NASHOTAH — The TYME OUT Youth Ministry and Retreat Center received a commitment from an anonymous donor to match funds raised up to $100,000.
Joe Nettesheim, executive director of the center, a sponsored ministry of the School Sisters of Notre Dame dedicated to the faith formation and character development of youth, said the donor’s offer came up recently during a conversation about the annual “SpringTYME” fundraiser dinner and auction scheduled for Friday, May 4.
“This particular donor feels very strongly about what TYME OUT is offering young people ….” Nettesheim told your Catholic Herald in a telephone interview Monday.
More Info Purchase TYME Shares that support lay formation, intern training and a scholarship fund for parishes and organizations that can’t afford retreats for their youth through the TYME OUT Youth Ministry and Retreat Center, with a credit card by calling To reserve a spot at the “SpringTYME” fundraiser dinner |
The donor, who Nettesheim said is a “real behind-the-scenes” person who doesn’t look for personal recognition or publicity, hopes
the commitment will motivate others to get involved and see the value of the center.
“What’s been voiced to me is just a real deep care and concern for young people and the future of young people and wanting to be supportive of them and seeing TYME OUT as an organization that is working with those folks,” Nettesheim said of the center that offers directed and hosted retreats, youth ministry programming with overnight accommodations and adult faith enrichment opportunities.
The deadline to fundraise money is the May 4 dinner and auction, but people can now also purchase “TYME Shares” that support lay formation, intern training and a scholarship fund for parishes and organizations that can’t afford retreats for youth, by phone or online beforehand.
Years ago, people could purchase “camperships” at the annual fundraising dinner and auction and commit to support a certain number of kids who attended the summer camps, but when that wasn’t viable, the center began selling TYME Shares, Nettesheim said.
“It’s really, in a sense, buying stock in TYME OUT. It’s buying a share of TYME OUT and that had traditionally always just happened at the dinner and auction,” he said.
He explained the program is being expanded to give people an opportunity to invest in TYME Out, even if they don’t attend the dinner and auction.
Nettesheim said the donor’s commitment is an extraordinary opportunity that will empower the center, whose annual budget is approximately $700,000, to not only explore programming, deepen training with retreat directors and interns and offer more scholarships for parishes that can’t afford to come out for retreats, but also to make updates to the buildings and grounds.
Nettesheim said if $100,000 is matched through the TYME Share sales before and at the dinner and auction, the money would help the center expand what it is doing.
“There’s a sense of urgency that comes with this sort of matching donation and we just really appreciate any support that people offer us,” he said. “We’ve had tremendous supporters over the years, and it’s what allows us to do good ministry for young people and they desperately need that.”
