Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — “Families and students are the heroes of our story,” said RJ Gildea to supporters attending the Catholic Education Foundation’s (CEF) Gaudeamus kickoff celebration. “It’s a story that continues thanks to the generosity of everyone here this evening.”
“Our need continues to grow,” added Gildea. “Some of that has to do with the current economy, but it has a lot to do with families making a conscientious decision and the financial sacrifice to enroll their children in our Catholic schools.”
Now in its 22nd year, the Gaudeamus benefit gala — CEF’s signature fundraising event — is ranked the No. 2 charitable gala in Kansas City and provides more than 80% of the funding for CEF’s tuition assistance scholarships program.
Last year’s Gaudeamus gala raised more than $2.5 million toward scholarships for students throughout northeast Kansas who otherwise would not have been able to attend a Catholic school.
“Right now, 232 students are on a waiting list,” said Vincent Anch, CEF executive director, “and 1,800 scholarship students are coming back.”
Anch said the goal is to raise $3 million at Gaudeamus to cover the need for this school year and establish a new scholarship fund to honor Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
“The archbishop has been a champion for many causes, and Catholic education has been near the top,” said Anch. “We want to thank him for being our shepherd in our faith and creating one of the best archdioceses in the country.”
The Gaudeamus program, to be held on Oct.12 at the Overland Park Convention Center, includes recognizing an outstanding CEF school and honoring an individual who has shown exceptional support for CEF’s mission.
St. Benedict School in Atchison will be recognized as the 2024 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence and Archbishop Naumann will be honored with the CEF Lifetime Achievement Award.
“We want to thank the archbishop for his 20-plus years of leadership,” said Terry Dunn.
Terry and his wife Peggy are this year’s Gaudeamus honorary chairs.
“To celebrate his leadership is a tremendous opportunity,” he added.
The kickoff event was a success, inspiring guests with CEF’s mission that empowers at-risk students to deepen their faith and re-imagine their futures through Catholic education.
“We’re giving away $5 million in scholarships and that’s an amazing accomplishment,” said Archbishop Naumann. “This isn’t my accomplishment. It’s the great Catholic community that we have here in the archdiocese.
“Our mission is to help our young people develop their gifts and talents to the best of their ability, to give glory to God and to be able to provide for themselves and their families and to contribute their talents to the good of the larger community.
“If we can give that to our young people at the earliest age, what a great gift.”
He then blessed those present for their love for Catholic school teachers and the Catholic Church and for their commitment to helping give more students the opportunity to encounter Jesus by making Catholic education accessible to families.
“Together, let’s do something beautiful for God this year,” he said.
