Hudson Catholic Will Remain Open

Alumni and Supporters Pledge More than $508,000 in 14 Days;
Archdiocese of Newark Appoints Hudson Catholic Alumnus to Lead School 

New Board Focuses on Turnaround; Long-Term Planning Begins

JERSEY CITY, May 7th – Hudson Catholic Regional High School will remain open next year, thanks to an outpouring of generosity from thousands of alumni, parents, supporters, area businesses and neighbors, who collectively have pledged more than $508,000 over the past 14 days to save the school.

 “Hudson Catholic is alive and well, and has come out of this crisis stronger and firmly committed to serving the educational needs of our students,” said Thomas F.X. Bender, chairman of the Hudson Catholic Alumni Association’s Save Our School Committee.  “We are overwhelmed and inspired by the generosity of our supporters. And we are grateful for the commitment of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Christian Brothers to work with us as we begin the process of shaping a new future for Hudson Catholic.”

As of today, a total of $508,472.89 has been pledged, surpassing the initial goal of $400,000. Thus far, $291,487.89 in support has been received already by the school. Alumni Association members will collect the balance of pledged funds by June 1st, Bender said. The Alumni Association asked graduates to commit to a three-year fundraising campaign, with this initial effort being year one. 

Reverend Kevin M. Hanbury, vicar for education and superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Newark, announced the appointment of a Hudson Catholic alumnus to lead the school. The appointment marks the first time in the school’s 44-year history that a graduate of Hudson Catholic will be at the helm of the organization.

The Archdiocese of Newark, working with members of the Alumni Association, will form an advisory board to work with the school’s new leadership on short- and long-term planning for Hudson Catholic – one of seven Catholic regional high schools in the Archdiocese. Once members are named and approved by the Archdiocese, the board will focus on stabilizing the school’s financial and enrollment targets. The board will then consult and advise on strategic planning, financing, physical plant upgrades and maintenance, development and marketing, and nomination of board members.

Beginning this week, school and alumni officials will begin contacting the parents of all current students, as well as in-coming freshmen, to confirm their plans to enroll in Hudson Catholic in the 2008-2009 school year.

For students who may have considered leaving Hudson Catholic, the Alumni Association announced today that it is prepared to refund registration deposits students may have made to other schools. Hudson Catholic school officials believe most area schools will fully refund registration deposits.
    
“Now, the real work begins,” Bender said. “In just 14 days, the Hudson Catholic family has come forward to save this school. The outcome of this effort speaks volumes about the ethics and values of our alumni. This is a proud day for all of us.

“We have a profound obligation to today’s students and their families to do everything in our power to ensure Hudson Catholic will be here for years to come,” he said. “With God’s blessing and with the backing of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Christian Brothers, we can succeed.” 

 
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Hudson Catholic Regional High School has educated the young men of Jersey City and other Hudson County communities in the Lasallian tradition since 1964. As one of the regional high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, it provides a college preparatory education for students in grades 9-12. Today, approximately 400 young men are enrolled in the school. There are more than 6,000 alumni.

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Alumni Events 2007-08

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: FALL /WINTER EVENTS

KEEP THESE 2008 EVENTS IN MIND

15th ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
Monday, June 9th 2008
at the Knob Hill Golf Club
Rt. 33 Manalapan, New Jersey

2007 / 2008 Monthly Alumni Meeting Dates
(All Alumni are welcome)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

All meeting's are held at 7:30pm in Room 105 at the school.

For further information, please contact the alumni office at (201) 332-5970, ext. 17, or e-mail us at: alumni-at-hudsoncatholic.org