At its 25th anniversary gala on Nov. 30, the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County celebrated its ongoing support of Catholic schools, which has totaled more than $1.2 million scholarships and grants, and also recognized local Catholic leaders who help fulfill that mission.
Founded in 1993, the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County runs a need-based scholarship program, hosts an annual essay competition for scholarships, and gives grants to Catholic grade schools. The gala is the sole source of funding for the organization’s need-based scholarship program, which helps students in need to attend Catholic schools in Montgomery County. In the 11 years of the need-based scholarship program, every principal who has applied on behalf of a student has received a scholarship for that student.
The Catholic Business Network honored Jimmy Reyes, an alumnus of St. Jane de Chantal School in Bethesda, as the 2018 Business Person of the Year. Reyes is the director of Reyes Holdings LLC, the largest beer distributor in the United States. Chef José Andrés received the group’s Humanitarian Award.
The network also honored Holy Cross Sister Kathy Weber as the Catholic Community Leader of the Year for her work with the Holy Cross Caregiver Resource Center. The Center, which she founded in 1992, offers caregiver support groups, classes for caregivers, a resource library, and a telephone help line. In his introduction, Andrew Ryan said Sister Kathy “brings a sense of calm to families who don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
Sister Kathy took the opportunity of accepting her award to give some advice to the audience about how to best support caregivers.
First, she said she frequently finds herself offering, “If you need anything give me a call,” but she has learned that the way to be most helpful with that offer is to be specific, saying things like, “I am going to Giant, can I get you anything?”
Second, she said, “If you know a caregiver in need, listen to them. Most of the time, that is what they really want.”
“Most of the time, they are so grateful, they say, ‘Thank you for listening to me,’” said Sister Kathy.
The Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County also honored Bethany Blues as the 2018 Catholic Business Partner of the Year, Walter and Valeria Peralta with Volunteers of the Year Award for her support of St. Martin of Tours School in Gaithersburg, and Rob Scanlon with the 2018 Paul G. Zurkowski Founder’s Award.
