The positive energy was blossoming at this year’s Legacy Gala: “Rambling Roses,” as we gathered to support our students and celebrate the rich tradition of excellence within our school community. Each year, we proudly recognize alumni who have demonstrated unwavering support and dedication to our schools over the years. This year we honored Libby Felix Waltman '03VMA, Jim Rutkowski Jr. '79, and the Don '49 & Mary Ann Fessler Family—the first family to ever receive this prestigious honor—by inducting them into the President’s Hall of Fame. We are pleased to announce that we raised a total of $438,905 through Legacy Gala, an increase of almost 150% from last year!
Guests indulged in the delights of the delicious hors d’oeuvres and libations and danced to live music from The Groove, while participating in an onsite basket raffle and engaging in spirited bidding on auction items through online mobile bidding. This year we kicked off mobile bidding for all the auction items on Monday, February 3, and supporters had the chance to begin bidding throughout the week leading up to the event. This allowed parents, alumni, and friends to support our school from afar.
Among the auction items were: a 2024 Ford Bronco, a “heavenly dinner” with Fr. Mike DeMartinis, an 18K white gold necklace, tickets to the U.S. Open at Oakmont, a private dinner for eight at The Cork 1794, and more! The combined efforts from the auction and the basket raffle yielded over $82,000 in support of our students.
Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System President Kevin Smith warmly welcomed attendees and introduced the Cathedral Prep Dance Ensemble as they performed an upbeat, student-choreographed dance to grab the audience’s attention. Then Devin Easter ’25 and Adrienne Catrabone ’25 shared the impact of their Prep experiences before Cathedral Prep science teacher and MedPath coordinator Meghan Fuhrman ’99VMA spoke to the audience about how powerful their gifts can be in changing the lives of our students.
With this call for Tuition Angels, our guests’ commitment to our students proved to be overwhelming as we collected $120,000 for the Tuition Angels Program, more than double the amount raised in 2024! Contributions from our Tuition Angels directly fund student financial aid, ensuring that a Cathedral Prep education remains accessible for all Erie families.
None of this would have been achievable without the support of our sponsors and donors. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each sponsor, donor, guest, and Tuition Angel for their unwavering commitment to our students’ success. Together, we continue to cultivate an environment of growth and excellence, nurturing the groundwork for future generations to come.
For more photos from the evening, please www.cathedralprep.com/legacygala! Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s Gala on February 7, 2026! 🌹
