The Catholic Foundation bestows annual award to Dallas investor Oliver McGonigle

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — From a multi-million dollar capital campaign for a Dallas college preparatory school to a foundation set up for a school for the poor in Tijuana, Mexico, Oliver McGonigle is committed to supporting Catholic schools and the children that benefit from a Catholic education. The 26th recipient of the award, he was honored for his dedication in serving both the greater Dallas community as well as the Catholic community.

The Catholic Foundation also presented the Foundation’s Scholars Award and a $5,000 scholarship to James Newby V, a junior at Bishop Lynch High School, and awarded $5,000 grants to both Bishop Dunne Catholic School and Bishop Lynch High School during the dinner as a part of the recognition given to Mr. McGonigle.

“It is an honor for the trustees of The Catholic Foundation to present the 2008 Catholic Foundation Award to J. Oliver McGonigle for his unwavering commitment to Catholic education both in our own community and Mexico,” said Edwin M. Schaffler, Foundation president and CEO. “Mr. McGonigle’s accomplishments in the business world have greatly benefited the Catholic schools and universities to which he is dedicated, and we are pleased to honor him and his philanthropic efforts.”

In Dallas, Mr. McGonigle has served on the Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the local American Red Cross, and as the President of the School Board and Chairman of the first capital campaign at Bishop Lynch High School, which funded the Performing Arts Center, St. Catherine's Chapel and a beautiful gathering space for students and friends.

Currently, he co-chairs the Board at Bishop Dunne and helped found the Bishop Dunne 100 Scholarship Dinner, an annual event raising more than $300,000 for scholarships.

Mr. McGonigle also serves on the Board of Trustees at Saint Bonaventure University and is the founder of Friends of the Missionaries of the Cross Foundation, which supports the Santa Rosa School in a barrio of Tijuana, Mexico. The school, whose site was selected with the guidance of Mother Teresa, serves 500 students considered to be “the poorest of the poor.”

“I am delighted to receive this wonderful award and humbled to be included among the prior recipients,” said Mr. McGonigle.

Chartered in 1955, The Catholic Foundation has dedicated its resources to compassionate charitable giving through grants provided by benefactors through its many planned giving programs. The Foundation has been able to provide approximately $21 million through hundreds of grants to various religious, educational and charitable organizations within the Diocese of Dallas during its 50 plus years of existence.

Source: The Catholic Foundation