HOLY tRINITY HIGH SCHOOL

educating the heart as well as the mind since 1910.

     The Administration and Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity High School announced that the 15th Annual Guardians of Hope Scholarship Dinner, celebrated on Friday March 14th, brought together more than 500 guests and raised $430,000 for student financial assistance. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 15 Years of Hope,” emphasized the importance of this event as a vital funding source for the school for many years and indicated how far this event has come in just a few years from an event that initially raised $18,000 for the school to more than $400,000.
     The Guardians of Hope Dinner is the primary fundraising activity benefiting the high school’s financial assistance program, which offers aid to 90 percent of its students. Theses funds help inner-city disadvantaged youth gain access to a high quality, Catholic education. In total, Holy Trinity provides more than $700,000 each year to families who cannot afford the full cost of tuition.
     As part of the event’s rich history, the school administration and board took the opportunity to honor an individual with the Basil Moreau Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s recipients, John and Mary Raitt, were recognized for their tireless efforts in direct support of the students of Holy Trinity. Beginning as a mentor as part of the Friends for a Future Internship Program in 1997, Mr. Raitt, president and CEO, Harris Associates L.P., has since served in many other capacities at the school, including Chairperson of the Board of Trustees from 2003-2007. Mrs. Raitt has served on the Guardians of Hope Auction Committee for the past four years and has hosted numerous events at their home for prospective donors and board members. Mr. and Mrs. Raitt have provided tuition assistance for more than 100 students through their personal scholarship foundation in just the past three years, along with countless hours of mentoring both students and graduates.
     Mr. Raitt offered his reflections on Holy Trinity as he and his wife accepted the award, “Most of us, myself included, have been blessed with the opportunity to advance our lives through education. The youth of Chicago deserve that opportunity, too. Mary and I support Holy Trinity because of the school's remarkable success in providing students this opportunity and helping them realize their full potential.”
     The event included live and silent auctions, a raffle, performance by the Holy Trinity Gospel Choir, and a scholarship auction. Perhaps the most special part of the evening, though, was the opportunity for donors to hear from Holy Trinity students, who sold raffle tickets and represented the school as ambassadors. Senior Jasmine Reyes was chosen as the student speaker and offered these inspiring words, “I don’t think any other school could have prepared me better for the ‘real world’ than Holy Trinity. Donors like you have made my high school experience the best it could be. I hope that you are able to make as great an impact on someone else’s life the same way you have on mine.”
     This year’s Chairman’s Circle Sponsors included Erick and Tina Christensen with Bank of America, Craig S. Dean with AEG Partners, Richard and Susan Kiphart, Steven S. LaPorta with Merrill Lynch, and John and Mary Raitt with Harris Associates LP.