More than 420 guests attended and raised over $1.3 million at the 47^th Annual Inner-City Scholarship Fund FRIENDS Gala on Tuesday, April 30, at Cipriani 42^nd Street in Manhattan. 

Inner-City is the city’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing tuition assistance to low-income students attending Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of New York. 

His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York attended the event, and Martha MacCallum, news host for Fox News was the evening’s emcee. This year’s Gala Co-Chairs were Donna D’Urso, Lisa D’Urso, Mark D’Urso, and Marion Macaro.

“Through this successful event, we are able to further our mission of providing low-income families the opportunity to give their children a quality, values-based Catholic education in the Archdiocese of New York.,” said Jill Lloyd, Executive Director of Inner-City Scholarship Fund. “All of us at Inner-City and most importantly the children and families we serve are grateful for the generosity of all who have and continue to support us.”

Ruth Woolard, one of Inner-City’s most dedicated donors, received the inaugural Founders Award for Lifetime Service at the event. Under Ruth’s leadership and presence for all of the previous 46 FRIENDS Galas, Inner-City has hosted this annual event with hundreds of guests featuring student speakers and performances at some of New York’s premier venues. Ruth’s late husband, Paul P. Woolard, was one of the eight founding members of the first executive council for Inner-City in 1971. 

The event featured remarks by Cardinal Dolan and Gianna Raldiris, a senior and Inner-City scholarship recipient attending Preston High School in the Bronx. Raldris expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunities she has received through her Catholic education, which would not have been possible without the generosity of her Inner-City scholarship sponsors, Martha MacCallum and husband, Daniel John Gregory. Raldiris has evolved into an involved student in her school community, joining numerous clubs while being a key player on the school’s varsity basketball team. In the fall, Raldiris will attend Pace University to study nursing, with hopes of one day being a Nurse Practitioner. 

In addition to an evening filled with dining and dancing, guests also enjoyed performances by the talented students from All Hallows High School in the Bronx, Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx, Notre Dame School in Manhattan, and St. Raymond Elementary School in the Bronx.

Founded in 1971, Inner-City Scholarship Fund exists to ensure that the gift of an excellent Catholic school education continues to be a viable option for both current and future students of all faiths. Inner-City changes lives for the better by providing families with demonstrable financial needs the opportunity to give their children a quality, values-based K-12 education within the Archdiocese of New York.