Bishop Richard J. Malone will deliver the keynote address at the GALA 22:6 education dinner. (WNYC File Photo)

The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will hold its 18th annual Catholic Education dinner, GALA 22:6, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The 2018 Bishop's Medal honorees will include the chair couples for the Upon This Rock capital campaign, the Montante family and Uniland Development Company.

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to fund needs-based tuition assistance for students attending Catholic elementary schools throughout the eight counties of Western New York. The 2017 dinner raised more than $250,000, and the event has now raised more than $3.5 million since it was first established.

The 2018 Bishop's Medal honorees include the three chair couples for the successful Upon This Rock capital and endowment campaign, which has raised more than $107 million to date, in recognition for their outstanding leadership and selfless support of Catholic education funding: Judy and Tom Beecher, Barb and Jerry Castiglia, and Betsy and John Sullivan. Both Judy Beecher and Jerry Castiglia will be honored posthumously.

A portion of the funds raised through Upon This Rock will support the increased availability for high quality, modern Catholic education in the diocese, including tuition assistance and STREAM program enhancements.

Also receiving a Bishop's Medal will be the Montante family and Uniland Development Company for their generous support of the diocese's STREAM initiative, funding for the "Finding Noah" program and their ongoing dedication to Catholic education.

Father Joseph S. Rogliano, pastor of St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima parishes in Buffalo, will serve as the chair of the 2018 dinner. Ordained in 1985, Father Rogliano came to St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima in 2010. Prior to that, he served as pastor of 14 Holy Helpers in West Seneca, and St. Anthony and St. Joseph parishes in Lockport.

Kathleen and Tom Christy, parishioners at St. Amelia Parish in Tonawanda, are the vice chair couple.

The 2018 winners of the Sister Lucille Soccarelli/Father John Sturm Making a Difference and Natalie Mattimore Lewis Kindness Counts Character awards will be announced closer to the date of the dinner.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, who will be marking his sixth year celebrating Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo, will deliver the keynote address for the 2018 dinner.  

Formerly known as the Making a Difference Dinner, the event debuted as GALA 22:6 in 2015. The title is rooted in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up children in a way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart it," which references the importance of educational formation in the lives of our young children.
The 2018 GALA 22:6 will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, to donate or to purchase tickets, contact Laura DeMizio at 716-847-8373 or visit http://www.501auctions.com/gala226.