Futures in Education, the scholarship fund of the Diocese of Brooklyn, hosted its annual Scholarship Fund Dinner Oct. 15 at the Grand Ballroom of The Waldorf Astoria New York in Manhattan.
The event raised $2.3 million in scholarships for the deserving students of low-income families of Brooklyn and Queens to attend Catholic elementary schools and academies, surpassing the record set last year of $2.2 million.
“When you save one soul, you save the whole world. This is the same, we are working one child at a time. Thanks to God we are able to help nearly 6,000 deserving students with scholarships to stay in our schools,” said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
The dinner is the largest annual event of the non-profit organization, which welcomed over 800 guests and featured speeches by Bishop DiMarzio and Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, diocesan vicar for development.
It also shared the testimony of Mayra Depena, the mother of a student attending Salve Regina Catholic Academy in East New York who has benefited from Futures in Education’s scholarship programs.
Entertainment was provided by students from St. Mark Catholic Academy in Sheepshead Bay, tenor Daniel Rodriguez and singer Stephanie Hanvey. The mistress of ceremonies was award-winning reporter Juliet Papa from radio station 1010WINS.
This year’s fundraiser honored Louis C. Grassi, CPA, CFE president and CEO of Grassi & Co., and Louis S. Milo, president of Milrose Consultants.
John A. Loconsolo, executive president of Locon Realty Corp., was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award for being an Angel to 70 deserving students through Future’s sponsoring program that helps subsidize the cost of tuition, in addition to his dedicated commitment with Futures in Education since its inception.
Futures in Education is celebrating 25 years of supporting low-income families through partial needs-based scholarships, having awarded more than $50 million over the last seven years alone.
Futures in Education strives to ensure that the gift of Catholic education continues to be a viable option for current and future generations of deserving students in Brooklyn and Queens.
For more information, visit www.futuresineducation.org.
More than 800 people packed the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for the annual Futures in Education Scholarship Dinner. (Photos © Ed Wilkinson)
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello present award to Lou Milo.
Bishop DiMarzio and Msgr. Gigantiello present award to Lou Grassi.
Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello with students from St. Mark’s Catholic Academy.
John Loconsolo, who has helped finance 70 students through Futures’ Angel program.
Mayra Depena and her daughter await their turn to speak at the Futures dinner.
Entertainment at the Futures Dinner was provided by tenor Danny Rodriguez, American Idol finalist Stephanie Hanvey and the students from St. Mark’s Catholic Academy.
Bishop DiMarzio congratulates past honorees, Joseph Mattone, Robert Catell, William Hogan and Domenick Cama. (Photos © Ed Wilkinson)