An important milestone was reached and celebrated recently by a dedicated group of volunteers who have had an indirect impact upon thousands of Aurora and Fox Valley citizens who graduated from or attended the city’s many Catholic schools.
The Aurora Catholic Education Foundation was founded in 1973 and, although I have known about it since its beginning, I learned a lot more about its 50-year history after visiting with three of its long-serving board members recently.
The foundation’s current president, John Bonk, joined the board in the 1990s. But amazingly, Dave Verdeyen and Al Schuler have served the all-volunteer foundation’s board from its inception in 1973 up to the present time. Verdeyen followed the late Dr. William Weigel as its president, and served in that office for close to 40 years. Schuler has served as treasurer since its inception.
“In 1972, Bishop O’Neil proposed establishing education foundations in each of the Diocese of Rockford deaneries (groups of parishes),” Schuler said. “The other foundations disbanded over time, and ours in Aurora is the only one left standing.”
The foundation’s mission is to support Catholic education through financial grants to parishes, schools and other programs in the greater Aurora community.
It’s first and biggest task in the 1970s was to conduct a major capital campaign with an ambitious goal of raising $1 million, and to then leave the principal amount untouched. Investments were to be made, and earnings were to be divided among the many schools. Fund-raising has continued through the years at the parish level.
Initially, 11 elementary schools, three high schools, and importantly, religious education programs for public school students were to benefit from the foundation’s distributions.
“Every year, we take the previous September enrollment figure at each school, and present monetary awards based on those figures,” Schuler said. “In a recent year, we gave out about $105,000. These grants are relatively small parts of the various schools’ budgets. There are only four elementary schools existing today, many fewer than when we started.”
Schuler also mentioned that some of the earnings distributed helped schools to provide part-time teachers for students who needed special education services. These were not always available in the Catholic schools.
During my visit with the board members, Bonk was generous in his praise of Verdeyen, Schuler, and other long-serving members, some of whom have passed away.
“These dedicated board members have kept the foundation alive and relevant, even during some lean times in the 1990s,” Bonk said. “Dave and Al have done outstanding work in managing our investments. Their strategies have shown an excellent return of 15% to 16% in a recent year.
“We hope to continue, but without these two guys, we are not going to be at the levels we were. What they do is incredible.”
All three gentlemen made it an important point to thank all of the current foundation board members, as well as some of its past leaders.
“Pete Hettinger, our current vice president, and the late Tom Haggerty have to be mentioned,” Verdeyen said. “Dr. Weigel was a supporter of Catholic education all the way, and he was my really good friend. And Father William Etheredge was our longtime area superintendent.”
I asked the group what has kept them so motivated and dedicated.
“I received Catholic education my whole life, from elementary school to college. That’s what motivated me to keep it going, and it can be difficult,” Verdeyen said.
“Giving is such a gratifying thing,” added Bonk. “I’ve learned that giving comes back to you, and my goal is to continue this forever.”
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Schuler, who has missed only two board meetings in 50 years, said “I’ve maintained my interest because I think that over the years, we have accomplished what we set out to do.”
“To the tune of $3.5 million,” Bonk added.
The Aurora Catholic Education Foundation will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sept. 18. A banquet will follow a Mass celebrated at St. Peter Church in Aurora by Diocese of Rockford Bishop David Malloy.
If you are a graduate of, or if you have attended Catholic school in the Aurora area, you have benefited, even if only in a small way, from the Christian community-building efforts of the dedicated members of the Aurora Catholic Education Foundation.
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.