Then at the end of the year families and groups can decide who will be the recipient of the jar.

"The story is very motivational and makes you understand that you can have Christmas every day by planning for it," said Coiner. "The jar is given anonymously, and continues to give because the people who receive it in turn pass it on. Sometimes the jar of coins is given to someone just because he or she needs emotional support and needs to know someone is thinking him or her.

Wright tells the story of Cameron Birch who was a young boy with cancer. On Christmas Eve, he received two large Christmas jars. His parents told him they were for him because someone cared about him. Cameron decided to go the store and buy toys for all the children in the cancer center.

"We invited Jason Wright because we really like this story and what it represents, and thought it would be a good match for our Funds of Love event.

"We came up with the name, "Funds of Love," as a result of a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta, ‘Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, or peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God; the rest will be given,’" said Coiner. "This is the second year we have held this event. Last year we were able to grant $208,000 to various programs. Funds of Love raised $5,000, which was part of the $208,000 we granted.

"People like to come to this event to make new friends and meet old friends," said Coiner. "People like to come to visit with the Benedictine Sisters because it is kind of like you are being invited to their home. This will be a party to start off the holiday season. A lot of the items we will sell are for hosting the holidays such as candles, food and food ideas, center pieces, and holiday crafts. The boutique will also feature door prizes, hand-made quilts, teddy bears, and Christmas ornaments. The Funds of Love organizers, however are also in need or more Christmas ornaments and boutique items that can be sold for under $20."

"Costco is underwriting all of the food because we will be serving hors’ doeuvres to our guests as they are shopping," said Coiner. "Costco will actually provide all of the food, and Weber Basin Job Corps culinary art students will prepare the hors’ doeuvres and serve the guests. They served us last year and really made the party fun because they were dressed in their chef outfits. This is an opportunity to sample food items that you might want to serve at your holiday parties that can easily be purchase at Costco. Everything is geared toward the holiday season and entertaining guests. The Boys and Girls Club, which is a program funded by St. Benedict’s Foundation, will assist guests in carrying packages to their cars."

St. Benedict’s Foundation was founded by the Sisters of St. Benedict in 1976. Prior to 1994, the foundation was primarily supportive of health care through St. Benedict’s Hospital. After the sale of the hospital in 1994, the sisters began to address additional concerns that directly impact the lives of women, children, families, and the poor. The sisters partner with other agencies such as educational facilities, community health clinics, domestic violence programs, counseling centers, addiction prevention programs in schools, child abuse prevention and treatment facilities, and other programs that impact the quality of life for individuals.

St. Benedict’s Foundation is organized to solicit and receive gifts, grants, bequests, contributions, and other financial aid from the general public and other sources for the support and maintenance of benevolent, charitable, religious, and educational activities.

Each fall, agencies who can identify with the sisters’ goals and objectives submit grant requests. These requests are reviewed, and grants are awarded according to St. Benedict’s Foundation guidelines and available resources. The sisters are also involved in social entrepreneurial projects that assist agencies in becoming more independent and self-sufficient.

To make a donation to Funds of Love or to the St. Benedict’s Foundation, call Yvonne Ulloa Coiner at (801) 479-1800.