Beacon of Hope Ball raises over $60K

Catholic schools’ biggest night of the year was an astounding success. The sold-out Beacon of Hope Ball, which took place at the Peter D. Kiernan Plaza in Albany on Feb. 29, raised $60,924, which is a $10,000 increase from last year.

All of that money will go to supporting the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to families of students attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Albany.

The Beacon of Hope Ball generated money through ticket sales, sponsorship, and live and silent auctions. The Leap of Faith fundraiser — which asked 29 families to donate $29 by Feb. 29 and received text donations during the night of the ball — raised over $15,604 (104 percent of its goal), and Stuyvesant Plaza matched the $15,000, making for a grand total of $30,604.

“We are most grateful for the wonderful display of generosity and support for our schools and sponsors,” said Giovanni Virgiglio, superintendent of schools. “A record-breaking turnout, surpassing our Leap of Faith campaign goal, and all in the company of our amazing Community Spirit award winners. We have much cause for celebration and we look forward to translating this evening’s success into more Beacon of Hope Scholarships for our deserving families.”

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, the honorary chair, gave the invocation and met with the Beacon of Hope Community Spirit Award winners. The live auction, run by emcee Jerry Gretzinger of WNYT-13, included two tickets to the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony of New York Yankee legend Derek Jeter, an original driftwood horse sculpture, titled “Summer Dancer,” by Rita Dee, a 1973 graduate of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School, as well as tickets to concerts by Justin Bieber, Michael Buble and many other great items.