GREENSBORO — A couple’s love of their Catholic faith and a commitment to education has fostered the creation of two endowments to assist families in providing a Catholic education for their children.
Don and Mary Gay Brady, members of Our Lady of Grace Church who raised five children, had a special affinity for Our Lady of Grace School and Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.
Before Don Brady passed away last year, he and his wife established the Brady Endowment Fund and the Mary Gay and Don Brady Family Endowment Fund to invest in future generations of Catholic school students. The Bradys invested $100,000 and $500,000, respectively, into these endowments.
The Don and Mary Gay Brady Endowment Fund provides tuition assistance for Our Lady of Grace parishioners to send their children to Our Lady of Grace School.
The Mary Gay and Don Brady Family Endowment Fund provides tuition assistance for the children of Catholic school employees of Triad-area Catholic schools who attend Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.
Matching gifts were collected totaling more than $1,000,000, of which $750,000 has been set aside for the endowment.
Dr. Jared Rashford, head of school at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, noted, “Establishing or contributing to any endowment at Bishop McGuinness allows for current and future students in our region to benefit from an outstanding, Catholic education by providing long-term financial support to all aspects of school and community life.”
“Mr. Brady was an avid supporter of Catholic education and accessibility to all who wished to attend Catholic schools in the Triad,” added Katie Williams, the high school’s advancement director. “He and Mrs. Brady loved Our Lady of Grace and Bishop McGuinness and always made it a priority in terms of giving back. We are so grateful for their commitment to our schools.”
Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development says that more endowments in the diocesan foundation are being established in memory or in honor of individuals.
“Currently over half of our 323 endowments are named endowments,” he noted. “We are grateful to have two Brady endowments. We encourage parishioners to consider establishing named endowments during life or in their estate plans to benefit their parish, Catholic school, Catholic ministry or the diocese.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up an endowment or adding to an existing endowment at your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will; a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan; a gift of real estate; a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment; or a life income arrangement, such as a trust or annuity.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..