The Legacy Society honors donors who have generously named a Catholic organization, program, or ministry throughout the Church of Philadelphia in their estate plans.

The Legacy Society honors donors who have generously named a Catholic organization, program, or ministry throughout the Church of Philadelphia in their estate plans.

Our Team

Trusted partners working with you every step of the way

Together, with an overarching compassion for caring for those in need, the CFGP team brings a professional, seasoned background in charitable giving.

From fundraising management and development consultation to volunteer training, grant writing, capital campaigns, and more, we deliver impactful programs that last and create promising futures for the community. Always taking a personal approach in all we do, we work directly with our donors and partners to determine how to best achieve their charitable goals while supporting the causes they believe in most.

Sarah O. Hanley

As the President and Chief Executive Officer, Sarah O. Hanley brings her broad-based experience and innovative ideas to The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia. With more than 25 years of business development and leadership experience, Sarah is responsible for the growth and strategic oversight of CFGP and leading a team of dedicated staff who support the Foundation’s development.

Sarah has been with CFGP since its founding in 2013. In her previous roles with CFGP, Sarah was responsible for the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal, which collectively raise nearly $20M annually. She also led CFGP’s Development Consulting Services team, which continues to help grow the fundraising and development efforts of many Catholic institutions across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Sarah’s commitment to the mission of CFGP stems from her lifelong dedication to her faith and her hometown. A native Philadelphian, Sarah now gives back to her community and her faith in ways she could have only hoped for. Today, Sarah and her husband, Jim, live in Delaware County. They are proud parents of two adult sons, Dave and Kevin. Sarah is an active member of St. Kevin Parish in Springfield, where she is the Founding Chair of their Stewardship Council and serves on their Women’s Club Board of Directors.

Sarah is a member of the Executive Board of Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She also has participated in the mentoring program for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter; and recently accepted an appointment to the Steering Committee of the Consortium of Catholic Foundations. Sarah is also a former board member of the National Catholic Development Conference.

Prior to her time with CFGP, Sarah worked in the Office for Stewardship and Development at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as the Director of Appeals. Before transitioning into the nonprofit sector, she had a highly successful career in business development and sales leadership, working for UGI/AmeriGas and National Car Rental. Sarah is a graduate of Drexel University, holding a BS in Marketing and Management

Sarah O. Hanley

President and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph Connor Ames

Connor joined the Foundation in May 2019 and works on the MAS team as the Project Manager for the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal. Connor first found his passion for nonprofit work in the year of 2015, during his year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Scranton, PA. Since then, Connor worked in various nonprofit development and project coordination roles.

Connor is a South Jersey native and an avid Philly sports fan. He attended Loyola University Maryland, where he attained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Emerging Media. In his free time, Connor enjoys music, traveling, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with family and friends.

Connor Ames

Project Manager

Shelley (219 × 249 px).png

Shelley joined the CFGP team in February 2023 as a Data Entry Clerk. She has over 17 years of experience working at various nonprofit organizations. Shelley is very excited about being a part of fulfilling the mission of CFGP.

Shelley Bethea

Data Entry Clerk

Molly Carroll.png

Molly joined the CFGP team in September of 2023. She was born and raised in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. She attended John W. Hallahan Catholic School for Girls and continued her education at La Salle University where she received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family at their mountain house on Lake Wallenpaupack, going to concerts and trying out new cooking recipes. 

Molly Carroll

Executive Assistant

Ben Centeno.png

Benjamin Centeno joined the CFGP team in March of 2024. He is a native of Philadelphia and a graduate of LaSalle University. Benjamin has over twenty years of experience in non-profit finance. He takes pleasure in working in the non-profit sector and is thrilled to be a part of the CFGP team. During his free time, he enjoys cheering for all of Philadelphia's sports teams and spending quality time with his family.

Benjamin Centeno

Controller

Sean_Curtis_website.jpg

Sean joined the CFGP team in October of 2023. He was born and raised in Berwyn, PA, and attended Conestoga High School where he graduated in 2017. Sean was recently working in the greater Philadelphia area and is excited to be working for a nonprofit located in Center City. In his free time, he enjoys playing in men’s soccer leagues, spending time with his friends, and watching movies. 

