It’s hard to believe the Night of Light was now more than six weeks ago. It feels like yesterday, in large part because the energy in the room that evening has continued to be present in the work we at the Aim Higher Foundation do every day. It has been quite extraordinary to be approached in schools, at the grocery store, in restaurants, and all around town, by friends and supporters who were moved to action by the sights and sounds of our gala—inspired to do even more to help children access the life-changing benefits of a Catholic school.

Watch videos from the Night of Light by visiting our Youtube channel!

I have so many fond memories of this year’s event, but the most unforgettable were some of the quotes shared by our speakers, Bishop Cozzens and Archbishop Hebda. I’ve been mulling a handful of them over and over these last few weeks. Here are a just a couple of my favorite from Bishop Cozzens:

“Catholic schools are educating children not just for this life, but for eternity. They are helping people see the real meaning in life. In this way, we are helping people aim higher with their lives.”

 And

 “The vision of the roadmap and the future we are trying to create are dependent on us—it’s dependent on you and me. We have to stand behind our schools and the children and families they serve. The future depends on our efforts.”

Archbishop Hebda added to these ideas, saying:

“Catholic schools are the responsibility of the entire community. They are yours and they are mine.”

 And

“But if you are like me, the question of responsibility leads to a question of will. Do we as a community have the will to see out this vision? Will we make the choice to ensure the future of our Catholic schools?”

As I said in the closing remarks of the Night of Light, the Aim Higher Foundation stands proudly with its answer of “yes” to these questions. As we approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, we want you to know how deeply grateful we are for you, the friends of Aim Higher, and all others who say yes to this call to action—those who make deep sacrifices of time, talent, and treasure to provide more scholarships to more students which helps us create stronger schools. We could not do the work we do without your support, and we thank you for helping us provide scholarships to the 1,300 children we serve.

In gratitude,

Jean