Bernard Heerey Foundation Awards Grant for the Care of Elder Friars

MR. BERNARD HEEREY'S LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION, WHICH SUPPORTS MANY SPIRITUAL ENDEAVORS TO IMPROVE THE CHICAGO LANDSCAPE

It is the sacred duty of our Augustinian Province to see that our retired and infirm friars receive the care they need in the twilight years of their lives.  These men have lived lives of great purpose and have significantly impacted the lives of tens of thousands of men, women, and children in Chicagoland and elsewhere in the Midwest.  It would be hard to live a more meaningful and impactful life.

This year, the Midwest Augustinians were blessed to receive an extraordinary grant of $53,000 from the Bernard Heerey Foundation of Chicago, to cover the annual costs for one retired friar who had served in the city’s south side. Bernard Heerey, the namesake of the foundation, made significant impacts on the landscape of postwar Chicago, purchasing, assembling, and refurbishing major tracts along the city’s near north side. Mr. Heerey was also a devout Catholic who had a deep interest in the spiritual and physical welfare of the people of the city. Following his death in 1999, his assets were directed toward the establishment of a foundation with two principal directives: 1) offering scholarships and fellowships to worthy Chicago students; and 2) provide for the elderly who dedicated their lives to serving Chicago.

Mr. Nathaniel Gray, a friend of Bernard Heerey and trustee of the foundation, stated, “We believe that the men and women who work for the betterment of the city, while receiving little or no financial compensation, need to be provided for in their later years. Especially in organizations like the Augustinians, when they can become a large financial burdens for the whole community.” Our Province expresses our immense gratitude to the Bernard Heerey Foundation for their generous continued support.