Sean Curtis

Data Entry Clerk

Devon Fine.png

Devon Fine joined the CFGP team in June 2023. She is originally from the Philadelphia neighborhood Fishtown, and she attended J.W. Hallahan All Girls Catholic High School. Devon holds a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Devon is new to the nonprofit sector, and she is very excited to be making an impact in the very same community she grew up in.

Devon Fine

Bookkeeper, Data Entry Clerk

Krissy Freeman Website.png

Krissy Freeman joined CFGP as Associate Director, Partner Development in February 2023. Krissy’s entire career has focused on fundraising and nonprofit development. While most of her experience is in education, she is passionate about all nonprofit work and its impact on the community. Krissy was drawn to her current role because of the opportunity to work with multiple CFGP clients and bring new initiatives to further their mission. 

Krissy graduated from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Originally from Georgia, she now resides in West Philadelphia. Krissy is an avid reader and enjoys traveling as much as possible.  

Krissy Freeman

Associate Director, Partner Development

Kurt Gabbard Website.png

Kurt Gabbard currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia.  In that role, he serves as an integral member of the Senior Executive Management team. He is responsible for financial strategy and oversight of all accounting, finance, human resources, and risk management/legal/compliance activities.

Previously Kurt served as Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Princeton Theological Seminary, a graduate theological school related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) located in Princeton, New Jersey.  In that role, he was responsible for the seminary’s financial affairs, human resources, and information technology services.  Kurt began his career in church-related higher education in 1993 at Mary Holmes College in West Point, Mississippi. He served as Vice President for Business Affairs and later as Vice President for Advancement.  Before coming to Princeton Seminary in 2015, he was Chief Business Officer for Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. He previously held the same position for McCormick Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.

Kurt is a registered certified public accountant in Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He and his wife, Lisa, have three adult children and live in Buckingham Township in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

Kurt A. Gabbard

Chief Financial Officer

Emily Gambino

Emily has been with the Foundation since 2014 and currently oversees CFGP’s many fundraising and development consulting clients. Emily’s love of the nonprofit sector started in college when she served on the Executive Council of Indiana University Dance Marathon. She quickly changed her major from Biology to Nonprofit Management, and hasn’t looked back since! Emily is a proud graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), and a native of Indianapolis.

Emily loves spending her days helping nonprofits of all sizes overcome their unique challenges and raise the funds they need to fulfill their mission. She is proud to have helped raise nearly $40 million for clients since joining the MAS team.

Emily Gambino

Chief Partner Development Officer

Deacon Jack Hasson

Deacon Jack was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Bishop Daniel Thomas in June 2012 and is assigned to St. Eleanor Parish in Collegeville. He earned a Certificate in Catholic Bioethics from Catholic Distance University in 2015.  Deacon Jack is a member of the Archbishop’s Commission on Racial Healing and other Archdiocesan Committees and Boards.

Deacon Jack enjoys time with his wife and family, traveling and attending local cultural events in the Philadelphia region.

Deacon Jack Hasson

Office and Advancement Coordinator

Stephanie website.png

Stephanie joined The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia in 2022. She attended American University, where she graduated with a degree in International Studies, a minor in Japanese, and a focus on International Communications and Intercultural Theatre.  She then spent the next 5 years studying and performing modern dance in NYC and moved back to the Philadelphia area in 2008. After modeling for a decade at the city's best art schools and hosting hundreds of guests through AirBnB, she now hopes to preserve and support Catholic culture in our community.

Stephanie Hyland

Receptionist

vjean.jpg

Valerie joined the CFGP team in September 2021 as a Project Coordinator. After graduating from Loyola University of Maryland for Global Studies, she enrolled in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Brooklyn, NY. There she served as an immigration counselor at Catholic Migration Services, assisting clients through the naturalization process. Valerie then went on to earn her Master’s degree at NYU for Global Affairs. Valerie enjoys art, theater, and walking around the city in her spare time.

Valerie Jean

Senior Development Coordinator

Russ_BW_website.png

Russell has been with the Foundation since its inception in 2013, and currently co-manages the Data Department, which processes data for the Catholic Charities Appeal, the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal, and other clients.

