List of 2 members.

  • Photo of James Pecchenino

    James Pecchenino 

    President of the Central Catholic Foundation
    (209) 338-2600
  • Photo of Kari Paris

    Kari Paris 

    Foundation Director
    (209) 524-9611 ext. 118

Trustees & Associate Trustees

Chairman Robert Fantazia
Vice-Chair Jim Halvorson
Treasurer Robert Raspo
Secretary Linda West
Laura Cole
Charles Corsiglia
Kathryn Davis
Sandra de Alcuaz
Andrew Dignan
Steve Junqueiro
Nancy Maring
Chris Martini
John McSherry
Guy Miligi
Walter Nicolau
Lisa Ribeiro
Giuseppe Rossini
Scott Sauls
Terry Withrow

Associate Trustees
Kathryn Davis
Mimi Maring
James Reed
Duncan Reno
Paul Schaefer

In Memoriam

Tim McSherry
Larry Dovichi
Art Dykzeul
William Berry
Father Joseph O'Hare
Chuck Tocalino
Support

Foundation

The Central Catholic High School Foundation was established in 1974 to promote and encourage support to the families in the way of tuition assistance through endowed funds. Today the Foundation's role has been expanded to include the CCHS Memorial Program, our extensive Scholarship Program, professional development for teachers and staff, and our Capital Campaigns. 

Through the CCHS Memorial Program, loved ones are remembered through a gift that supports the ongoing Catholic education of our young people. The Scholarship Program allows us to recognize students who excel in academics and/or need financial assistance to continue their Catholic education at Central Catholic. Our endowments for professional development provide funding teachers and staff alike to grow in their profession while our capital campaigns has enabled us to maintain and grow our facilities and grounds.

Central Catholic High School has been named as the beneficiary of several insurance policies; often donors have taken out insurance policies to assure the support of their children and once the children are grown, feel they no longer need them. They are able to receive tax advantages and the CCHS Foundation benefits upon their death. We are extremely grateful for these gifts as well as for so many others from thoughtful and generous friends of Central Catholic.

For more information about the foundation and ways to give to CCHS, including planned gifts and estate gifts, call Kari Paris, Foundation Director, at (209) 524-6822.

Mraz Challenge for Endowed Scholarships

The challenge by the Mraz Family was to raise $100,000 for Phase I, which would then be matched by the Mraz Family at $100,000. This money would then be used to match funds raised in Phase II, up to $200,000 towards new and existing endowment funds.

WE have met our goal of raising $400,000! Thanks to the Mraz Family for kicking off this campaign by offering $100,000 in matching funds.


Photo of Dave and Gloria Mraz.

FFA School Farm

WE are beyond thrilled to finally be closer to our goal with our FFA School Farm. We are still in need of $20,000 to finish up Phase 1 of this project. The irrigation has been put in, as well as the fencing. Students are now able to tend to the area and they had their first School Farm work day. WE look forward to cultivating this area and growing all sorts of lovely things in the days and years to come.

For every student who has an interest and a passion in this realm, WE strive to guide them towards the necessary skills to support the agricultural future of our city, state, and country.

Memorial Program

Examples of Memorials on Campus

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • The Dr. Dallas E. Dillon Memorial Shakespeare Garden

    The Dr. Dallas E. Dillon Memorial Shakespeare Garden located at Central Catholic High School in Modesto features several roses mentioned in his works and in the winter of 2023 one was planted to honor the Bard himself: the William Shakespeare 2000 Rose.

  • Stained Glass Windows - Our Lady of Light Chapel

    •In the mid to late seventies, the pews were removed from the CCHS chapel, carpet was laid, and the windows were painted to facilitate the showing of videos. Eventually the pews were brought back in and the orange carpet replaced, returning Our Lady of Light Chapel to a more traditional place of worship. A campaign was launched to raise funds to replace the windows with the beautiful plexiglass stained windows we see today. The windows themselves were designed by CCHS Principal, Jim Pecchenino ‘72 with input from CCHS Chaplain Keith Campbell.

