By Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello

SPONSORED CONTENT — “Msgr. Jamie, it’s time to make your pledge!” Of course, I don’t mind the occasional spotlight, but I was happy to be called on by Monsignor David Cassato, pastor of St. Athanasius and St. Dominic, to donate partial tuition at the 2018 Futures in Education Scholarship Dinner.

Pledge after pledge was made until we had raised more than $200,000 for the Be an Angel to a Student program. Msgr. Cassato recalled, “The experience . . . was one of the greatest of my life. For every donation . . . I saw the face of another child who would now have the opportunity to attend a Catholic school.”

Inspired by that experience, Monsignor Cassato accepted being an honoree at the 2019 dinner, to which he professed, “Being honored by Futures in Education is deeply moving for me as I have committed my life to Catholic education and therefore feel connected to the mission of Futures in Education as it strives to provide a Catholic education to all regardless of their ability to pay. A Catholic Education is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the next generation.”

In coming together for our kids and to celebrate 30 years of Futures in Education, we will also honor James O’Neill, NYPD Commissioner, Stephen Squeri, CEO and Chairman of American Express and Tim Tynan, CEO of Bank of America Merchant Services. Each has committed his life to improving the education of children and helping them fulfill their dream of attending a Catholic school in Brooklyn or Queens. It is going to be a heck of a night on Tuesday, October 22 at Cipriani Wall Street.