NEW YORK CITY — The Gonzalez Scholarship Fund—an impactful initiative launched in 2025 to build community, expand educational access, and invest in future leaders—held its inaugural awards ceremony and reception on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at St. Elizabeth School in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

The event honored the Fund’s first cohort of scholarship recipients and welcomed students, their families, alumni, former faculty, and invited guests from the Archdiocese of New York.

The Fund offers three signature scholarships:

• The Gonzalez Cares Scholarship, for students overcoming significant personal hardship
• The Gonzalez Scholars Scholarship, recognizing outstanding academic achievement
• The Gonzalez Future Leaders Scholarship, honoring students with a vision for creating positive change in their school or community

Founded by Cathy Gonzalez, an alumna of St. Elizabeth School, the Fund was created to preserve the legacy of this cherished parochial institution by investing in the next generation of leaders from Washington Heights.

“A quality education is the most powerful tool we can give our children—and our communities,” said Cathy Gonzalez, founder of the scholarship fund and long-time advocate for education. “St. Elizabeth School has made a meaningful impact by instilling good values and delivering strong academic foundations to countless children in Washington Heights, and we’re honored to support their efforts.”

“Great Catholic schools do not just create successful graduates, they create grateful stewards of faith and academics who understand that their achievements are built on the foundation others laid before them, and who honor that legacy by paving the way for those who follow,” said Matthew Stark, Principal of St. Elizabeth School.

More than a source of financial assistance, the Gonzalez Scholarship Fund affirms the dignity and potential of each recipient. Under Cathy Gonzalez’s leadership, the Fund sends a powerful message: every student is seen, valued, and worthy of investment.