February 24, 2004
Contact: Joanne Ward
732-562-1990 ext. 1525
Email:  jward@diometuchen.org

     Diocese of Metuchen to sponsor Spotlight on Education Dinner

Bishop George Ahr High School will be recognized at the Diocese of Metuchen's Second Annual Spotlight on Catholic Education Dinner to be held April 1 at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick .

“We established this event to share the success story of Catholic education in the Diocese while spotlighting a particular school which will benefit from the proceeds,” said Metuchen Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski.

The diocese's largest high school, Bishop Ahr, located in Edison , has over 900 students from throughout central New Jersey . It was established 35 years ago and originally was named St. Thomas Aquinas.

“Whenever I have met a student, parent or alumnus of Bishop Ahr, they have always expressed pride and dedication in their school,” the Bishop noted. “It is an excellent example of Catholic education at its best.”

According to Sister Donna Marie Trukowski, CSSF, principal of the co-educational college preparatory school, the mission of Bishop Ahr is to help each student strive for spiritual, academic, social, creative and athletic excellence through the interaction of a caring community.

“We foster a Christian environment where students grow in self-esteem, in social and moral responsibility, and in those values needed to face the challenges of tomorrow's world,” Sister said.

In the midst of a capital campaign that will add an auxiliary gym, four technology classrooms, a music center, and fine arts room as well as other facilities, Bishop Ahr High will be receive half of the proceeds of the Spotlight Dinner.

The Spotlight Dinner will also benefit the Diocese's Foundation for Catholic Education. Through the Foundation tuition assistance is provided to families with children who attend any of the diocese's 42 parochial elementary schools, two diocesan high schools, Bishop Ahr and Cardinal McCarrick, or two parochial high schools, St. Peter's and Immaculata.

According to Clare Giangreco , Assistant Director of Development, last year, the Diocese was able to award over 500 grants totaling $527,000.

“We were grateful that we could help more than half of the students whose families applied for help,” Giangreco said.

Bishop Bootkoski noted, “For many families tuition assistance makes the difference as to whether a child attends Catholic school, so we are grateful to our benefactors who help make it possible.”

Besides providing funds for tuition grants and spotlighting Bishop Ahr, at the dinner the diocese will present two awards: “The Theodore Cardinal McCarrick Distinguished Partners in Catholic Education” and “The Bishop Edward T. Hughes Leadership in Catholic Education.”

Chairing the event is Samuel V. Convery, Jr., Esq. of Convery & Convery, PC in Metuchen. “Last year our dinner was a tremendous success. I believe the business and professional community realizes the important role Catholic schools play in developing leaders with high moral and ethical standards which is so needed in today's society,” Convery said.

Other chairpersons include: Brendan J. Flynn, Sr. of Flynn and Son Funeral Homes, Inc. ad journal; Michael R. D'Agnes of Raritan Bay Medical Center , underwriting; John Borys of Lesner Electric Company and Hon. Richard S. Rebeck, of Venezia & Nolan, PC, tickets; and Robert F. Merski of AT&T and Dr. Shirley A. Smoyak, raffle.

Serving on the Dinner committee with the chairpersons are: Karen Barnes, Bishop Ahr development director; Joseph Burt of St. Peter's College, Karen Nemes Cassidy, Gloria Dittman of the Edison Chamber of Commerce; William R. Haley of GHA Financial LLC; David J. Samuel of CME Associates, James Skidmore, Jr. of Science Management Company LLC; and Richard J. Simon, Esq. of Richard J. Simon LLC..

For more information on the Spotlight on Catholic Education Dinner, click here or contact the Office of Development at 732-562-1990, Extension 1600.

 

# # # The Diocese of Metuchen serves over 500,000 Catholics in Middlesex, Somerset , Hunterdon and Warren counties. The Diocese includes 108 parishes. It serves its faithful through 25 ministries that provide educational, pastoral and charitable outreach.

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