The Ford Motor Company and San Antonio’s Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers awarded 35 grants to community organizations and schools as part of their commitment to investing in education that spans more than 20 years.
Three Catholic nonprofit organizations were among those who received "Salute to Education" grants. These included the Congregation of Divine Providence for the Sophia Women’s Learning Center, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) for a teen parent conference, and St. Mary Magdalen School for their library.
Roberta Guajardo, library manager at St. Mary Magdalen, said, “The Ford Salute to Education has been gracious to us for many years. This year’s grant will go toward buying new books to boost the school’s accelerated reading programs.”
At the student mass, Wednesday, April 29, Sonny Melendrez was presented a "Partner In Education" award for his generous support of the students of St. Mary Magdalen School. He gave of his time and talents to the assembled student body during Catholic Schools Week. He delivered a strong, moral, uplifting yet very humorous message emphasizing how his own Catholic grade school and high school education prepared him well for his life experiences.
In early April, Mr. Melendrez attended and assisted St. Mary Magdalen School with the "Extravaganza" the primary fund raising event, to show his support for the students, the program and mission of the school.
February 2, 2008 – Rev. Robert "Bob" Hogan was named "Outstanding Leader in Catholic Education".
l-r Rev. Robert Hogan, Mr. Michael Belz, Sr. Carla Marie Lusch.
Mr. Michael Belz ans Archbishop Jose Gomez present Mr. & Mrs. Mendez the keys to the 2008 F150 Ford pickup that they won in the Catholic Life / Catholic Schools Sweepstakes. The winning ticket was sold by a St. Mary Magdalen School Student.
These Catholic school educators completed the two-year Catholic Administrators Program on March 7, 2007.
Pictured left to right: Jose Muñiz (St. Mary Magdalen), Miguel Mejia (St. Mary Magdalen),
Edilia Vidal-Rosenthal (St. Joseph), Sr. Genevieve Cunningham (Little Flower), Sharon Frederickson (St. James, Seguin)
and Debra Bircher (St. Thomas More).