Giancristofaros to recieve Seton award
The National Catholic Education Association has announced that Anthony andSuzan Giancristofaro, members of Our Lady of the Mount Parish, Warren, will receive the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award at a gala Oct. 6 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Washington, D.C.
The Seton award is named after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) in recognition of her lifelong dedication to teaching and is presented annually to individuals whose support and service impacts Catholic education and youth in the United States.
Out of their desire to provide an opportunity for children in financial need to receive a Catholic education, in 1998 the Giancristofaros partnered with the Diocese of Metuchen and established the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship Fund. Initially seeded with a $25,000 grant, the scholarship fund was used to provide tuition grants to families for children that would not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic education. Since these grants are given anonymously, they have become known as “Tuition Angel” grants. Over time, the Giancristofaros have doubled the amount of annual scholarship funding. Since the program began, about 540 students in Catholic schools across the Diocese of Metuchen have been “touched by an angel.”
To recognize their great generosity, the Diocese of Metuchen honored the Giancristofaros in 2003 as the first recipients of the Theodore Cardinal McCarrick Partners in Catholic Education Award. In addition to this distinction, the Giancristofaros were invested in the Association of Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem at the nomination of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, and also received the Benemerenti Medal, a papal honor, for their exceptional service to the Catholic Church.
“We are most pleased that the NCEA is honoring two of our most ardent supporters of Catholic education,” said Bishop Bootkoski. “They are exemplary models of service and stewardship who have not only helped countless children attend a Catholic school, but given us all a lesson in love.”
The Giancristofaros received their elementary and high school educations in the public schools of North Arlington and Newark, respectively. Although they themselves did not attend Catholic schools, their commitment to Catholic education took root in the education of their two daughters, Cheryl and Diana, who attended St. Ambrose School, Old Bridge, and Mount St. John Academy, Peapack. Both went on to Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.
While their children were in school, Suzan spent 90 percent of her time volunteering in many areas, substitute teaching, running the library, coordinating and teaching in the parish religious education program and chairing countless fund raisers. She remained involved even after her daughters graduated.
Based on their daughters’ experience in Catholic school, the Giancristofaros believe that a Catholic education is the best available for children, especially for children of families in most need. For them, education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. “If you want to save kids, you have to educate them,” Anthony said.
In addition to the Giancristofaros, the 2008 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Awards will also be presented to Father Dennis Dease, president, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Phoenix, Ariz., and Archbishop Thomas Rodi, Mobile, Ala..
A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded in the name of each Seton recipient to a student in a school designated by the honoree. The scholarship recipient and a parent attend the awards dinner to receive the award.
Ellen F. Ayoub, diocesan superintendent of schools. said the Office of the Schools was in the process of nominating a student for the scholarship.
Founded in 1904, the NCEA membership represents 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students enrolled in elementary and secondary school, colleges and universities, religious programs and seminaries throughout the United States.
