Leaders of Tomorrow Reception Celebrates Students and their Sponsors

November 14, 2018 | Foundations in Education | General

BRIDGEPORT— Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport, and Foundations in Education recently hosted the 2nd Annual Leaders of Tomorrow Breakfast Reception at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport.

More than 160 turned out to honor the 44 young Catholic school students who were selected as Leaders of Tomorrow.

Leaders of Tomorrow is a unique program of the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based scholarships to students in Catholic elementary schools who are identified by their principals as students of good character, academic promise and leadership potential. Donors to the program transform the lives of children through the gift of Catholic education.

The reception brought together students, their families, principals and the donors who sponsor a portion of their tuitions.

In his welcoming remarks, Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport and a generous sponsor of a 2018-19 Leader of Tomorrow remarked, “This is one of my favorite moments in the year; when we celebrate our young women and men who are here, our Leaders of Tomorrow. Quite frankly, they are our leaders of today for many of their classmates follow their good example and continue their journey in wisdom and faith in Christ.”

Among the scholarship recipients was Julia Basseto-Oliveira, a sixth grader at Assumption Catholic School in Fairfield, who was accompanied by her parents, Priscilla and Marlon, and her principal, Mr. Steve Santoli.

“I am sincerely happy for the opportunity to meet Julia’s sponsor, who makesher education possible,” said Priscilla. “To find that Bishop Caggiano was her donor was amazing and an honor to my family!”

Principal Santoli added, “The Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship not only provides much needed financial assistance to qualifying families, it allows us to invest in the future of our promising students and recognize their great potential as academic and spiritual leaders of our school community.”

There are currently 21 donors sponsoring 44 students in the program who may otherwise be unable to attend Catholic schools.

Roger Fox, a sponsor of a Leader of Tomorrow, shared his motivation for donating to Foundations in Education: “I’m delighted to contribute to this organization because I’m confident that by doing so, I am helping young people. With a good solid Catholic education as a foundation, these students can go forward and make a difference in this world.”

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