Catholic lottery winner distributes funds to support culture of life

Catholic News Service ^ | December 13, 2004 | George P. Matysek Jr.

[NYer]

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- A Catholic woman who won $180 million in the multistate Mega Millions lottery last year put smiles on the faces of a lot of Baltimore-area Catholics when she distributed $240,000 to 10 parishes, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Cardinal William H. Keeler's Lenten appeal.

In a Nov. 27 ceremony, the winner, Bernadette Gietka, a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Baltimore, and her mother, Catherine Gietka, handed out $10,000 checks from Mary's Fund Foundation, which was formed a year ago with funds from the lottery winnings.

Catherine Gietka, also a Holy Rosary parishioner, is president of the fund. Bernadette Gietka matched the foundation awards with her own $10,000 checks to 10 parishes, the School Sisters and the Lenten appeal. More awards will be made to other organizations that promote the culture of life.

"I just know how much less attendance there is in city parishes since people started moving to the suburbs," Bernadette Gietka told The Catholic Review, Baltimore archdiocesan newspaper. "They're struggling. They just don't have the amount of money they used to. I thought this would be a way to help them."

She said she selected parishes that have connections with her family. The School Sisters were included because she had once considered becoming a nun and had spent time in the congregation's program for aspirants.

"I know the parishes need the money for so many things," she said. "I don't care how they spend it as long as they say at least one prayer to end abortion."

Bernadette Gietka won the jackpot in 2003 three weeks after praying that God would send her the financial resources to promote the culture of life. Choosing the $112.8 million cash payout, she walked away with $76 million after taxes.

Her dream of producing a pro-life musical was put on hold after her mother suffered a heart attack seven months ago. Now that Catherine Gietka is feeling better, her daughter said she will get to work on the musical.

Bernadette Gietka said her foundation will also focus heavily on promoting the culture of life. There will be no more parish grants, but the foundation will make awards for pro-life projects. Contributions are also being accepted to support the foundation, she said.

"The idea is to stop abortion," said Bernadette Gietka, who has kept her job as a part-time postal letter carrier. "That's what's always on my mind 24 hours a day. That's what I was supposed to work on and that's why the foundation was founded."

The east Baltimore native said the fund was named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. "I think she is the one who is going to accomplish this," she said. "It can't be done without her."

[Salvation]

This is a wonderful story.

I heard Linda Vester talking on her Fox News Channel show today about lottery winners who were now broke, and I was thinking that what I would (should I ever buy a ticket and win LOL!) would be to put it in a fund and donate to needy causes just like this woman did.

God will reward her greatly in heaven. (Packed down and overflowing, too!)

[Salvation]

what I would do---

[NYer]

The east Baltimore native said the fund was named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. "I think she is the one who is going to accomplish this," she said. "It can't be done without her."

[Jaded]

Awesome.

[26lemoncharlie]

Pray that the needy people will receive the benefits of this ladies generosity. God Bless Her!

[eastsider]

A Catholic woman who won $180 million in the multistate Mega Millions lottery last year put smiles on the faces of a lot of Baltimore-area Catholics when she distributed $240,000 to 10 parishes, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Cardinal William H. Keeler's Lenten appeal.

Cardinal Keeler!!!???

[Romulus]

Yeah, I know. She means well, though.

I hope you're well.

[Pyro7480]

See 2003 Accountability Report to see How the Lenten appeal was spent. $75,000 went to crisis pregnancy centers. The bulk of the rest of the nearly $5 million raised went to Catholic Charities ($940,000), tuition assistance for Catholic school kids ($430,000), and campaign and administrative expenses ($585,000).

[eastsider]

Yes, God bless her and her good intentions. May she receive a hundredfold for casting her bread on the [shark-infested] water.

[Romulus]

That means fundraising expenses alone were over 12%. Not impressive. With so much more vanishing into separate fiefdoms with their own overhead, I wonder what percentage would up as direct assistance to the needy.

[eastsider]

Thanks for the link, Pyro. I'm pleasantly surprised to see any kind of transparency these days.

[samiam1972]

I may have read it wrong but it looks like she set up a fund that will continue to give. It may take a little while but she may make it a little closer to that 10% mark! :-)