Diocese of Bridgeport Reports Local Catholic School Fundraisers

St. Catherine of Siena School raised $62,718 during its annual Crusaders Quest Walk-A-Thon on October 23, Diocese of Bridgeport reported.

The event brought together students from Pre-K through eighth grade in Trumbull for a day focused on teamwork and school spirit. Participants utilized creative team names, themed outfits, and interactive stations along the walking route to support educational resources, technology, and enrichment opportunities for the student body.

While St. Catherine of Siena focused on internal academic resources, other local institutions directed their fundraising toward broader healthcare and community needs. This distinction highlights a dual approach within the region’s Catholic school network: building internal capacity while simultaneously addressing external social crises.

In Stratford, St. Mark School utilized its 17th Annual Cut-A-Thon on October 16 to raise $3,900 for the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. This specific initiative has raised more than $36,500 since its inception in 2009, according to Diocese of Bridgeport.

The event involved significant physical commitment from the student body to support breast cancer awareness and hair loss charities. Six girls donated eight inches of hair to Children With Hair Loss, while four boys shaved their heads. Additionally, 88 girls wore pink hair extensions, and two faculty members shaved their heads to support the cause.

Giis kl students champion global sustainability through local charity action

Stratford Mayor David Chess attended the event to present a proclamation recognizing the school’s service. The fundraiser was supported by CKC Salon of Fairfield, which has donated time and talent to the tradition for nine consecutive years.

The Catholic Academy of Stamford is also engaging in seasonal charitable work through several distinct channels:

The sixth-grade class led an Operation Christmas Child collection to pack shoeboxes for children in need.
A Thanksgiving Food Drive, managed by Mrs. DeRubeis, provided support to local families in partnership with St. Cecilia–St. Gabriel Parish.
An annual Toy Drive is currently underway to benefit Person-to-Person, with gifts scheduled to be presented during a Mass on December 4.

Local schools are also reporting gains in academic prestige and competitive athletics. Immaculate High School was recently named an AP Honor Roll Gold School by the College Board, a distinction held by only 7 percent of eligible schools. This recognition follows the school’s implementation of 50 honors, 21 AP, and 10 dual-enrollment courses.

School Program	Key Achievement/Metric
St. Thomas Aquinas Golf	Won St. Thomas Invitational (first time since 2018)
Immaculate High School	AP Honor Roll Gold School status
St. Catherine of Siena	$62,718 raised via Walk-A-Thon
St. Mark School	$3,900 raised for SWIM Center