In his spare time, Russell enjoys reading, football, listening to an eclectic mix of music, and spending time with his family as often as possible. 

Russell Lafferty

Database Administrator

James website.png

James joined the Foundation in August 2022 as a Development Officer. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, he is thankful for the opportunity to combine his passion for storytelling and relationship-building in a role that advances causes for the greater good.

James and his wife live in Malvern, where they are tolerated by their cat, Winston. In his spare time, James enjoys playing music, hiking, and traveling to historic sites.

James Looney

Associate Director, Advancement

Leda Milazzo.jpg

Leda joined the staff of CFGP in December 2021 as the Marketing Manager. She brings with her wide-ranging experience in religious communications, marketing, and design. Leda comes to us from the historic center city church, The Church of the Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square, where she was responsible for all digital and print communications.

Leda is married and in 2019 moved from New York to the greater Philadelphia area. She holds a BS in marketing from SUNY Oswego and a MA in American Studies from Fairfield University. She is thrilled to be in service of CFGP’s mission.

Leda Milazzo

Marketing Manager

Mtthew Website.png

Matthew joined the CFGP team in February 2023. Originally from Wisconsin, he attended University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and graduated with a degree in English Rhetoric and Philosophy, prior to accepting roles within the non-profit realm. He was part of the founding corps for City Year Denver, provided administrative support for three years at Beyond Literacy, as well as analyzed data and compiled campaign results for United Way.

Matthew enjoys gardening, writing, and exploring nature. He is the copy editor for “I See Jesus” written by Diane Nienas, which unfolds the story of his family and faith. Matthew resides in South Jersey where he is happily married to his wife, Valerie.

Matthew Nienas

Relationship Manager

Garrett Owen (1).png

Garrett serves as Chief Philanthropy Officer for CFGP after joining the team in January 2024.  With over 15 years of non-profit fundraising and leadership experience, Garrett is responsible for the oversight of CFGP’s Advancement strategy and providing donors with pathways to support causes and priorities meaningful to them. Garrett is passionate about helping individuals achieve their charitable goals and create an impact in their communities through the transformational power of philanthropy.

Previously, Garrett served as Senior Director of Development for Doylestown Health in Doylestown, PA. In this role, he helped lead a Foundation Office that successfully completed a $100 million comprehensive campaign in support of the growth and expansion of the health system. Prior to his ten years with Doylestown Health, Garrett served as the Development Director of Special Events for Samaritans, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide in Greater Boston. Garrett is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners as well as the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia.

Garrett holds a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College in Providence, RI.  He and his wife, Lisa, have four children and live in Perkasie Borough, Bucks County, PA. Garrett and his family are active members at St. Agnes Parish in Sellersville, PA. He also currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope, PA.

Garrett Owen

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Peggy Sweeney2.png

Peggy comes to CFGP after a 16-year career at the National Liberty Museum (NLM) where she held the position of Chief Development Officer. In this leadership team role, she successfully developed and secured strategic, high-impact funding partnerships with local and national supporters. 

Before her time with NLM, Peggy worked as Program Director at the John Templeton Foundation for six years. Prior to this, she was an Instructor of French at the College of William and Mary. Peggy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University and Master of Arts degree from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia (PGCGP) and resides in Philadelphia.

Peggy Sweeney

Major Gift Specialist

Jessica Townsend

Jess joined CFGP as a Data Entry Clerk in 2018. Before joining CFGP, Jess worked in both retail and guest services. She grew up in South Jersey but has lived in Philadelphia for years. Jess is passionate about all things Disney including the history of the company and its parks. When she’s not working, she likes spending time with family, crocheting, cooking, and baking.

Jessica Townsend

Data Entry Clerk

Kristine Visco.png

Kristine, who is the Director, Partner Development joined the CFGP team in August 2020.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from LaSalle University. Kristine is grateful to put the theories of nonprofit and organizational leadership into practice in her role at CFGP. She loves working with CFGP’s partners and seeing first-hand the incredible individuals and groups that benefit from each Catholic charity. Kristine and her husband live in a suburb of Philadelphia with their golden retriever Bodhi. They enjoy spending time outdoors gardening, golfing, and relaxing on the beach. 

Kristine Visco

Director, Partner Development