(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Catholic schools in Gary are set to receive a major financial gift designed to impact thousands of students in the coming years.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is giving $150 million over the next 10 years to Catholic schools in the Gary diocese through the Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana.
“Your generosity has blown us away,” said Dan Kozlowski, executive director of Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana to foundation officials, including Beth White, a trustee of the foundation.
White spoke at the Lighthouse in Cedar Lake Wednesday morning about her late husband Bruce and the foundation’s namesakes — her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
“They were all true visionaries who believed that education was an equalizer and that every child should have access to a high-quality education,” White said.
Gary Diocese Bishop Robert McClory called it a joy-filled day.
“Today is a truly historic and transformative day,” McClory said. “The commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is the largest single investment ever for pre-k through 12 grade Catholic education.”
Big Shoulders Fund began as a charitable organization in Chicago in 1986 to help provide a Catholic education to low-income communities. It expanded to northwest Indiana five years ago.
Josh Hale, president and CEO of Big Shoulders Fund, said the generosity of the foundation has cascaded into a once-in-a-generation investment.
“This transformational donation will open many doors, allowing the creation and enhancement of curriculum, providing advanced professional development and growth opportunities for teachers and school leadership, assisting with enrollment and tuition management, providing infrastructure improvements where needed,” Hale said.
Nearly 6,000 students are enrolled in Gary Catholic schools.
McClory said the investment reflects an enormous vote of confidence in Catholic education.
Also on hand at the announcement were Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Indiana’s Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner and Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston.
McClory also announced separately that the Diocese of Gary will establish an endowment that will be “used to supplement the compensation of principals, teachers and staff” in Gary Catholic schools. The diocese hopes to grow the endowment to $50 million over the next 15 years.
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