CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO HOST 36th ANNUAL
SALUTE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL ALUMNI DINNER EVENT
Foundation Seeks All-Time Fundraising Record to Benefit Catholic
School Families and Parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville
Bestselling Author Adriana Trigiani to Deliver Keynote Address
ISCO Industries to Serve as Presenting Sponsor for Fifth Consecutive Year
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) – The Catholic Education Foundation of the Archdiocese of Louisville (the “Foundation”) today announced that it will host the 36th annual Salute to Catholic School Alumni Dinner (the “Salute”) at Louisville’s historic Galt House Hotel on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The Foundation will honor eight individuals at the event whose accomplishments in career, community and life highlight the storied tradition of excellence in Catholic schools in central Kentucky that began over 200 years ago.
Established in 1990, the Salute is a hallmark community event in the Commonwealth, raising funds for families, parishes and schools to provide tuition assistance for families as well as grants for religious education, professional development of teachers and advancements in technology. In the fall of 2025, the Foundation and its funding partners awarded a record $8.6 million in tuition assistance to an amazing 3,700 students across 39 Catholic elementary schools in central Kentucky.
The Foundation is blessed to have as this year’s Salute keynote speaker Ms. Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of 21 books that have been published in 38 languages around the world.
Mr. Mark W. Raque, Senior Vice President and Director of Wealth Advisors at Pinnacle Financial Partners, has graciously agreed to serve as the Chair of this year’s event.
The 2026 class of Salute honorees (with school affiliation) includes:
Diane M. Gahafer, (Assumption High School) – Chief Revenue Officer, Wasteology
David A. Koch (Saint Xavier High School) – President and Chief Executive Officer, Hill Road Capital LLC
Edward J. “Jody” Meiman III (Holy Cross High School) – Executive Director, Louisville Metro Emergency Services
Michael T. Paradis (Trinity High School) – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bramco
Katherine Wintergerst Rogers (Mercy Academy) – Chief Administrative Officer, Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Reverend Charles D. Walker (DeSales High School) – Retired Archdiocesan Priest
The Foundation will also honor Michael A. Pollio, retired Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of Louisville, with its distinguished Community Service Award. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company is serving as the sponsor of this award for the second consecutive year.
Deborah A. Tucker, a third-grade teacher at St. Rita School, will receive the 2026 Father Joseph McGee Award as the outstanding Catholic school educator in the Archdiocese of Louisville. The award is being sponsored by Norton Healthcare for the 17th consecutive year.
Foundation President Richard A. Lechleiter remarked, “We could not be more excited to celebrate our eight distinguished honorees at this very special event on March 10! One of the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth, this event has long provided significant funding to strengthen our families and Catholic education across central Kentucky. Our team is working very hard to surpass last year’s Salute fundraising record of $1.7 million, and we are indeed grateful to our many supporters who value Catholic education and the countless benefits that it has provided to students, families and the broader community for generations.”
The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, Archbishop of Louisville, noted, “I am so grateful for this community’s staunch support of both the Salute dinner event and the work of the Foundation. What a feat it is to aim for such an enormous result to support families across central Kentucky who want their children to attend a Catholic school but can’t afford its full cost. We are indeed blessed to work for their benefit and the futures of their children!”
The Foundation also announced that, for the fifth consecutive year, Louisville-based ISCO Industries will serve as Presenting Sponsor of the event with an investment of $100,000. Chair and Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Kirchdorfer, noted, “My brother Mark and I are excited that our company will again serve as the Presenting Sponsor of this prestigious event. Here at ISCO, we’re thrilled that Catholic school enrollments in the archdiocese continue to rise and we’re proud to play a part in that growth through the works of the Foundation. For our company, it makes so much sense to invest in one of our community’s greatest assets – Catholic education!”
Major benefactors of this year’s Salute, each of whom has contributed $25,000 or more, include Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company; Norton Healthcare; Abell Law Group PLLC; Jill and Chris Burckle; Caldwell/Preload; Churchill Downs, Incorporated; Dahlem Realty Company; the Dougherty Family; Fifth Third; The Galt House Hotel; the Dale and Donna Gettelfinger Family; the Kantlehner Family; the Kramer Family; LeafSpring School; Sarah and John Lechleiter; Jim and Kathy Lintner; Keith and Jeanie Mouser; Michelle and Bill Mudd; the Ott Family Foundation; Pinnacle Financial Partners; the Ramsey Family; Karen and Hank Robinson; SCJ Fiduciary Services; Steve and Robin Sedita; the Shannon Family; Len and Susan Spalding; the Steiden Family; Brad and Charlotte Stengel; Willis Klein Companies; Tom and Rhonda Wimsett; and the Richard Lechleiter Family.
The Salute doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and the dinner and program will begin at 6:00 p.m. Sponsorships, tables and individual seats may be purchased by contacting the Foundation by phone or online at www.ceflou.org.
About the Catholic Education Foundation and Catholic Schools:
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.
The Archdiocese of Louisville sponsors 39 elementary schools with 13,100 students and nine high schools with 5,600 students across central Kentucky.
Since 1999, the Foundation has awarded over $68 million in support of Catholic education. Visit the Foundation at www.ceflou.org.