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Dear Friend,
Tonight we welcome all of
you to The Sister Thea Bowman Bowman Annual
Scholarship Dinner. And the fact that all you
are here indicates to us and to our Board that
you have become a partner with us in the mission
and work of this Foundation.
The
Sister Thea Bowman Foundation responds to a
tragedy that exists in our country. The tragedy
is quite frankly the fact that among our young
African-American people there are many with no
home to live in, no support to comfort them and
to raise them up, no love to make feel good
about themselves and to give love in return.
There is no one to teach them values and no one
to make a total commitment to them.
As a
result of this tragedy and as published in the
New York times on Monday, March 20, 2006, we see
that the rate of joblessness with
African-American males moving upward at an
alarming rate. The rate of incarceration for
black males has climbed to tremendous heights as
well. The plight of the African-American single
mother is catastrophic.
Through Catholic higher education we know that
we can make a difference and we have made a
difference. Within the past sixteen years we
have selected more than seventy-five
African-American students living in somewhat
impoverished situations. We have placed them in
higher Catholic institutions of learning.
Together, with presidents of Catholic
universities, faculty, and administrative staff,
we have nurtured them and loved them. We have
taught them values and allowed them to grow.
Tonight we honor someone else who has shared in
our mission and our work. For the past ten
years, Dan Rooney has supported the Thea Bowman
Foundation and with this support higher Catholic
education. We know him as a wonderful man and
as a champion. We also know him as one who has
looked this tragedy in our country and decided
to make a difference. It is fitting to honor
him with the Sister Thea Bowman legacy award
this evening
Tonight, together, if we listen closely I think
that we will hear her sing, “We shall overcome”.
Dr. John Murray, Jr
President
The Sister Thea Bowman
Foundation
Delivered at the 10th
Annual Scholarship Dinner |
