Both Brendan and Lynn were raised in large, devout Catholic families — Brendan one of seven children, Lynn one of four — each attending Slovak ethnic parishes in neighboring towns. Though Brendan's family lived in Trooper, Pennsylvania, they remained faithfully connected to Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Bridgeport, where Brendan was bused to school each morning through fifth grade. Lynn, meanwhile, grew up at Sacred Heart Church in Phoenixville, where she attended CCD and received her sacraments — the same parish where she and Brendan would later be married.

After marrying and welcoming their two sons, Brendan and Lynn settled in Harleysville and joined Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Spring Mount.

"Our faith has been a source of joy in times of blessing and a source of strength through the tragedies and challenges we have faced," Lynn says.

That strength has shaped the Saboes' understanding of generosity as much as it has shaped their understanding of faith.

"Whenever our lives were turned upside down, no matter how difficult things became, we found relief once we placed the problem in God's hands," Brendan explains. "The problem usually did not disappear, but knowing God was with us made the journey possible."

Even in the early years of their marriage, when money was tight, the couple found ways to give.

"We cut back on groceries, gave up small extras, or skipped vacations when necessary. We did whatever we could to make sure a family member, friend, or even a stranger felt seen, valued, and cared for. God has given so much to us — how could we not give to others in need?"

Answering a Call to Give

After years spent building a stable financial foundation for their family, Brendan and Lynn reached a point where they wanted to formalize something they had already been doing informally for years: giving consistently to the causes and people they cared about most. What they didn't yet have was a structure built to last — a way of giving that provide greater tax-advantages, could outlive any single year's budget, and reflect the Catholic values in their family.

"We unfortunately never heard of a donor-advised fund (DAF) until my tax advisor mentioned we should investigate one, as it may work for us to achieve the goals we wanted," Brendan recalls.

Further research, along with guidance from a financial advisor who completely understood their Catholic values, pointed them to The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia. It was a recommendation that would go on to shape not only how the Saboes give today, but how their family hopes to give well into the future.

A Fund Built To Last

Family sits at the heart of why the Saboes established their DAF. Their oldest son, Brendan Jr., embraced the Catholic faith deeply despite facing many hardships before his tragic passing in 2016. He left behind a son, Andrew, who has continued to embrace that faith with the support of his grandparents. Their younger son, Patrick, was raised in the same faith-filled tradition and continues to grow in his own faith journey.

The Saboes have named both Patrick and Andrew as Successor Advisors to their Fund, giving them the opportunity to learn about charitable giving and carry forward the family’s values for generations to come.

“Our first hope is that Patrick and Andrew will see the love, compassion and goodness that the Catholic faith brings to people’s lives,” Lynn says. “Through our DAF, we also hope they will experience how a financial gift can lift the spirit of someone in need. As Successors, we hope they will continue to recognize the good that Catholics strive to do and carry that spirit forward after we are gone.”

The causes closest to the Saboes' hearts have grown out of lived experience. Long before establishing their Fund, Brendan and Lynn gave directly to people in need; over time, that instinct led them to support Saint Mary's own Saint Vincent de Paul Society, drawn to its hands-on work within their community. Having faced personal struggles of their own, they also feel a particular pull toward causes that support people working through difficult personal circumstances — and they hope their Fund will grow to embrace whatever causes Patrick and Andrew come to find meaningful, so long as those causes remain rooted in the Catholic faith.

For the Saboes, The Catholic Foundation is more than an administrative partner — it's a foundation, quite literally, for their family's continued faith and giving. Their experience working with the Foundation has reinforced that sense of trust.

"From our first contact to today, the Catholic Foundation has been extremely helpful in guiding us through the donor-advised fund process and providing the information we needed to feel confident opening the Fund," Brendan says. "Our experience has been excellent, and we would recommend the Foundation to anyone who is passionate about their Catholic faith and wants to give back in a meaningful way."

Asked what advice they'd offer other families considering more intentional, faith-based giving, the Saboes point back to where their own journey began.

"Take time to research, plan, and ask questions," Brendan reflects. "When we began, we were not sure what we were looking for, but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we found our way to CFGP. After asking many questions and learning more about the Foundation's work, we felt confident it was the right choice for us."

‍To learn more about the many benefits of donor-advised sunds and their impact on our faith community, please contact our philanthropic experts at 215-587-5650 or funds@thecfgp.org.