SAGE Guests Delighted by Grant Awards and Speaker Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Eight Catholic schools received $50,000 in grants at SAGE 2015, the Healey Education Foundation’s third annual award ceremony. Among the winners were St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ), the recipient of the $10,000 Founder’s Grant, and Trinity Academy (Shenandoah, PA), which earned two grants totaling $10,000.

In receiving the Founder’s Grant on behalf of his school, Steven Hogan, Principal of St. Mary School, spoke of his work not as a career, but as a mission. “I truly feel my role is a vocation – I’ve always approached it that way,” he said. Hogan thanked Healey staff and Robert T. Healey, Founder and Trustee, for the opportunity “to make it all possible, to grow Catholic education in a very strategic manner and really lay the groundwork for future generations.”

Steven Hogan, Principal of St. Mary School, recipient of the 2015 Founder’s Grant Award, with Christine Healey, President, Healey Education Foundation

He also acknowledged the school’s Advancement Director, Carol Kirchman, saying, “Believe me, I don’t do most of the work….As any principal out there knows, none of this is possible without an incredible AD, and that’s what Carol is.”

Christine Fannick, Advancement Director, Trinity Academy, later said, “To know that we are making a difference in children’s lives is incredibly rewarding. Receiving those two awards validated that.”

About 230 guests, including diocesan officials, pastors, school principals, and school advancement, development and admissions directors, attended the October 8 event at the Union League of Philadelphia. This year’s awards were co-sponsored by The Topper Foundation and Connelly Foundation.

The Bell Choir from St. Anthony of Padua School in Camden, NJ, set a joyful tone for the event. Later, New York Times best-selling author Rev. James Martin, S.J. inspired the audience with poignant and powerful stories of his years as a priest and of Jesus as a teacher.

Christine Healey, President of the Healey Education Foundation, said that she was very happy that the SAGE Awards event has been growing steadily over the past few years. The Healey Education Foundation works with archdioceses or dioceses, funding partners and Catholic schools, which in turn helps more than 13,000 children in the region. The Foundation helps schools to help themselves by working with a three-facet business model – governance, mission-based fundraising and enrollment management.

The complete list of winners:

• For the Founder’s Grant of $10,000
  • St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ)
    Carol Kirchman, Advancement Director, and Steve Hogan, Principal.
• SAGE Awards for $5,000 Each
  • For percentage growth in enrollment for an elementary school:
    Trinity Academy (Shenandoah, PA) with 19 percent.
    Christine Fannick, Advancement Director, and Sr. MaryAnn Spaetti, Principal.
  • For an increase in the number of students for an elementary school:
    Blessed Trinity Catholic School (Philadelphia) with 35 new students.
    Jim Zaccario, Advancement Director, and Linda Milewski, Principal.
  • For the highest percentage growth in enrollment for a high school:
    Bethlehem Catholic High School (Bethlehem, PA) with 6 percent.
    Joe Henrich, Director of Admissions, and John Petruzzelli, Principal.
  • For the highest increase in the number of students for a high school:
    Berks Catholic High School (Reading, PA) with 34 students.
    Nicky Smith, Director of Admissions, and Tony Balistrere, Principal.
  • For the most dollars raised in an Annual Fund for an elementary school:
    Saints Peter and Paul School (West Chester, PA) $162,004.
    Trish Kyle, Advancement Director, and Peg Eagan, Principal.
  • For the highest percentage growth in an Annual Fund for an elementary school:
    Trinity Academy (Shenandoah, PA) with 211 percent.
    Christine Fannick, Advancement Director, and Sr. MaryAnn Spaetti, Principal.
  • For the most dollars raised in an Annual Fund for a high school or special learning center:
    Allentown Central Catholic High School (Allentown, PA) $397,253.
    Cara Meskill, Director of Development, and Blair Tiger, Principal.
  • For the highest percentage growth in an Annual Fund for a high school or special learning center:
    Marian Catholic High School (Tamaqua, PA) with 80 percent.
    Sue Ann Gerhard, Director of Development, and Sr. Bernard Agnes, Principal.

Read the story of Healey Founder’s Grant winner and alum Saint Mary School (Vineland, NJ) in The Entrepreneurial School.