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May 9, 2024Fighting Irish alumni representing every decade and every region of the country gathered for fun and fundraising. Record numbers, too, of alums and funds.
More than 900 alumni and friends of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School gathered at the Omni Hotel April 26 to kick off the year-long celebration of the school’s 75th anniversary and to honor the Love family for its dedication to the school.
That evening, more than $200,000 was raised for the David L. Morton Scholarship Fund, established in honor of Morton, who will retire as school president and principal after 48 years in Catholic education.
Organized by Gala co-chairs Jenny Chansolme and Carrie Leonard, the event broke all fundraising and attendance records of previous school galas.
“These amazing ladies put their heart and soul into this,” Morton said. “I knew from the very beginning that the evening was going to be a success. They were going to make sure it was the biggest event that McGuinness has ever had.”
Morton said the faces of generations of Bishop McGuinness grads reflected a key mission of the school.
“What really warmed my heart was when they started talking about diversity, which has always been the cornerstone of McGuinness,” Morton said. “We’ve always had a diverse student population, so it doesn’t matter which part of town you are from, what grade school you went to, or what socio-economic class you’re from, eventually through four years of high school the class just becomes one.
“It was fun to walk around and see a table of ’82 graduates or a table of ’86 graduates who were just reconnecting, sharing stories and memories. It was a very special evening.”
Photos by Peyton Matteson.