Newsletter of Inner-City Scholarship Fund | Summer 2019 CONTENTS INNER-CITY CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2019 CLASS OF 2019 1 On Monday, May 13, Inner-City recognized the Several sponsors, among them Laurie and class of 2019 at its tenth annual Be A Student’s Peter Grauer, Laura Richards and James MESSAGE FROM THE 2 Friend Graduation Reception. For some of Naughton, Martine and Ronan Wicks, and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the eighty students and their sponsors in Keitha and Peter Murray, were recognized attendance, the reception marked the first for having sponsored their students since EVENTS 3time they had a chance to meet each other. the second grade, and eight sponsors were The evening provided an opportunity for recognized for participating in the Be A IN THE NEWS 4-5 students to share their accomplishments, and Student’s Friend program for over twenty years. INNER-CITY 6-7 for sponsors to have a firsthand look at the FAMILY ALBUM impact a Catholic school education had on Susan George, Executive Director of Inner- their students. City, congratulated the students on their hard FRIENDS OF INNER-CITY 8-9 work and announced that 100 percent of the “I’ve exchanged letters with my sponsors for students in attendance would be pursuing GRADUATE LIST 10-11 years,” said Krystal, a graduate of St. Jean higher education at some of the finest colleges Baptiste. “But meeting them in person was so and universities in the nation, including overwhelming. They’ve meant so much to me Amherst College, St. John’s University, and my family.” Northeastern University, and Villanova University. Inner-City’s Be A Student’s Friend program matches Catholic school students in need Inner-City is proud of the class of 2019, and of financial assistance with a sponsor who the success of its graduates is Inner-City’s provides support. Sponsors can choose to get greatest accomplishment. to know their student personally or remain anonymous and receive periodic updates from For a full list of Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s their students. class of 2019, please turn to page 10. 1 A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dear Friends, Timothy M. Cardinal Dolan The end of the school year, and with it, another set of graduations, is one of my favorite CHAIRMAN times of the year. As much as I enjoy seeing all of our students complete another year and proudly get ready to move up to their next stage of learning, high school graduates stand Peter T. Grauer out in a special way. They have finished their time in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese PRESIDENT of New York and achieved one of the most important milestones of their lives. Many have been in Catholic school since kindergarten, and many more will go on to college, often as Douglas J. Band Lawrence B. Benenson the first in their families to do so. John M. Callagy, Esq. Margaret Crotty As we celebrate the class of 2019, I thank you for helping make this milestone Anthony J. de Nicola possible. We are truly grateful for donors like you who believe in the value of education. Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr. As a result of your devotion, thousands of inner-city students were given the opportunity John Q. Doyle to attend schools that they would not have access to otherwise. Over the summer, we look Michael P. Esposito, III back at the past year and the achievements we are proud to have accomplished together: Robert Gittings Thomas H. Golden, Esq. • More than 11,000 students were provided tuition assistance to Edward D. Herlihy, Esq. attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York George B. Irish • 338 12th grade scholarship recipients graduated high school Thomas S. Johnson Catherine M. Keating • 98 percent of our graduates have been accepted to a college or university Arthur J. Mahon, Esq. • The Kids Are Our Capital Campaign has supported 345 scholarships Michael J. Millette • Over 200 volunteers gave their time to providing our students with Timothy C. Muccia enriching experiences such as job readiness seminars, field trips, Thomas S. Murphy, Jr. basketball leagues, art appreciation courses, and much more. James M. Naughton Christopher H. Peterson It was an exciting spring for Inner-City as the FRIENDS of Inner-City Scholarship Fund Ponchitta Pierce Committee hosted the 43rd Annual FRIENDS Gala on May 21 at Cipriani 42nd Street. Patricia A. Quick Inner-City trustee Margaret Crotty and her husband, Rory Riggs, co-chaired the gala, Thomas C. Quick helping to raise nearly $1.2 million for tuition assistance and enrichment programs. Mo Rocca You will read more about this great event and others in the pages to come. Armando Rodriguez, Jr. Stephen G. Rooney, Esq. Frederic V. Salerno On behalf of all of us at Inner-City, thank you again for contributing so generously. Christine H. Schwarzman With your support we are creating a lasting legacy of providing a Catholic education to Melanie Shugart future