Donors Raise Over $800,000 for Catholic Academy of Bridgeport Scholarships

“The event was a resounding success, and the incredible faith, goodness and generosity in the room were palpable, with over $800,000 donated for need-based scholarships,” said Angela Pohlen, Executive Director of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. The sum came from the school’s “Guiding Lights Gala” held October 29 at Woodway Country Club, bridgeportdiocese.org reported.

Board Chair John Kreitler told attendees that the school’s tuition carries a $9,000 price tag, yet on average families can afford to pay only 28 percent of that cost. To provide a faith-based education to nearly 900 PreK through 8th grade students in Connecticut’s largest city, CAB must raise close to $4 million annually. The gala’s proceeds go directly toward need-based scholarships for those students.

A $4 Million Annual Lifeline

Kreitler described the Academy as a lifeline for Bridgeport families who might otherwise lack a safe environment and educational opportunities. The Oct. 29 event celebrated that mission while acknowledging the donors and alumni whose generosity makes it possible. Pohlen said the theme of ‘guiding lights’ matched the school’s approach, likening its influence to a star cutting through darkness—though sailors still face choppy waters. She used the metaphor to describe the donors’ role, telling those in the dining room that their support helps reveal the path forward for the children.

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That $800,000 raised in one night represents a significant portion of the annual fundraising goal. With tuition set at $9,000 per student and families covering just 28 percent of that on average, the school depends on events like the gala to bridge the remaining cost for hundreds of children in Bridgeport.

Thirty Years of Rising Stars

The gala honored longtime donor Jim Colica and his late wife, Kathy Hanson, presenting Colica with the Luminary Award for his dedication to the school. Their financial assistance, begun over 30 years ago, led to the creation of the Rising Stars Scholarship, which commits to paying a child’s tuition from kindergarten through grade 8. Two alumnae—and two of the honoree’s Rising Star students—presented the award to him.

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CAB 2023 alumna Yurany Sanchez, now a senior honors student at Lauralton Hall, spoke about the school’s impact on her formative years. She credited CAB with helping her prioritize service, adapt to change, and develop the confidence to join extracurriculars such as the Alegre Program for the Performing Arts in 8th grade. “CAB taught me the value of being part of a tight-knit and diverse community where I felt seen, safe, comfortable, and encouraged,” Sanchez said. “I went to class with people from many different cultures and always felt my Hispanic heritage was valued. Thank you for allowing the spark inside me all those years ago to burn brilliantly today.”

Attendees also watched Sanchez perform “Shed a Little Light” alongside students from the Alegre Program, serving as a reminder of the lasting impact this education has on its students.

Students in Uniform at the Gala

Some of the scholarship recipients attended the event as greeters, dressed in their CAB uniforms to welcome guests, and each said they were pleased for the opportunity to represent their school. Eighth grader Bendy Brutus said, “It’s an honor to be chosen and to meet all the people. I’m very excited.” He described the school’s intimate scale: “CAB is not a big school, it’s small like a family. I like the one-to-one learning, and the teachers help me if I need it.”

Classmate Ana Clara Xavier echoed that sentiment. “CAB is a very close community and that means something to us as students,” she said. “Our principal knows us all by name.”

Rao’s, New York Weekends, and the Paddle Raise

Following dinner, auctioneer Charles Antin ran a live auction featuring two headline items: a dinner at Rao’s in New York City that drew a winning bid of $18,000 and a weekend in New York City that went for $8,000. A “Paddles Up” fundraiser contributed significantly more donations for need-based scholarships. All funds raised at the event support CAB’s 900 students directly.

Susan Cecere, CAB’s Director of Development who was instrumental in planning the gala, said the evening championed the school’s broader promise. “While guiding lights may have been our theme that night, our tagline of ‘something more’ was really what we championed,” Cecere said. “We hope those in attendance felt that and were convinced that we do indeed deliver ‘something more’ every day here in Bridgeport.”

Pohlen closed by connecting the donations to the students’ futures. “When you help us teach, you help us light the way for our students,” she told the dining room at Woodway. “Everyone of you has the potential to be a light in the lives of these children.”