The Diocese of Gary has announced a $150 million commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation.
The Merrillville-based foundation will contribute that amount over ten years. The money will be managed by Big Shoulders Fund, which supports Catholic schools in Chicago and northwest Indiana. The funds will drive initiatives that focus on curriculum development, teacher training, leadership development, infrastructure improvements, student support services, new governance models, updated management structures, and assistance with enrollment and tuition management.
The diocese also said it plans to establish a separate endowment, with a goal of building a fund of up to $50 million over the next 15 years to supplement pay for Catholic school teachers and staff.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb joined Bishop Robert J. McClory Wednesday for the announcement. “On behalf of all families who will benefit from this commitment, we are thankful and filled with great hope for the future,” McClory said. “This is an enormous vote of confidence for Catholic education and the value of our individual schools.” Bishop McClory called the donation “the largest single investment in PreK-12 Catholic education in history.”
“We know that access to high-quality, values-based education is as important as anything we can support, and our efforts would not be complete without a deep commitment to the Catholic schools that have been a critical part of the fabric of Northwest Indiana for decades,” said White Family Foundation Executive Director Bill Hanna.
There are over 6,000 students across 20 Catholic schools in four northwest Indiana counties. Four of those schools are in La Porte County.
