FADICA Coffee Connect
Tuesday, June 18 | 3PM ET | Zoom Event
Over the next few months, FADICA will host a series of virtual Coffee Connects. These gatherings provide an avenue for Catholic-inspired funders and foundations to connect with peers as well as with national thought leaders in Catholic ministries, schools, and organizations. Each Coffee Connect features an expert related to a pressing issue or opportunity—such as global mission, homelessness, and care for the Earth—and explores how Catholic philanthropy can respond.
Our first Coffee Connect on June 18 will feature an overview of an innovative diocesan-wide program in Early Childhood Education (ECE) that can be replicated and scaled up. June’s guest presenters include Vivian Shannon, Executive Director at the Fulcrum Foundation—a FADICA member—and Dave Mayer, Director of Early Childhood Education at the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Office for Catholic Schools, as well as Dick Abrams, a major donor whose investment launched Fulcrum’s Early Childhood Education Endowment. Members of our Catholic Education funders’ group will also join for this event. You can learn more about FADICA’s Catholic Education Initiative here.
We hope you’ll join us and bring to the table your unique perspective, your questions about ECE and FADICA, and a cup of coffee—or other mid-afternoon beverage of your choosing! With any questions about the event, or if you’d like more information about FADICA, please contact Membership and Outreach Officer, Lindsay McGregor, at lmcgregor@fadica.org.
About Vivian Shannon: Vivian Shannon joined the Fulcrum Foundation in October 2019. Prior to joining Fulcrum, Vivian served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer for the YMCA of Greater Seattle, where she successfully oversaw a $180M comprehensive campaign. Vivian also previously managed a $350M comprehensive campaign (which raised $421M) at the United States Military Academy at West Point as the Campaign Director, while working for the West Point Association of Graduates. She has nearly 25 years’ experience building relationships, growing and developing teams, and creating strategies for success.
About Dave Mayer: Dave currently serves as the Director of Early Childhood Education for the Office for Catholic Schools in the Seattle Archdiocese. In this role, he supports 56 Early Learning Programs across the Archdiocese. Previously, Dave held leadership positions at the YMCA of Greater Seattle. As a District Executive, he spearheaded the strategic planning and implementation of the organization’s first centralized child care and day camp operations and directed 70 before-and-after school locations and 120 summer site locations. Dave’s YMCA experience also includes leading the successful openings of new branches in Sammamish and Snoqualmie Washington. Earlier in his YMCA career in Minnesota, he managed summer programs and camp operations driven by a passion for fostering community and ensuring high-quality educational experiences for children.
About Richard W. (Dick) Abrams: Richard W. (Dick) Abrams is a long-time supporter of and thought leader in Early Childhood Education (ECE), and a major donor whose investment launched Fulcrum Foundation’s $6.5 million—and growing—Early Childhood Education Endowment. Since the inception of the ECE Endowment, Fulcrum Foundation has been able to support 56 Early Learning Programs, which now serve over 2,000 children in 118 classrooms dedicated to Early Learning. In just six years, enrollment in these programs has increased by 14% and expanded to infant and toddler programs, in addition to Preschool and PreK Programs. Dick was also the recipient of FADICA’s St. Joseph of Arimathea Medal of Service, which recognizes those who exemplify discipleship and generosity with humility. Born in Seattle, Dick has a lifetime of service to numerous companies religious charities, alongside his late wife, Sharon, with whom he raised five children. He holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a PhD in chemical engineering from Lawrence University.
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