Our Amazing Donors | The Catholic Schools Foundation

Rick Henken, President and CEO of the Schochet Companies

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

For over 20 years, Rick Henken, President and CEO of the Schochet Companies, has been a supporter of the Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF), dedicating his time, resources, and efforts to ensuring that in-need students receive a high-quality Catholic education.

As a Jewish donor, Rick was impressed by the Catholic schools’ exemplary education and that Judeo-Christian values were not only taught every day but lived every day. When asked what drew Rick to support the Catholic Schools Foundation, he commented, "In every classroom and school I've been to, there is a vibe that you feel. You just feel the love."

Rick’s philanthropic efforts have primarily focused on the Catholic Schools Foundation, where he has been a consistent donor for over two decades. His generosity has grown over time, allowing CSF to expand its reach and impact. Through planned giving, Rick has included CSF in his will, ensuring that his support will continue for generations to come. Rick said, "A good chunk of your life will continue into perpetuity, and that is what prompts me to make sure that CSF is in my estate plan. No matter what happens, they can count on me, whether I'm dead or alive, to show up every year for the kids."

On April 11, 2024, Rick was the honoree at CSF's 34th Annual Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala. Nearly 1,000 CSF supporters gathered at the Boston Marriott Copley Place to honor Rick for his unwavering support of the Catholic School's Foundation. At the gala, Rick pledged $500,000 to support CSF’s mission, a pledge matched by his friend and CSF Trustee Bill Mosakowski. The gala was a great success, raising over $5.6M in support for the Building Minds Scholarship Fund.

Thank you, Rick, for your dedication and incredible generosity. Your support has changed lives and created brighter futures for countless CSF Scholars and their families.

Read our interview with Rick Henken to learn more about his journey with the Catholic School's Foundation.

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Young Leader Event Chair: Brennan Howley

Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Meet this year’s Young Leader Event Chair!

Each year, a select group of active Young Professionals in CSF’s network come together to be a part of the Young Leader Event Committee for the Building Minds Scholarship Fund Celebration. This year, the committee was chaired by Brennan Howley, who recently took on the role of Associate at VU Venture Partners in San Francisco. Brennan is no stranger to Catholic education, as he is a graduate of both St. John’s Prep in Danvers and Villanova University, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After first attending the 2019 Celebration as a guest and having the opportunity to speak to CSF scholars firsthand, he joined CSF’s Young Professional network believing the key to closing the inequality gaps in our community starts by providing a better education and a safer learning environment. According to Brennan, “I cannot think of a more efficient way to drive socioeconomic change than by positively impacting and influencing the youth.”

The Young Leader Event Committee had a goal of raising $100,000 for this year’s event. Through the help of ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and personal donations from within their individual networks, the group successfully reached that goal by the day of the event. In addition to fundraising, the committee is tasked with raising awareness for both the event and the work of the Catholic Schools Foundation. This allows for the next generation of leaders in our communities to become involved with CSF early on in their professional careers.

Throughout the year, CSF’s Young Professionals group partakes in a variety of activities ranging from networking events, industry tours, and volunteer days at our schools. Coming from a variety of industries and backgrounds, our young leaders volunteer their time and talents to provide our scholars with more unique opportunities. To find out more about how you or a young professional in your network can get involved, click HERE or contact Zach Creeden at zcreeden@csfboston.org.

Become a Young Leader

The Fox Rock Foundation

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

$1,000,000 GIFTED TO SUPPORT IN-NEED STUDENTS IN HONOR OF PETER LYNCH

Karen and Rob Hale through their family foundation, Fox Rock Foundation, made a $1,000,000 gift to the Catholic Schools Foundation’s (CSF) Lynch Scholarship Endowment Fund. This gift is part of Fox Rock Foundation’s 52 weeks of giving initiative. This gift, in honor of Peter Lynch, a long-time friend of Karen and Rob Hale, provides scholarship support for in-need students so that they can attend high-quality, values-based Catholic schools in the Greater Boston area.

As both a talented businessman and generous friend to the Catholic school community, Peter Lynch has an extensive track record of helping bring education to those in need. Since becoming involved in CSF in 1990, Peter has raised over $115,000,000 to provide in-need students scholarships to attend Catholic schools throughout greater Boston. With Peter’s unwavering commitment thousands of students’ lives have been positively changed forever through Catholic education.

Fox Rock Foundation is the private foundation of philanthropists Karen and Rob Hale, business leaders, and philanthropic leaders. Their gift will provide support to students for years to come while celebrating Peter Lynch and his 30+ years of dedication to providing young people with a strong values-based Catholic education. This gift will help improve the lives of more students from low-income families and honors the historic efforts of Peter Lynch in supporting young people through Catholic education. CSF will be honoring Peter Lynch at its 33rd annual dinner celebration on April 27th, 2023.

In an interview with Forbes, Rob said “bringing “financial clarity” was their primary goal in this effort. “These are great, impactful organizations but they're on a wing and a prayer. They have no financial certainty.” Rob, the founder of two separate billion-dollar companies and co-owner of the Boston Celtics is no stranger to the challenges a team or organization may face. Both Karen and Rob are firm believers in the philosophy of “to whom much is given, much is expected” by Maya Angelo”, and we at CSF could not be more excited to take up that challenge to help more students than ever before.

