OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation Announces Finalists for 2021 OSV Challenge Showcase
Huntington, IN, August 30, 2021 – OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation prepares to gather their “innovation tribe” of fellow trailblazing Catholics eager to experience the beauty, creativity, imagination, and innovation in the Church at the 2021 OSV Challenge Showcase. The Showcase is a free virtual event taking place on September 18 that serves as the capstone for the second annual OSV Challenge, a multi-round entrepreneurial competition designed to accelerate unique project ideas in any stage from Catholics whose faith has motivated them to make a difference. After the successful completion of a 6-week Accelerator program co-facilitated by the University of St. Thomas in Houston (UST), 12 finalists have been selected to compete for a shot at winning one of three $100,000 prizes to advance their missions. The three winners will be announced during the live-stream event at 3:30 pm Eastern.
This year’s 12 finalists are Bendecida XV, Catholic in Recovery, Cycle Prep, Dragon Slayers, FemCatholic, Fiat Project, MyCatholicDoctor, Perfect Love Casts Out Fear, Quo Vadis Catholic, Red Bird Ministries, Springs in the Desert and Tabella. For more about the 2021 finalists, please visit https://www.osvchallenge.com/2021-finalists.
More than just a contest, the OSV Challenge is a unique experience for participants who aim to think beyond the status quo and to view the Catholic Church through the lenses of innovation and creativity. “We are not aiming to fund the next good idea, but to invest in people – emerging innovators and seasoned trailblazers – by forming a new generation of entrepreneurs who are not afraid to relook at how we encounter and evangelize through the Truth and beauty of the Catholic Church,” says Jason Shanks, President of OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation. “The Church has always been at the forefront of great ideas. I believe this year’s finalists have demonstrated their ability to make a big impact on the Church and the world.”
Finalists will offer their sharpened pitches virtually to a panel of five judges, in the presence of event attendees, and will be evaluated based on the OSV Challenge of “Leave a Legacy” focusing on the most groundbreaking ideas with the most potential impact to their target audience. “After hearing pitches and reading business plans from the 24 semifinalists, it was extremely hard to narrow the field to 12. After much prayer and discernment, these 12 innovative ideas moving forward can serve the Church and the world in important ways. There were nearly 600 initial applicants to this year’s Challenge, and OSV would like to thank all of them for their willingness to take a leap of faith in applying,” said Dr. Matt Smith, Director of Strategic Alliances for the OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation.
In addition to hearing from each of the 12 finalists and being among the first to experience the joy of the winners announcement at the OSV Challenge Showcase, virtual attendees will have other special opportunities available to them during the event, including new, unreleased OSV Talks, individual breakout rooms to interact and network with the finalists, and a short keynote feature from Ave Maria Radio’s Al Kresta.
To view the complete agenda and find out how you can be a part of the finale for the 2021 OSV Challenge, visit https://www.osvchallenge.com/showcase.
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For more information on the 12 finalists and a complete press kit, visit https://www.osvchallenge.com/press.
To schedule an interview with Matt Smith or Jason Shanks, contact Carrie Kline at carriek@revolutionizingmissions.com.
More Information on the 2021 OSV Challenge Finalists:
Bendecida XV – Encourages and inspires young Catholic Latinas embarking on a coming of age faith journey. The personalized bilingual Quinceanera preparation programs support pastoral ministers as they accompany families to celebrate and participate in the liturgy.
Catholic in Recovery – Serving individuals, families and communities impacted by addiction by blending the wisdom of 12-step recovery with the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. https://catholicinrecovery.com
Cycle Prep – Programs allowing parents and daughters to learn about cycles and periods at various stages together, by providing sound science, upholding the dignity of hte body and honoring parents as primary educators. https://www.pearlandthistle.com/cycle-prep.html/
Dragon Slayers – Striving to inspire and equip parents to raise the next generation of saints through sacramental retreats, interactive resources, high adventure camps and their Saints in the Making University. https://www.saintsinthemaking.com/dragon-slayers.html
FemCatholic – Bringing feminism and Catholicism together: A campaign for the promotion of women through education, encouragement and empowerment. https://www.femcatholic.com
Fiat Project – An 8-month discernment program that equips young adult women to discover God’s plan for their lives through prayer, formation, accompaniment and community. https://salesiansisterswest.org/vocations/fiat-project
MyCatholicDoctor – By making Catholic healthcare accessible to everyone through telehealth and a national network of faithful healthcare professionals, the mission is to build a virtual hospital that is pro-life and pro-eternal life. https://mycatholicdoctor.com
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear – A project by Life-Giving Wounds ministry to develop media outreach and online courses on dating and marriage prep for young adults from divorced or separated families. https://www.lifegivingwounds.org/perfectlovecastsoutfear
Quo Vadis Catholic – Recruiting, screening and forming young adults to live in intentional parish communities. Supporting parishes by leasing underutilized Church real estate and transforming it into sources of spiritual and financial capital. https://www.qvcatholic.com
Red Bird Ministries – An organization that systematically guides individuals and couples through the complexity and trauma that happens with the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood. https://www.redbird.love
Springs in the Desert – A Catholic community formed through the shared suffering of infertility and loss and to accompany those who also carry this cross https://www.springsinthedesert.org
Tabella – A social app designed for Catholic to stay connected digitally to their churches and group and growth in their faith through access to Catholic content. https://jointabella.com
About OSV Institute: In 1915, Fr. John Francis Noll began OSV Institute to extend the reach of Our Sunday Visitor in service and support of Catholic organizations. Over $80 million has been granted to Catholic organizations to date. In 2021, the name evolved to OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation to better identify with a strategy evolution focusing on innovation. OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation continues to serve the Church by inspiring and encouraging innovative and effective Church-related programs and activities that forge new paths for people to encounter the truth and beauty of the Catholic Church. Learn more at osvinstitute.com.
