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Supporters help Catholic education shine at 'Night of Hope'
Michael Geddes honored as 'Guardian' for commitment to Catholic schools
By Joyce Coronel, news@catholicsun.org
November 20, 2008
Parents, administrators, teachers, clergy and religious descended on the Phoenix Convention Center Nov. 1 to celebrate the inaugural “Night of Hope,” a gala event designed to grow the Diocese of Phoenix’s Catholic schools’ endowment fund.
Organizers were pleased that 900 people were on hand to support those families who understand the benefits of Catholic education but are unable to afford it. The money raised will go toward paying tuition for needy students.
“Normally these things are done on a school-by-school basis,” said Sue McKone, one of the co-chairs of the evening. “We’re here tonight for the very first time coming together as a diocese to celebrate our children and Catholic education.”
Bob and Angela Filler of Mesa, who have two daughters at St. Daniel the Prophet School and a son who attends Brophy College Preparatory, voiced their support for Catholic schools as well.
“They have daily Mass, they learn about the saint of the day, and they have an order of nuns helping out in religion class,” Angela said of St. Daniel.
“It’s a good environment for passing on the faith,” Bob added.
Former Phoenix Suns player Jeff Hornacek, the master of ceremonies for the evening, said he’s seen firsthand how the gift of Catholic education has impacted lives through the years. His father was an administrator and a coach at a Catholic school outside Chicago for 35 years and Hornacek’s three children attended Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.
He gave plenty of credit to the 1,100 teachers who work at diocesan Catholic schools.
“What a great job you guys do,” Hornacek said of the educators in the audience, who received a round of applause when he asked them to stand. “You love to teach, not for the pay, but you do it because you love the kids. That’s why we’re here tonight.”
Hornacek noted that more than 15,000 children attend Catholic schools in the diocese and that “it’s up to us to make sure we continue the legacy of Catholic education.”
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted told the crowd that the event was appropriately named.
“It’s a night of hope because Jesus is the light of the world. Our children in our Catholic schools are taught how to know and love Jesus and are given the chance to grow in their faith,” he said. “Jesus promises us that whoever follows Him never walks in darkness.”
Michael Geddes was honored as the first “Guardian of Hope” for his many years of work on behalf of Catholic education.
MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of Catholic Schools, described Geddes as a “person of vision and education with a commitment to Catholic education.”
“Mike is a living example of working for others and how that can change the world,” she said. Geddes received a standing ovation from the audience.
Geddes pointed out the sharp differences between public education and Catholic education.
“There are 76 school districts in Maricopa County,” Geddes said. “Compare that to the Diocese of Phoenix. We have one superintendent and one staff… our [high school] graduation rate from Catholic schools is 99 percent. For the state of Arizona it’s 70 percent.”
Geddes also said that the cost of education in Catholic schools is 22 percent lower than education in the public schools.
An all-school choir comprised of 59 students from local Catholic schools serenaded the audience before dinner. A slide show featuring dozens of photos of students at school, in the library, on the playground and in church was shown throughout the evening on the two large screens that flanked the stage.
The amount of money raised at the Night of Hope event was unavailable at press time.
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