Catholic Charities Legacy Endowment

Stories of Impact - Legacy Endowment

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie, Inc. is pleased to announce the Catholic Charities Legacy Endowment. The purpose of the endowment is to fund the operational needs of the agencies in the Catholic Charities network, including support of programs that provide direct services to people in need.

This endowment, newly established with The Catholic Foundation of Northwest PA, is being seeded by the generous bequests of Mark Kulyk and Msgr. William Biebel, two longtime supporters of the good works of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Erie.

Mark and Joyce Kulyk

 Mark is described in the words of his wife Joyce as a generous, caring person who was dedicated to his faith.

Mark’s passion for helping people in need led him to volunteer at the local Catholic Charities agency when he and Joyce lived in Virginia, and then he continued this commitment to Catholic Charities in Erie soon after they moved to the region in 1984. Joyce is thrilled that Catholic Charities has used Mark’s bequest to seed this new legacy endowment. She says, “Mark would be pleased, too. This is how he can stay involved in the work he was so passionate about.”

Msgr. William Biebel also had a long history of working with Catholic Charities, and part of his final wishes was to include a gift to Catholic Charities in his estate plans. 

Msgr. William Biebel

His entire lifetime was spent in service to the Diocese of Erie, and according to Msgr. Biebel’s friend and executor of his estate, Michael Gaines, he was known to have “great concern for people. He wanted them to be helped.” Msgr. Biebel wouldn’t hesitate to refer someone in need to a Catholic Charities agency while he was alive, and in his final act of generosity, he made a bequest in order to continue the good works of Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities has decided to use these two legacy gifts not only to honor the generosity of Mark Kulyk and Msgr. Biebel, but also to ensure that their gifts last into the future and continue the work to which they were so committed. By establishing the Catholic Charities Legacy Endowment, Catholic Charities ensures that their gifts give forever.

Ann Badach, executive director of Catholic Charities, says of the endowment “the board of Catholic Charities believes that every act of Christian charity creates a ripple effect — many are helped from every gift. We hope that the establishment of this legacy endowment may inspire others to honor their own loved ones and enlarge the ripple effect created by this gift to help others in need.”

To learn more about making a planned gift to support this endowment,
contact Lisa Louis at (814) 824-1237 or [email protected].