March 12, 2026
The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities received FADICA’s 2026 Distinguished Catholic Leadership Award on March 12 during the organization’s 50th Annual Meeting and Symposium, recognizing the foundation’s extraordinary impact on Catholic philanthropy worldwide. This award honors visionary leadership, exceptional philanthropic initiative, and a deep commitment to strengthening the vitality of the Catholic Church.
Founded in 1945 and celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025, the Raskob Foundation has embodied a multigenerational legacy of service. Five generations of Raskob family members have carried forward the purpose established by John J. Raskob & Helena Green Raskob: “to be of service and to work for the common good of all God’s people, nourishing the seeds that God plants all over the world.” This mission is sustained through a robust family formation program that prepares new generations for philanthropic leadership.
Guided by faith, service, and stewardship, the Raskob Foundation partners with ministries, nonprofits, and Catholic-inspired organizations worldwide to support spiritual formation, social justice, education, and humanitarian outreach. With multigenerational family governance and a collaborative approach to grantmaking, the foundation ensures that its work reflects both continuity and a shared commitment to Catholic principles.
Widely recognized for championing emerging ministries, the Raskob Foundation has played a pivotal role in launching and sustaining countless Catholic initiatives. “The Raskob family’s spirit of service to the Catholic Church is remarkable — expressed across eight decades of generous support of the Church’s mission and vitality globally,” said FADICA President & CEO Alexia Kelley. “Their joy is contagious, as is their dedication to family and faith.”
FADICA Board Chair Michael Wolohan, MD. and Alexia Kelley presented the award to Raskob Foundation President Lucia Nemeth and Board Chair Patrick McGrory, who accepted on behalf of the many family members in attendance. Reflecting on the foundation’s origins, McGrory shared that his grandparents “believed something radical in its simplicity: that when people of faith commit themselves to the common good, transformation becomes possible. They believed that generosity rooted in the Gospel could ripple outward in ways no one could fully imagine.” He added, “We accept this award not simply as a recognition of past work, but as a call forward—a reminder that the Gospel continues to invite us to give more generously, to listen more deeply, and to love more boldly.”
The Raskob Foundation has been integral to FADICA’s 50-year history. In 1976, the Raskob family and Peter Robinson, grandson of John and Helena Raskob, joined seven other Catholic funders to establish FADICA. During the 2026 symposium, Robinson was honored with the St. Joseph of Arimathea Medal of Service for his leadership as FADICA’s first president. Together with the founding families, he helped build trust with bishops, religious leaders, and national Catholic institutions, positioning FADICA as a respected partner in the life of the Church.
FADICA has continued to benefit from the dedication of the Raskob family, including prior board chairs Dr. Mona Robinson and Will Raskob, and numerous descendants who have strengthened FADICA’s mission through board and committee service. The legacy of John and Helena Raskob continues to thrive through the generations who have followed in their example, cultivating seeds of goodness through faith and family.
