The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation is giving $150 million to the Big Shoulders Fund over the next 10 years to funnel into academic and infrastructure improvements at 20 Catholic schools in the four-county Diocese of Gary.
Big Shoulders president and CEO Josh Hale called it the largest single investment in preK-12 Catholic education in history.
Wednesday’s announcement at the White family-owned Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake drew an A-list of GOP leaders including Gov. Eric Holcomb, Speaker of the House Todd Huston, and Secretary of Education Katie Jenner.
Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert J. McClory praised the gift from the White Foundation and announced the establishment of a $50 million endowment from the diocese’s foundation aimed at boosting teacher and staff salaries.
“Today is a joy-filled day…” said McClory. “Lives will be changed and transformed. The Investment reflects an enormous vote of confidence in Catholic education.”
Beth White, chairman of White Lodging and wife of the late Bruce White and daughter-in-law of Dean and Barbara White, called Wednesday’s announcement just a beginning.
“The true success will be the academic progress everyone makes who walks through the Big Shoulders’ door. We believe in the promise that each of you hold.”
She said the White family and her own downstate Illinois family know the impact of an education.
“My late husband, Bruce, and I share the belief that education is an equalizer that is paramount to making the world a better place. With Big Shoulders, we have been working together to make a meaningful impact in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.”
The diocese has 20 schools, about 400 teachers, and about 6,000 students in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties. Diocese Superintendent Colleen Brewer said enrollment is up about 19% in the past three years.
The increase coincides with state lawmakers expanding a Choice Scholarship, or voucher program, making nearly every family in the state eligible for state funding to send their children to private schools.
The program has provided millions to Diocese of Gary schools including $3.7 million for Bishop Noll High School in Hammond and $2.4 million for Andrean High School in Merrillville last year.
Brewer said about 80% of students rely on vouchers in the program championed by Republicans who control both chambers in the statehouse.
“It’s difficult to think back over the last 7-1/2 half years of a moment I’ve been more proud of,” said Holcomb. “It took innovative minds, it took courage. Now you’re in the spotlight.”
Huston called the announcement “my favorite event ever” because of its future impact.
“This event changes generations, changes outcomes…We’ll see improving metrics but we’ll never fully appreciate the generational changes in these kids’ lives.”
Officials said there’s no specific plan in place yet to divvy up the $150 million in funding.
Hale said the plan will focus on serving students and communities with the greatest economic and educational need in Northwest Indiana.
Hale left the door open for the Diocese of Gary to reopen a school since they’ve all been closed for years. He said they would examine reopening a shuttered school in Gary.
The most likely one could be Holy Angels, across from the cathedral on 6th Avenue.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
