By Ruby Thomas, Record Staff Writer
The Catholic Education Foundation’s (CEF) 27th Salute to Catholic School Alumni dinner held March 14 hit a new high by raising $825,000 — $25,000 more than organizers had hoped.
The money will provide tuition assistance for students attending Catholic schools and grants for religious education, professional development and technology in Catholic parishes and schools.
The funds from this event combined with $330,000 raised at the CEF’s Salute to THE GAME Luncheon in September, puts overall fundraising above the $1million mark for this school year.
The annual Salute dinner, held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville, honored six distinguished alumni of Catholic schools for their personal accomplishments and service to others. Two other awards — for education and community service — also were awarded at the event co-chaired by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz and Michael K. Ash, regional president of 5/3 Bank, Kentucky.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J., the evening’s keynote speaker, spoke to the sold-out event about Catholic education via video. Winter Storm Stella, which covered parts of the East Coast with up to 24 inches of snow, caused Cardinal Tobin’s flight to Louisville to be cancelled.
He opened his address by telling the crowd of about 1,800 attendees how sorry he was to have missed the event. “Only a blizzard could keep me away,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
Cardinal Tobin — the former Archbishop of Indianapolis who was designated a cardinal in November — told the crowd that he was speaking to them “as a fellow alumnus of Catholic school.” Catholic education, he said, “made me the person I am today.”
His keynote addressed focused on two questions: “Why support Catholic schools?” and “What’s the secret of their success?”
Cardinal Tobin went on to tell those who’d gathered that there are “many reasons” to support Catholic schools. He highlighted research, which he said shows minorities do “considerably better” in Catholic schools than in public schools. He also noted that those findings show graduation rates for Catholic school students is higher than for other students.
The cardinal added that the most “basic reason” to support Catholic schools is one expressed to him by a friend — a former deputy superintendent of public schools in Detroit, Mich., who left that post to work in the Catholic school system.
When he asked his friend why he’d left the public school system, the man’s response was that in his work with Catholic schools he was able to “form” students “as disciples of Jesus Christ,” Cardinal Tobin said.
Forming disciples of Christ — and starting to do so at a young age — is “critical,” said Cardinal Tobin. Young people, he noted, “are falling away from organized religion” and moving further away from God. “If we get the Gospel message in their heart as children,” said Cardinal Tobin, they’re more likely to follow Christ.
As for the secret to Catholic schools’ success, the cardinal said, “It isn’t that we have all the money in the world.” If that was the case “we wouldn’t be here” tonight. The secret, he said, is the community that Catholic schools build.
“The Archdiocese of Louisville has a wonderful community,” said Cardinal Tobin. The six Catholic school alumni who were honored at the event are “living expressions of the wider community of Louisville.”
They couldn’t have done it on their own, he said.
Cardinal Tobin also thanked his listeners, adding that people like them made it possible for him and his 12 siblings to attend Catholic schools. He encouraged them to keep doing their best to “form young people for a great future.”
Following Cardinal Tobin’s address the CEF presented awards to this year’s distinguished alumni honorees:
J. Richard Heaton, owner of Conway-Heaton Inc. and a graduate of St. Joseph School in Bardstown, Ky.
Jane C. Morreau, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Brown-Forman Corporation and a graduate of St. John Vianney School and Holy Rosary Academy.
Dr. Carole C. Pfeffer, provost of Bellarmine University and a graduate of St. Frances of Rome School, Assumption High School and Bellarmine University.
Teresa M. Riggs, founder of TMR Services, a consulting firm, attended St. Joseph and St. Leonard schools and graduated from Mercy Academy.
W. Kevin Smith, partner of Smith & Smith Attorneys and a graduate of Holy Spirit School and St. Xavier High School.
Father David H. Zettel, an educator at Trinity High School. He attended Holy Cross, Holy Trinity and Our Lady of Lourdes schools. He graduated from Trinity High School and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md.
In addition, Daniel H. Jones received the 2017 Community Service Award. Jones is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of 21st Century Parks.
Paula Do, a teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School, received the Father Joseph McGee Outstanding Catholic Educator Award.