    •Parents and former parents dedicated the windows to loved ones or named them in appreciation for the education their children had received at Central Catholic. A dedication and blessing of the windows was held for all the donors and their families in January, 1990.

  • The Kristi Phippen Gallery

    The Kristi Phippen Art Gallery is in the front entrance to Central Catholic High School. It is dedicated to the memory of Kristi Phippen, one of the school's brightest students. The gallery now houses a permanent collection of alumni and faculty work, while the main hallway is used to exhibit a different professional artist's work every six weeks.

  • Stations of the Cross - Inner Courtyard & Front of School

    •During the Turkish Occupation of the Holy Land in the late Middle Ages, when pilgrims were prevented from visiting its sacred places, it became customary to make replicas of those special holy places, where people could come and pray. One of the most popular of these devotions was the “Stations of the Cross”, imitations of the places Christ stopped to pray on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

    •Central Catholic’s 15 Stations, the first outdoor Stations of the Cross in the Diocese of Stockton, wind through the campus, serving as an important daily reminder of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Through the generous private donations that made the Stations a reality, they also memorialize families and individuals who have been important participants in the life of Central Catholic. The Stations were designed by the architectural firm of Booker, Gery, Hickman with the help of CCHS graduate Brian Juge, ’96, who served the firm as an intern. Father Bill McDonald blessed the Stations at a special ceremony on September 13, 1998.

Mark Gallo Health & Fitness Center

The Mark Gallo Health and Fitness Center is a beautiful facility with a lobby that can fully open onto the 1,100 seat gym, two classrooms, a commercial kitchen, offices, storage rooms and the John C. Bosio Training Center as well as the Van Nes Tennis Courts. John C. Bosio graduated from Central Catholic in 1985 and Gerry & Michael Van Nes in 1970 and 1971. Both families have been long-time supporters of Central Catholic and donated generously to this project. WE are collecting on pledges and matching the funds $1 for $1 from the Mark Gallo Memorial Fund.

21st Century Learning Center

WE are now ready to complete Phase II, which will add another new classroom to the Northeastern of the library and a full renovation of our current library space. WE will have state-of-the-art technology, soundproof study rooms, new furniture, bookshelves, and much more. When WE put together plans for both Phase I and II, WE estimated the project to cost $640,000. With the most recent pledge of $100,000, we are now within $35,000 to fully fund both phases. This is still a lot of money, but we are getting very close to our goal.



Legacy Program

For over fifty years, Central Catholic has been a benchmark in our community and beyond, challenging and educating our young people. It has changed the way they view their faith, education, and sense of community in a very positive way.

Over the years, gifts from wills and trusts have been critical to the work we do in the education and formation of our students. They have enabled us to maintain and develop the outstanding academic and co-curricular programs here at Central Catholic, including many of our endowed scholarships.

This tradition of giving to the CCHS Foundation through estate and planned gifts provides us with needed resources that allow us to create opportunities for our young men and women to develop their talents.

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

    • Can my gift be used as my required minimum distribution under the law?

      • Yes, absolutely. If you have not yet taken your required minimum distribution this year, the IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all or part of that requirement.  It’s always smart to consult your tax professional if you are thinking about a charitable contribution under this law. Contact your IRA custodian to arrange the gift.

    • I have several retirement accounts - some pension and some IRA’s.  Does it matter which retirement account I use?

    • Yes, direct rollovers to a qualified charity can be made only from an IRA.  Under certain circumstances you may be able to roll assets from a pension, profit sharing, 401(K) OR 403(B) Plan into an IRA and then make the transfer from the IRA directly to the Central Catholic High School Foundation. To find out if a rollover to an IRA is an option for your plan, talk with your plan administrator.

    • I’m turning 70 ½ in a few months.  Can I make this gift now?

    • No. Legislation requires you to reach age 70 ½ by the date you make the gift.

    • How do I qualify for the Central Catholic High School Legacy Society?