generations of inner-city students that will make all the difference for them in life. Martin J. Sullivan None of this would be possible without you. Mary Ann Tighe Walter S. Tomenson, Jr. Sincerely, Robert P. Weisz TRUSTEES EMERITI Howard J. Rubenstein Susan George Hon. Milton L. Williams, Sr. Executive Director STAFF Robert Gittings Jaquana Pearson Alyson Vetter Manager, Gift Processing Associate Director, Susan George Institutional Support Special Events Executive Director Melinda Porter Mindy Goldstein Office Manager Jennifer Ward Nicholas Gulde Executive Assistant Scholarship Associate Deputy Director Alberto Robaina Kevin Haggerty Associate Director, Thomas Zwilling Lucson Andre Major Gifts Associate Institutional Support Manager, Controller Direct Marketing Vanessa Luciano Mary Frances Roth Emily Cafaro Coordinator, Manager, Development Associate Scholarship Programs School Relations Christine Desposito Daniel Mileno Michelle Santoro Coordinator, Director, Associate Director, Job Opportunities Marketing and Scholarship Programs Program Communications 2 EVENTS 43RD ANNUAL FRIENDS GALA RASIES $1.2 MILLION Gala Chairs Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs speaking at the FRIENDS Gala On Tuesday, May 21, Inner-City hosted kindergarten, and the opportunities said Susan George, Executive Director the 43rd Annual FRIENDS Gala, raising that she received because of her of Inner-City Scholarship Fund. “I’m nearly $1.2 million dollars to provide Be A Student’s Friend scholarship. amazed by the generosity of the people scholarship support and enrichment in this room, especially Margaret Crotty programing for students at inner-city “I know that this scholarship is a and Rory Riggs, who are so dedicated Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of privilege, and that’s why I try each to supporting Catholic education for New York. The event, which had over day to be the best student that I can future generations.” four hundred guests, was hosted at be, work hard, keep my grades high, Cipriani 42nd Street, and its theme was study, and review things we did in To view a recording of the 43rd “Sky’s the Limit,” recognizing the infinite class, to make my family, myself, and Annual FRIENDS Gala, please visit possibilities that Catholic schools make my sponsors proud. I’ve earned honors InnerCityScholarshipFund.org/Videos possible for their students. every quarter and have made the most of my experience at Santa Maria Please save the dates for Inner-City’s Guests enjoyed performances from School,” said Amaya, before saying that two fall events, the St. Thomas More students at Mount St. Michael Academy, her dream for the future was to help Award Luncheon on November 6 Notre Dame School of Manhattan, people as a doctor or a teacher. Gala and the Annual Awards Dinner on and St. Raymond Elementary School, Chairs Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs December 11. who sang classic songs reflecting the gave a passionate speech, thanking “Sky’s the Limit” theme, including “Fly everyone in attendance and talking To learn more about Inner-City’s Me to the Moon” and “Wind Beneath about the impact Inner-City had made events, please contact Alyson Vetter My Wings.” Amaya Rojas, a seventh on their lives as supporters. at [email protected] grader at Santa Maria School in the Bronx, delivered this year’s student “As the school year comes to a close, speech. She discussed her time at Santa we are constantly reminded of the Maria, which she has attended since importance of a quality education,” 3 IN THE NEWS JIMMY LEE SCHOLARS ATTEND SPRING WORKSHOP, YANKEES GAME of the opportunities afforded to them as Jimmy Lee Scholars. Mr. Zillo even brought in his colleague and All Hallows alumnus, Kenny Leandry, to share his story with the students. As a Bronx native and graduate of an inner-city Catholic high school who participated in Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s Job Opportunities Program, Kenny was truly able to connect with the students. To wrap up the day, the students enjoyed the Yankees game from the J.P. Morgan corporate suite. Besides all the hot dogs they could eat and a Yankee victory, the students were able to bond as a group and spend time with their Committee mentors. The Jimmy Lee Scholars Fund is an Jimmy Lee Scholars with Yankees great Mark Teixeira endowed scholarship program of In April, the Jimmy Lee Fund Scholars about his time with the Yankees and Inner-City Scholarship Fund, established gathered for their annual meeting, the importance of staying focused on in memory of longtime friend and trustee which was held this year at All working hard, “despite life’s hurdles” of Inner-City, James B. “Jimmy” Lee, Jr. Hallows High School. The day was he said. Tex also spoke about his packed full for the 25 students and relationship with God and his family To learn more about the Jimmy Lee members of the Jimmy Lee Scholars and how these two things are what Scholars Fund, please contact Nicholas Fund Committee.