Endow Facts are now posted in our website, go to Some Facts and you will be able to get all your answers to some basic questions being asked such as:
In precisely how many dioceses is Endow at the moment?
We are approved in over 100 diocese in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
In how many states of the USA are there Endow groups?
We currently have approval from dioceses in 45 states.
Where are there Endow groups outside the USA?
We are approved in dioceses in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. We also have had groups in Guam and in Germany on military bases, as we have the approval of the Diocese of the Military Services.
How many girls and women have participated in Endow groups?
Since our inception in 2003, we have had over 17,000 women and girls participate in Endow study groups.
What age of girls and women does Endow serve?
Our youth program offers courses for girls in 6th to 12th grade. Our adult program is designed for women 18 and older. (Our oldest facilitator is 87!)
When was Endow founded?
We are quickly approaching our 10 year anniversary! We began in May 2003 in the Archdiocese of Denver in Denver, CO.
How was Endow founded?
Endow was founded through the Holy Spirit working in the lives of women in Denver, CO. Specifically, Marilyn Coors and Terry Polakovic. The message of the Church, as articulated by Pope John Paul II in his Letter to Women and On the Dignity and Vocation of Women (Mulieris Dignitatem), amazed the hearts of these women, and it became clear to them that they had to share what they had learned.
Transformed by the message of authentic femininity and dignity of the person, Terry quit her job to found what would become Endow, and Marilyn became the Chairman of the Board. With the great support of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who offered Endow two offices and two computers to use in the Archdiocese of Denver, Endow was born.
Initially the founders weren’t sure how to go about sharing this mission – as an NGO, a think-tank, etc. However, it was soon clear that the Holy Spirit was leading them to found an educational organization for women. Instrumental in the foundation was Sister Prudence Allen, RSM, one of the world’s experts on authentic feminism, who was leading the philosophy department of the seminary in Denver. Her teaching style and guidance helped shape the style for the Endow study courses as they are today. She taught in a style that was academic, but accessible to all, giving the historical background, definitions to Church terms, and outside information needed to better grasp the message of the Church documents.
From those humble beginnings, Endow now offers 4 youth studies and 13 adult studies – ranging from John Paul II’s Letter to Women, Setting the World Ablaze: Saint Catherine of Siena, and Pope Benedict XVI’s God Is Love. While the core mission of Endow revolves around study courses, we also offer other events such as retreats, summer schools, seminars, and parish talks.
For more information see Some Facts in our website!