    • Membership in the CCHS Foundation Legacy Society is extended on a confidential basis to Central Catholic High School alumni and friends who have arranged a deferred gift—for example, through a bequest or trust, or who are planning to do so for CCHS (regardless of the size of the gift). There is no other requirement or obligation.

    • I’ve already named Central Catholic as the/a beneficiary of my IRA.  What are the benefits if I make a gift now?

    • By making the gift now you get to see your philanthropic dollars at work.  You’ll get a head-start on the legacy you would like to leave and give yourself the pleasure of seeing your legacy take shape.  You can also fulfill any outstanding pledge you may have made by transferring that amount from your IRA.

    • Do I need to give my entire IRA to be eligible for the tax benefits?

    • No. You can give any amount under this law, as long as it is $100,000 or less within the year you donate. If your IRA is more than $100,000, you can transfer just a portion of it to fund charitable gifts.

    • Can my gift plans remain anonymous?

    • CCHS’s Foundation is dedicated to preserving the confidentiality of our donors' gift plans. Your name will only be used in honor rolls as a member of the CCHS Foundation Legacy Society with your permission.

    • What is the connection between the CCHS Foundation Legacy Society and other CCHS Foundation giving societies?

    • The CCHS Foundation Legacy Society recognizes the method of giving, not the size of gift. It is possible to be a member of the CCHS Foundation Legacy Society and also arrange an outright or deferred gift in an amount appropriate to qualify for other giving recognition levels

    • What if I change my plans?

    • CCHS Foundation acknowledges that any revocable gift plan may change in the future. The CCHS Foundation Legacy Society provides recognition for your current intention to support the mission of CCHS.

    • Do I need to share my estate planning documents with the CCHS Foundation?

    • It's not necessary to do so, but it can be helpful. For example, all estate planning documents should use Central Catholic High School Foundation full, legal title to ensure that your eventual gift will come through the CCHS Foundation preferred channel for private support and will be used according to your wishes. 

    • Because wills, trusts, and other documents are legally binding, the purpose must be clearly stated, or the document could create a gift that does not follow your intentions or support the school’s mission. Sharing your plans with CCHS’s Foundation will enable us to use your gift in a manner that is most aligned with your interests and values.

    • You may wish to share a copy of only a portion of your estate planning document, or you may describe your gift on the CCHS Foundation Legacy Society enrollment form. CCHS’s Foundation staff is available to consult with you and your professional advisor. Our goal is to ensure that your estate document uses the correct legal title of Central Catholic High School Foundation and that we understand and will be able to carry out your wishes.

Visual Arts Center

WE most certainly welcome donations for other departments and programs, such as our Fine Arts Department. WE aim to enrich students' learning of artistic techniques and styles with access to the best professional materials available.

Central Catholic High School Foundation 2023-2024 Accomplishments

How to Give:

By Mail

Make checks payable to Central Catholic High School Foundation
Central Catholic High School
Attn: Foundation Office
200 South Carpenter Road
Modesto, CA 95351

By Phone

please contact: Kari Paris at (209) 524-6822.

*Make a credit card gift.
*Give to the Memorial Program, Scholarship Endowment or Ladd Field project.
*Make a gift of stock/annuities and need transfer instructions.


Matching Gifts  Double the impact of your gift! Many companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees and retirees. Check with your human resources department or see below for a partial list of matching companies.

     AAA Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
  American Express Foundation National Semiconductor
  Bank of American Foundation Pacific Bell
  Barclays Global Investor
Pacific Gas & Electric
 
Cigna Foundation
Shell Oil Company Foundation
 
Conoco Phillips
Sun Microsystems Foundation
 
Costco
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
 
Frito Lay
Wells Fargo & Company
 
Lam Research
United Way
 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
US Traditions

About Central Catholic

Faithful to our Catholic Tradition, our mission is to witness to the Gospel while building an educational community that inspires the spiritual, academic and social development of young adults.


Central Catholic Students Are:
Academically-Prepared
Spiritually-Developed
Socially-Responsible
Globally-Conscious 

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