For Tim and Diane Joganich, faith is more than just a personal journey—it is a guiding force that shapes their lives and generosity. As parishioners of St. Jude Parish in Chalfont, PA, they have found joy in giving back by supporting both their parish and causes close to their hearts. With the help of The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, the Joganichs have maximized their charitable giving and ensured their impact extends far beyond their lifetime.
Tim, originally from Tempe, Arizona, and Diane, from Newark, Ohio, met after college and married in 1987 at the Newman Center on the campus of Arizona State University. They have been blessed with two sons and four grandchildren, and their faith has been a steady foundation throughout most of their lives.
For Tim, his faith journey was deeply personal. “I considered myself spiritual and searched for something not man-made,” he recalls. It was only after a 3,300-mile bicycle trip from Vancouver, BC, to Alaska and meeting Diane that he rediscovered the richness of the Catholic faith—particularly the Eucharist. Diane, having attended Catholic school, brought a strong foundation that helped lead them to a more intentional practice of faith and philanthropy.
“As our faith grew, we reached a point where we became more and more aware that God called us to be more intentional with using our blessings of time, talent, and treasures to be the instruments of Christ in the world,” Tim says. This growing awareness led them to support a range of ministries—from adult faith formation at St. Jude to Biking for Babies, a national organization that promotes the sanctity of life.
Biking for Babies spiritually forms young adult missionaries to be witnesses to the Gospel of Life and physically prepares them for a one-week, 500-mile bike ride during which they hold community events centered on the Gospel. As part of their spiritual formation, the missionaries partner with a pregnancy center to raise funds during their national ride.
“Cycling has always been part of my life,” Tim explains. “It has included my bicycle trek to Alaska, which started my journey back into the Catholic faith, bicycle racing during my younger days and now being a board member for Biking for Babies.” His connection to Biking for Babies began when he met Chris Massaro, a former seminarian who later joined Biking for Babies. As he learned more about the mission, the Joganichs felt increasingly called to support its work.
“The more Diane and I learned about Biking for Babies, the more we wanted to help and become more involved. Mothers who are in a crisis pregnancy often turn to abortion in despair. The other thing we love about Biking for Babies is that you don’t just pay to participate in an event, you are helping form young adults to engage the world with the Gospel of Life.”
The couple also prioritizes giving back to their parish community. St. Jude has long been a place of spiritual nourishment for them, offering enriching adult formation programs that have deepened their understanding of the faith.
“Like many Catholics our age, catechesis was somewhat poor and left us not fully understanding our Catholic faith. The numerous adult formation events and classes at St. Jude - including Christ Renews His Parish, bible studies, and most recently the ChristLife series - have been incredibly rewarding.”
Through The Catholic Foundation, Tim and Diane established a donor-advised fund (DAF) to maximize their charitable giving. They now feel part of a greater pool of resources within a community of like-minded people. “Monsignor (Francis) Beach introduced us to The Catholic Foundation and helped us see how a donor-advised fund could align with our giving goals,” Tim says. “It allows us to be more financially prudent while also knowing that our contributions are helping to have a greater impact. It sort of reminds me of the multiplication of the loaves of bread miracle.”
The couple has also made gift intentions through their will, including bequests to their parish, several Catholic schools where Diane was a teacher and IT administrator for more than 20 years, and Biking for Babies. “Our legacy giving, no matter how much, is a way for us to express our thanks to God for our blessings. It is also a way for our works here in this world to continue to produce fruit after we pass from this life. To some extent, it is analogous to Christ’s continual presence in this world in his Church and the Eucharist.”
For the Joganichs, charitable giving is more than an obligation—it is an act of faith. “We let the Holy Spirt guide us in trying to decide between the hundreds and hundreds of worthy charitable causes. Wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and is the ability to judge and direct our time, talents, and treasures to the will of God. For us, we can feel the Holy Spirit lead us in supporting the causes closest to our hearts.”
To learn more about charitable giving and its impact on our faith, please contact our philanthropic experts at 215-587-5650 or advancement@thecfgp.org.