Our Work

36th Annual Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala was filled with energy, reflection, and purpose, hundreds gathered for an event that felt less like a fundraiser and more like a living testament to what happens when a community chooses to believe in its young people.

By the end of the night, one thing was unmistakably clear: this work is not abstract. It is deeply personal.

It sounds like a student standing at a podium, telling a room full of strangers:

“You may not know it, but you are part of my story.”

That student was Jada Nguyen, a senior at Cristo Rey Boston High School, and her story became the heartbeat of the evening.

[Read Jada’s full speech]

Jada spoke about her mother first.

At 14, her mother left Vietnam with her family. She never had the chance to attend college. Instead, she built a life working long hours as a nail technician—determined that her daughter would have opportunities she never did.

“Instead of college, my mom worked… sacrificing her dreams to make mine possible.”

As a child, Jada didn’t see sacrifice, she saw brilliance. A mother who remembered everything she loved, who painted her nails after long shifts, who made sure she showed up to school ready to learn.

That quiet devotion changed the course of her life.

With the support of a Catholic Schools Foundation scholarship, Jada transferred to Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy. Later, she attended Cristo Rey Boston, where her world expanded, through academics, leadership, and hands-on work experience.

She became a student leader. A translator for her mother during medical appointments. A caretaker for her younger brother. A young woman navigating responsibility far beyond her years.

And in a lab at the Broad Institute, working with cancer research technology, she found her calling.

“This inspires me to pursue a career that targets disease prevention and treatment so I can give back to my mom and community.”

This fall, Jada will attend Princeton University as a QuestBridge Scholar.

Her story could have ended there, with achievement, with applause, but instead, it circled back to the person who made it all possible.

“Because of your sacrifice and love, I won’t have to give up my education… But I do want to be exactly like you.”

There was a pause. Then, softly:

“Thank you, mẹ. I love you.”

Earlier in the evening, Tatiyana Orrego, a CSF alumna now at Boston College, stood at that same podium, this time introducing Jada.

Just one year removed from being the student speaker herself, she reflected on what moments like this truly represent:

“Each student carries their own journey… but what makes those stories possible are the people who believe in them.”

Her words reframed the night. This wasn’t just about one story, it was about thousands.

More than 4,000 students. Thousands of families. Generations of impact.

And a room full of people who made it all possible.

CSF alumnus Samuel “Sammy” Cintra brought that idea to life in a different way, inviting fellow alumni in the room to stand.

The result was powerful: a visible reminder that the mission doesn’t end at graduation.

“We are the result of an education that is not only intentional but directional… able to impact 4,300 children of all backgrounds.”

It was a moment that transformed numbers into faces—proof that investment in education multiplies over time.

At the center of the evening were honorees Travis and Rachel Rhodes, whose lives reflect the very values the Foundation seeks to instill.

Their story is one shaped by faith, family, and a shared belief that success carries responsibility.

“Nobody achieves success on their own.”

From their upbringing to their professional journeys, and ultimately to building a family of five children, two biological and three adopted, the Rhodes family has lived out a commitment to service in both word and action.

Their perspective was grounded, direct, and deeply aligned with the mission in the room:

“In service to the least of these we find our greatest purpose.”

They spoke not just of giving, but of learning, from mentors, from community leaders, and most meaningfully, from their own children.

And they reminded the audience that what was happening in that room was part of something much bigger:

“This is exactly what we are celebrating here tonight… creating opportunity for children like Jada to realize their incredible potential.”

As the evening came to a close, there was no single takeaway, no tidy conclusion.

Instead, there was a shared understanding.

That behind every scholarship is a story like Jada’s.
Behind every donation is a future not yet written.
And behind every student is a network of people who chose to believe in them.

Or, as Jada said in her final words:

“My story is one of many thousands. Because of you, this is just my beginning.”

And that is what the Building Minds Gala has always been about, not just celebrating success, but making it possible.

Be Part of the Next Story

Jada’s journey is just one of thousands, and there are so many more students waiting for the same opportunity.

When you give to the Catholic Schools Foundation, you’re not just making a donation—you’re opening doors, easing burdens, and helping students write futures that once felt out of reach.

Make your gift today and be part of what comes next.