CHICAGO (January 29, 2003)

Office of Catholic Schools officials today announced it will receive a $420,000 gift from Rev. Andrew M. Greeley for a new endowment fund that will aid Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools.

Greeley, an Archdiocese of Chicago priest who is a nationally recognized sociologist, author, columnist and commentator, made the donation to the Catholic Schools Endowment Fund which has been established by the Office of Catholic Schools. The gift was announced during the annual “Heart of the School Awards for Teacher Recognition” ceremony at St. Stanislaus Kostka elementary school, 1255 N. Noble St. on Chicago’s near northwest side. The awards honor outstanding elementary and high school teachers throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago.

“We gratefully accept Father Greeley’s generous gift as a wonderful example of faith in Catholic education,” said Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago. “The Catholic School Endowment Fund has been established to build a scholarship pool to help make a Catholic education a reality for families who wish their children to attend Catholic schools but do not have the means to afford the tuition. Our goal is to ensure that no child is denied a Catholic education because of financial circumstances,” said Wolsonovich. “Father Greeley’s generous gift will help us achieve our goal.”

Greeley, 75, who graduated from St. Angela elementary school, 1322 N. Massasoit Ave. on Chicago’s west side, and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in the north Loop before entering St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., was presented with an honorary Heart of the School Award by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago.

“Catholic schools in the inner-city are the most important, most generous, and most Christian activity in which American Catholicism has ever engaged,” said Greeley. “This contribution is my small way of repaying the church in Chicago, which helped educate me as a young boy, has provided me with strength and knowledge, and has been the motivating force behind my life's work as a priest, sociologist and author.”

Greeley, who serves in parishes in both Chicago and Tucson, Ariz., teaches social sciences at the University of Chicago and the University of Arizona. He is also a research associate at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

“Like the gifts of knowledge, experience and the Gospel values that are shared by our teachers in classrooms throughout the archdiocese, so too, Father Greeley’s gift will help make a profound difference in the lives of our young people,” said Cardinal George. “His generous contribution will play a role in ensuring that our Catholic schools continue in their mission to create faith-filled people who will be measured not only by what they know, but what they do for God and for others.”

Heart of the School Awards
Thefor Teacher Recognition are presented annually by the Archdiocese of Chicago during National Catholic Schools Week. The awards recognize outstanding, unique and innovative accomplishments of individual teachers at Archdiocese of Chicago schools. Winners each receive a pin, a plaque and a monetary award provided by a corporate sponsor. This year, 14 teachers were honored along with a principal from a Chicago Catholic elementary school who is one of 12 educators nationwide to receive the 2003 Distinguished Principal Award from the National Catholic Education Association.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for 117,229 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 290 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 248 elementary and 42 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Website at http://schools.archchicago.org.