Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon- Over $800,000 Raised
Over $800,000 Raised for Scholarships for Catholic Elementary Schools in Brooklyn and Queens
The Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon held at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach on December 13, 2011 raised more than $800,000 for need-based scholarships to Catholic Elementary Schools in Brooklyn and Queens. The Luncheon raised $534,926 which was generously matched by The Children’s Scholarship Fund on a 1:2 basis which translates into an additional 267,463. The average income for a family that receives a need-based scholarship is less than $27,000 per year.
Over 750 people took part in this Christmas Tradition sponsored by the Alive in Hope Foundation of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Since its founding in 1998, the Foundation has awarded over $28 million in grants, scholarships and assistance within Catholic Community of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The Catholic School system is the largest private school system in the nation and the only system where a child can enter at age 3 and continue through post-graduate work. In the Diocese of Brooklyn, the graduation rate for Catholic School students is 99 percent with 97 percent continuing on to college.
This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Susan Rohan one of the founding members of the Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon. The Award Winners were: Martin J. Cottingham Managing Director of Grubb & Ellis, the Blessed John Paul II Distinguished Stewardship Award, in honor of his commitment to bringing Catholic Education to the neediest children in our community. Clarissa Elgarten, Board Member of Futures in Education, the Emma A. Daniels Benefactor’s Award in honor of her generosity and leadership to the Be an Angel to a Student Program which provides tuition assistance to needy students and families who want to receive a Catholic education. Joseph Ferrara, CEO of Ferrara Brothers Building Materials Corporation, the Spirit of Hope Award in honor of his outstanding generosity in helping the Catholic Church to continue its mission to help the poor, work for justice, care for our seminarians and retired priests and provide programs of education and formation for all ages.
The Honorary Co-Chairs of the Luncheon were Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Msgr. Jamie Giantiello, Vicar for Development, Diocese of Brooklyn. The Chair for the Luncheon was Mary Ann Mattone and the Master of Ceremonies was Maurice DuBois Co-Anchor of CBS 2 News.
The success of the Luncheon helps the Diocese of Brooklyn achieve its mission of making a Catholic education and its lifelong opportunities affordable and accessible to all children, regardless of means.
For additional information about the Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon or The Alive in Hope Foundation, please call: 718.965.7375, e-mail: info@aliveinhope.org or visit www.aliveinhope.org.
Caption for Photo Left to Right: Maurice DuBois, Msgr. Jamie Giantiello , Joseph Ferrara, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Clarissa Elgarten and Martin J. Cottingham.