Announced on October 10th, Fox Rock Foundation began a million-dollar-a-week gift campaign focused on helping non-profit grassroots organizations like CSF to finance new initiatives.

The Catholic Schools Foundation is a nonprofit that distributes over $13.5M in scholarship and programmatic aid to nearly 3,500 in-need students each year. CSF scholarship recipients boast impressive outcomes including a 100% high school graduation rate and a 98% college matriculation rate. Many of these scholars come from challenging lives. 68% of all CSF Scholars come from single-parent households; the average family income of a Scholar is at or slightly above the poverty level despite working.

Many of these families are forced to choose between high-quality education for their children or paying their bills, but CSF has many unique programs for students facing such difficulties; every child should have access to a good education and changing the lives of those in-need students is what drives CSF to its core.

Even with such large supporters like Peter Lynch and Fox Rock Foundation, there will always be more students that can be helped. Supporting the Catholic Schools Foundation has been the bridge for tens of thousands of scholars to achieve their dreams, and you can help. Whether through a one-time donation or buying tickets to our Annual Celebration, your gift brings the opportunity of education into the hands of real students. Students who, without your support, struggle to realize their full potential.

Fox Rock Foundation 52-Week Giveaway:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/2022/10/08/this-boston-billionaire-is-giving-away-1-million-a-week/?sh=5a9dcfb4800f

Rob Hale’s Story

https://www.forbes.com/video/6312881642112/how-one-billionaire-overcame-bankruptcy-to-become-bostons-second-richest-entrepreneur/?sh=5c3d284a5ddf

The Mosakowski Family Foundation

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE $200,000 TO SUPPORT UKRAINIAN STUDENTS AND OTHER FAMILIES IN CRISIS

Boston, MA – In collaboration with the Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF), the Mosakowski Family Foundation has made a $100,000 gift to students displaced by the war in Ukraine to enroll in Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Boston. This gift was made in response to the number of Ukrainian refugees seeking quality education and support provided by Catholic schools increases and scholarship funding for the year from both schools and the Catholic Schools Foundation has already been committed.

In addition to the $100,000 gift, the Mosakowski Family Foundation pledged an additional $50K to serve as a match to encourage others to support CSF’s emergency fund. The emergency fund will be used to support the Ukrainian students as well as provide tuition assistance for families of K-12 students enrolled in Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Boston who are experiencing unforeseen circumstances. These combined efforts will provide $200,000 to those displaced by the war in Ukraine and other families in crisis.

The pain and stress of fleeing from one’s own home as a refugee is something most people could never imagine. For Max, 15, this is a reality. He and his family were forced to flee from their home in Ukraine at the start of the war. After a period of living in Spain, Max’s family was taken in by another family of once-refugees in Boston who had fled from Eastern Europe in the early 90s. Despite the challenges he faced this year, Max will now be attending Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury as a 10th grader after being connected with the school and receiving tuition assistance from the Catholic Schools Foundation and the Mosakowski Family Foundation. Thanks to the support he has received from Catholic Memorial and the community, and the Catholic Schools Max now can grow and learn in a high-quality academic and supportive environment.

In addition to Max, eight additional students from Ukraine are receiving scholarship support from the Catholic Schools Foundation and the Mosakowski Family Foundation to enroll in CSF-sponsored schools including Saint Mary’s High School in Lynn, Sacred Heart School in Lynn and Saint Joseph Preparatory High School in Brighton. There are more students like Max and additional need is anticipated. Through the month of October, a gift to CSF will be doubled up to $50K from the Mosakowski Family Foundation, whose leadership giving is pivotal to responding to this urgent situation.

When asked about the need for support, the Mosakowski Family Foundation told us “The Mosakowski Family Foundation strongly believes education is an essential ingredient for those seeking a better life. Ukrainian families and especially children have faced the worst conflict in Europe since the 1940’s. They have become refugees in their own nation and throughout the world. As these families arrive in greater Boston they seek the stability, support and education which Catholic schools have long provided to other disadvantaged populations. The Catholic Schools Foundation will ensure these funds will support this recent wave of dislocated students and families. Our family currently supports schools in Poland to address the surge of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian students throughout the country. As many families from Ukraine now reach our own shores, we knew it was time to do the same in the Boston area. We are grateful to have CSF lead this initiative.”

“The impact and leadership of the Mosakowski Family Foundation will have a direct and meaningful impact on these students and families in crisis.” Says Mike Reardon, Executive Director of the Catholic Schools Foundation. “Catholic schools provide a place of stability and support for families in need. Unfortunately, as the Ukrainian crisis has unfolded and economic challenges persist, CSF has not been able to fully meet the demand for support. This gift will allow CSF to respond to these needs better and on a larger scale. We’re optimistic donors will respond to this gift positively and take it as an opportunity to join in supporting in-need students.”

CSF Mission & History:

https://www.csfboston.org/who-we-are/mission-history