One hundred ministries, schools and parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will join the iGiveCatholic online fundraising campaign on Nov. 27. The day of digital giving is designed to involve thousands of individuals of all ages whose donations will help fund worthwhile projects and programs.

It is the first time the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will participate in the four-year-old iGiveCatholic program. Celebrated annually on Giving Tuesday, a global effort dedicated to involve people who wish to give back to society in a meaningful way. Declared “the most successful Catholic crowdfunding event to date” by the National Catholic Register, one of the founding sponsors, the giving day kicks off the charitable season and “brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back to the organizations that shape our souls: Our parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries,” said Archdiocesan Stewardship Director David Kissell.

Mount Notre Dame High School is one entity looking forward to the celebration of giving.

“We are grateful to members of the MND community who support us through charitable giving and the iGiveCatholic program provides another vehicle to do so,” said Rose Eckhoff, director of advancement. “This partnership will extend our reach to others that may be interested in our mission to educate and empower young women to learn, live, lead and serve. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for providing this additional opportunity for the Catholic community to give on Giving Tuesday. We also hope there are members of the larger Catholic community who wish to invest in our students and will give directly through a simple online process during Giving Tuesday.”

Eckhoff said the Giving Tuesday gifts will support the Annual Giving Fund, which is used to help MND fill the gap between the cost of tuition and the actual cost of an MND education, and will also support the school’s mission by providing tuition assistance funding for those in need.

“St. Julie Billiart, the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, challenges us to “have hearts as wide as the world, said Judy Back Gerwe ‘78, MND president. I hope charitable individuals of all ages will consider making an online gift to Mount Notre Dame through #iGiveCatholic on Giving Tuesday and support other ministries of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as well.”

Another school participating for the first time is St. Brigid School.

“Our new pastor, Father Andrew Cordonnier, in collaboration with our new Business Manager, Beth Sticka, recognizing the program’s success in other communities, thought this to be an ideal tool to provide an opportunity for the community to support our St. Brigid parish and school,” said Terry Adkins, principal.

All funds raised that day will be contributed into the efforts to replace most of the existing playground equipment, which is 22-years old and wearing down, Adkins said. “We hope to raise $57,800 to replace it with modern and vibrant new equipment that is safer, healthier and appropriate for our young, growing school and parish families. We also plan to replace and upgrade the old basketball poles and backboards.”

The school has more than $17,000 donated only two weeks into its efforts and hopes to reach the goal before the end of December, so that it can contract for a summer 2019 installation.

The goal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is $35,000 for iGiveCatholic. Every donation made on Giving Tuesday will be used to help pay for a solution to solve a flooding problem at the parish. After every long and/or hard rain, a relatively large, though shallow, lake forms on the property because of inadequate drainage. At times, the water reaches all the way to the doors of the school, flooding parts of the playground and parking lot. The freeze and thaw of the water on the parking lot is also contributing to its deterioration. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s goal is crucial due to the frequency of the flooding that is increasing. “By eliminating this situation we will not have to worry about water coming into our school, we can fully use our playground and parking lot, and eliminate the ill effects on our parking lot,” said Valerie Hofmann, business manager.

A complete list of the entities participating in #iGiveCatholic on Nov. 27 is found on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati website: www.cincinnati.igivecatholic.org.