On April 2, our friends in southwest Washington gathered for an intimate dinner at the home of Fulcrum volunteer ambassador Jo Marie Hansen and her husband Steve. The gathering provided an opportunity for meaningful conversation and connection with Fulcrum donors, Catholic school supporters, Fulcrum executive director Vivian Shannon, and Bishop Frank Schuster. We also celebrated Dr. Robert Rusk, President of Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School as Fulcrum’s newest board member. We are delighted to strengthen our ties to our friends in the south region by having Dr. Rusk on our board.
Bishop Schuster shared inspiring words about the importance of Catholic education, emphasizing the value of faith-based communities nurturing both the intellectual and spiritual growth of young people.
Guests learned more about the four Catholic schools thriving in southwest Washington—Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Vancouver, St. Jospeh Catholic School, Vancouver, St. Rose School, Longview, and Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School, Vancouver. Vivian shared about the many ways Fulcrum impacts these schools and has since 2002.
Representatives from University of Portland’s Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) program highlighted their partnership with Fulcrum and the Office for Catholic Schools. PACE is a tuition-free, two-year graduate teaching program serving Catholic schools in the western United States. PACE program participants teach full-time in K-12 Catholic schools, live together in intentional communities, and earn tuition-free graduate degrees in education.
Thank you to our guests, our partners, and the Hansens for a wonderful evening! We look forward to future local gatherings throughout the archdiocese.