A beautiful outpouring of support for Catholic education, the 21st annual Gaudeamus benefit gala raised more than $2.4 million towards scholarships for students most in need at our Catholic schools.
Held at the Overland Park Convention Center on Saturday, October 28th, the 2023 celebration honored the Byron and Jeanne Thompson Family with the Michael and Patty Morrisey Angels Among Us Award, and recognized Holy Cross Catholic School in Overland Park as CEF's 2023 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence.
Dr. Vince Cascone presented Holy Cross Catholic School with the 2023 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann CEF School of Excellence Award.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's gala. Special thanks to this year's Gaudeamus event chairs, Craig and Karen Gaffney, and the entire Gaudeamus committee for their hard work throughout the year to make the gala possible.
Bishop Ward High School senior Emily Jimenez shared the powerful ways her Catholic education has shaped her life.
"Without your love and faith in Christ and generosity to CEF, without the scholarship I received, I wouldn’t be able to tell you my story and share my gratitude." - Emily Jimenez, Bishop Ward High School senior & CEF scholarship recipient
Click here to hear Emily's full remarks
Children's choirs from Church of the Nativity Parish School in Leawood and Resurrection Catholic School in Kansas City, KS performed for the nearly 1,000 guests in attendance at this year's Gaudeamus.
Click here to see more photos from Gaudeamus
Watch videos from this year's Gaudeamus program
Gaudeamus Featured Family: The Caros
Hear the Caro family's inspiring story and find out what Catholic education has meant to their family.
"There's families out there that believe that there's no hope or help, and there is." - Margarita Caro, mother of CEF students
Angels Among Us Honorees: The Byron & Jeanne Thompson Family
This year, the Catholic Education Foundation was proud to honor the Byron and Jeanne Thompson Family for their lifelong commitment to Catholic education.
“Gaudeamus means “let us rejoice” and we rejoice with the success that these kids are having because of the Catholic Education Foundation. If it wasn’t for them, where would these kids be?” - Mark Thompson
Join us at the 2024 Gaudeamus gala
The 22nd annual Gaudeamus benefit gala will be held on Saturday, October 12th, 2024 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Please save the date and plan to join us as we gather to celebrate the truth, beauty and goodness of Catholic education! Learn more at cefgala.org
