dp|See more pictures from the Magis Night Dinner Arrupe Jesuit High School’s supporters were entertaining suggestions on what to name the annual fundraiser, it didn’t take long to settle on a winner: the Magis Night Dinner.
It was appropriate because magis was a word that the founder of the Jesuit order, St. Ignatius of Loyola, used frequently when talking about his passion, that of encouraging people to do more, to reach even higher levels of excellence.
Which is the principal on which Arrupe was founded: To give students from low-income families a college preparatory education so that they might enjoy every success possible.
Arrupe’s students would learn both inside and outside the classroom, thanks to an internship program forged with local companies. Classroom study would be conducted four days a week, with the fifth devoted to a job that would help students earn up to 70 percent of the cost of their tuition.
Over 600 guests attended the 2008 Magis Night Dinner, raising $660,000 for the Arrupe Tuition Assistance Program. Both are record numbers.
The festive evening at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom included remarks by Mayor John Hickenlooper and attorney Dick Campbell, chairman of the Arrupe board. Arrupe seniors Jacqueline Lopez and Manuel Chavez also spoke, as did sophmore Manuel Padron and Alejandra Luna, a member of Arrupe’s first graduating class in 2007 who now attends St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles.
Each spoke eloquently and emotionally about what their lives might have been without the opportunities they’ve received through Arrupe, and described plans for futures filled with promise.
Campbell pointed out that in 2007, all 46 graduating seniors were accepted to a two- or four-year college and received a cumulative $2 million in scholarships.
Another highlight was presentation of the Magis award for outstanding community service to former King Soopers president Don Gallegos and his, wife, Cheri.Barb Astuno and Celeste C. deBaca chaired the event; guests included school principal Michael O’Hagen; the Rev. Steve Planning, school president; development director Helen Salazar Martin; and Mike, Nancy and Beth Zoellner of Red Peak Properties, one of Arrupe’s corporate partners.
Also of note
Arapahoe House honors its Pillars of the Community for 2008, George and Gail Johnson, at a dinner-dance taking place March 15 … The Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce kicks off its 2008 season by hosting a cocktail reception on March 20; details are available from Pam Aten, 303-408-7002 … The American Jewish Community gives its national human relations award to Ralph Peterson, chairman and CEO of CH2M Hill, at a dinner at the Grand Hyatt Denver on March 24. RSVP to 303-320-1742.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, .
