$3 Million Marcus Family Gift to fund anti-poverty, education initiatives
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is excited to announce a $3 million gift from Judy and George Marcus to expand the agency’s anti-poverty and education initiatives. Specifically, the funds will support our newly launched Footsteps Initiative, and CORAL, our established after-school education program. The gift from the Marcus Family Foundation is the largest individual donation in the history of Catholic Charities SCC.
A celebration of the Marcuses’ philanthropy was held on March 1 at G.W. Hellyer Elementary School, one of 22 CORAL extended-learning sites operated by Catholic Charities in Santa Clara County. During the event, the Marcuses presented oversized checks to Catholic Charities leaders and Franklin McKinley School District officials. CORAL students proclaimed the day “Mrs. Judy and Mr. George Marcus Appreciation Day” and gave the couple a large handmade thank-you poster with their thumbprints and names.
The Marcuses, who are lifelong Bay Area residents and raised their four children here, are well known for their business successes in restaurant ownership and real estate. Through their family foundation, they are equally well known for their philanthropy and commitment to improving the quality of life in our region through education, the arts and human services. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is proud to join the many outstanding organizations that have benefited from the Marcuses’ generosity.
“Our philanthropic goals fit in well with Catholic Charities because they are able to help the under-resourced. You get more ‘bang for your buck’ because your donation can go a long way to help those who need it. They are also very progressive in their thinking and make changes when the needs change,” said Judy, whose community service and generosity has impacted Cristo Rey High School, the Montalvo Arts Center, Breast Cancer Connections, Avenidas and Community Services Agency in Mountain View, where she served as president.
Both of the Marcuses cite their faith as a basis for their generosity: Judy is a member of St. William & St. Nicholas Catholic Parish in Los Altos; and George is a member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose. She joined the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in 2016, serving two terms on the Board as well as serving on the Board’s Development Committee. They are 20-year members of Catholic Charities Caritas Society, a network of annual donors who provide foundational support and are enthusiastic ambassadors of the agency’s mission in their communities and their parishes.
Judy and George are very much a team in their endeavors but pursue their individual passions and causes through volunteerism and other service. The couple gives generously of both their treasure and their time. Judy offers wise and pragmatic advice based on her many years of experience in nonprofit operations.
“Things are changing in different communities, and we need to adjust with the change. We sometimes continue programs that have outlived their usefulness,” she says. “What was good for the community 30 years ago may not be appropriate today.” Two-million dollars of their gift will support Footsteps, a new Catholic Charities initiative launched last year. This scalable initiative builds on the strength of the agency’s proven expertise and past successes in anti-poverty solutions. Integrating new technology and increasing community-based services for families, the goal of Footsteps is to promote greater economic mobility as staff and volunteers accompany families on their individual journeys out of poverty.
One motivator of her philanthropy and volunteerism is seeing the impact and real change her investment makes in individuals. “When I see life changes, whether it is economic or educational, I know that the time spent was worthwhile,” Judy says. One million dollars of their gift will support Catholic Charities CORAL Afterschool/ Extended Learning program. CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning) serves almost 3,000 high-need students in grades pre-K through 8th. This 20-year-old program emphasizes literacy and CORAL students gain an average of one year in their reading levels on standard literacy assessments. The students also enjoy time with friends in a safe space, learn more about college opportunities, and participate in recreational activities that they would not have access to without CORAL.
Their $3 million gift makes the Marcuses one of the earliest investors in Catholic Charities Comprehensive Campaign, “Investing to Disrupt Poverty.” Part of the goal of the Campaign is to encourage a greater culture of philanthropy in Silicon Valley – a philosophy shared by Judy, who has publicly encouraged rising entrepreneurs to give generously and locally.
While they gave the largest gift ever received by their alma mater, San Francisco State University, the couple point out that they both come from humble backgrounds with families who emphasized community service and giving back. In a recent profile of the Marcuses published last year in Palo Alto Online, Judy discussed the roots of her giving back to the community: “Growing up, my family was always involved with helping others – whether it was during the holidays or other times – reaching out to groups that needed extra help. We didn’t have very much ourselves, but it was always important to give.”
Catholic Charities CEO Gregory Kepferle, who served as emcee at the Marcuses’ recognition program, emphasized the importance of their gift and investment in the work of the agency. He said, “We deeply appreciate the trust and commitment Judy and George have in Catholic Charities. Their investment through us will enable thousands of children to improve their education and hundreds of families on their path to economic mobility.”
