Education gala raises $1.1 million with ‘testament to Catholic education’

OWINGS MILLS – Emmy-award-winning journalist Stephon Dingle told the story of his emergence as a student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex, noting that he appreciates “using my platform to impact those who are before me and those who are behind me.” 

Dingle, an anchor and reporter for WJZ-TV, was the keynote speaker for the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s 2025 Shine the Light Gala May 3, which supports Catholic education. He said he was present not only as a guest but also as a “living testament to what a great Catholic education can be for you.” 

He said that as a Baptist student attending Mount Carmel, he entered a community with which he was not familiar, but where he was “given permission to be a man of service, to do good and to make it your mission to do all that you can to make sure that these folks know that you appreciate what they do.”

Tyler Tate, chairman of the gala sponsorship committee, announced that the Shine the Light event broke a fundraising record, with a net of $1.1 million to assist Catholic schools. About 400 people attended the event at the Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre, the first time at the location. The first gala was in 2009.

Dingle, who was born in West Baltimore and lived in various parts of the city, quoted a singer who asked people to think about light and pause for a few seconds to see if they could hear it.

“Do you hear that light? No, that’s because the light we have to shine is always quiet,” Dingle said. He noted that the power of the funds raised at the gala “is to simply plant those mustard seeds so we ensure the lights stay on,” so that young people will benefit from a Catholic education, and perhaps become a priest or an archbishop or a news anchor, “or, more importantly, a good human being.”

The responsibility of those in the realm of Catholic education “is that we have a role to play in making sure that it continues to illuminate through the wilderness,” he said.

Looking out at the crowd, Dingle said, “Tonight, I feel like I’m with family. … You guys have the perfect vision and mission in mind – it’s the young people, the quality of the education and the human beings that you are educating.” He said he was privileged to be one part of the solution to have an impact on students.

Dingle praised the two students who helped lead the dinner as news anchors introducing videos about the impact of Catholic education in Maryland and the five schools in the archdiocese recently designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools. 

Justin Griffin, a seventh-grader at Archbishop Borders School in Highlandtown, and Adriana Mendoza de la Cruz, a freshman at The Catholic High School of Baltimore freshman and an Archbishop Borders alumna, hosted the show from an anchor desk on the podium. “I have to give a shout-out to these lovely anchors over here,” Dingle said, calling them “naturals” and telling them if they want to have a career in broadcast, he’s willing to help.

The evening was also emceed by Mark Viviano, former WJZ-TV sports broadcaster and now a columnist for the Catholic Review magazine and occasional host of Catholic Review Radio. “I may have retired from the news, but when there’s good news, we all shall proclaim it,” he said.

In announcing the record fundraising total, Tate told the audience that their presence affirms that “Catholic education makes a difference for the child, for the family and the community of Baltimore.” Education, sports and other activities are important, but the reinforcement of faith and values is essential to Catholic schools.

In his remarks, Archbishop William E. Lori thanked those who had helped organize the gala. He recognized those recently announced as recipients of the archdiocesan Medals of Honor, who were highlighted in a video presentation. He also thanked the student news anchors. “You’re pros! You represent thousands of students who are being formed and educated in Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” he said.

The archbishop noted that Catholic schools in the archdiocese, from elementary to high schools to colleges and universities “shine the light of Christ on every subject, on every activity, on church and society, and on every facet of the humanity of our students.”

The schools help students with faith and joy in learning, on the way to becoming future leaders of the church and society. “These schools don’t get this way by accident,” he said, acknowledging administrators, educators and parents who contribute to the success of the schools.

The archbishop also made a surprise presentation to Dr. Donna Hargens, who will retire this summer as superintendent of schools after seven years at the helm of the Department of Catholic Schools. 

“In that time our schools excelled, including during COVID. During her tenure, Baltimore Catholic school students scored highest in the nation in high school placement scores, and I’ve already touted our five Blue Ribbon Schools,” he said.

Archbishop Lori enlisted the help of Pope Francis before his death April 21, and presented Hargens with the Cross Pro Eccelsia et Pontifice (“For the Church and for the Pontiff”), awarded only by the pope, “the highest award the church bestows on dedicated women and men who serve the church with extraordinary effectiveness, devotion and love,” the archbishop said.

Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org

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