MANHATTAN — Futures in Education, an organization that provides tuition assistance to help families pay for Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens, raised $2.4 million at its annual fundraising dinner at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan on Oct. 22.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said that Futures in Education’s “Angel” program is a great way to give to the scholarship fund. Donors, known as “Angels,” can correspond with the student receiving their help, and the donors receive progress reports to ensure their student’s success. The donors can also meet the students at an annual Angel Reception and visit their schools.

“When you really know who’s being helped, the person can say, ‘Thank you,’” Bishop DiMarzio said. “That’s one of the things we encourage tonight is giving as an Angel to the scholarship fund.”

New York City Police Department Commissioner James P. O’Neill, one of the evening’s honorees, said it is important to give the next generation the same chance at a Catholic education that he had.

“There’s so many people in this city today that don’t have the opportunities that even maybe we had when we were kids,” O’Neill said. “They’re coming in from other countries. Their parents are working hard, working two jobs. If we can do anything to help their kids move forward, I think it’s a great thing.”

Also honored alongside O’Neill were Msgr. David Cassato, pastor at St. Athanasius, Bensonhurst; Stephen Squeri, chairman and CEO of American Express; and Tim Tynan, CEO of Bank of America Merchant Services.