CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION SALUTE TO “THE GAME”
LUNCHEON EVENT ROARS TO NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD
$600,000 Net from the Event Rockets Past Last Year’s Record $550,000
LOUISVILLE, KY (September 21, 2023) – The Catholic Education Foundation of Louisville (the “Foundation”) announced record results from its 16th annual Salute to THE GAME luncheon held earlier today at The Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville. This unique event celebrates the nationally recognized rivalry and thrill of the annual Saint Xavier – Trinity high school football game to be played at the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m.
This year’s Salute luncheon filled the Grand Ballroom and raised a record net of $600,000, roaring past last year’s previous mark of $550,000. Since its inception, the Salute luncheon has raised over $4.9 million. All of the net proceeds from this event will benefit the Foundation in its work to support Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Louisville and make Catholic schools accessible by everyone.
Foundation President Richard A. Lechleiter remarked, “This hallmark community event continues to lift our mission to incredible new heights like no one ever thought possible! When we launched this event in 2008, the Foundation netted $25,000. WOW!! Look at what we’ve all done together since then! And we couldn’t do any of this without the support of all our friends in the Saint Xavier and Trinity communities who have allowed the Foundation to benefit from this storied rivalry.”
The Foundation recently announced that for the ninth consecutive year, every student applicant with a demonstrated financial need earned a tuition assistance award. Together with their funding partners, the Catholic Education Foundation provided tuition assistance to an all-time high 3,700 elementary students with an astounding record $8 million in funding for the current school year. Mr. Lechleiter exclaimed, “At the Catholic Education Foundation, “The Answer is YES!”
For the fourth consecutive year, Independence Bank served as the Lead Sponsor of the event with an investment of $40,000. Mr. Lechleiter remarked, “To President Louis Straub and all our friends at Independence Bank, THANK YOU for your exemplary leadership in making this event the largest of its kind across the Commonwealth! You are true heroes to so many families in this community,”
Major benefactors of this year’s Salute luncheon, each of whom donated $25,000 to the event, were: Air Hydro Power; The Bufford Family Foundation; The D3 Foundation; David and Cathy Durik; Sarah and John
Lechleiter; the Ramsey Family; Karen and Hank Robinson; Len and Susan Spalding; Brad and Charlotte Stengel; the Ulmer Family; Tom and Rhonda Wimsett; and the Richard Lechleiter Family.
Foundation Board Chair Todd A. Klimek noted, “Our donors are so resolute in their passion for Catholic education and they continue to stand tall like never before to ensure that this organization can deliver on its promise to all our Catholic school families in need. Indeed, “The Answer is YES!”
About the Catholic Education Foundation:
For over 200 years, Catholic schools have contributed significantly to the social, spiritual and economic fabric of our entire community. The Catholic Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the growth and vitality of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Since 1999, the Foundation has awarded over $56 million in support of Catholic education. Visit the Foundation at www.ceflou.org.
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