PHOTOS: $1.3 Million Raised to Make Disciples: Record-Breaking Evening of Hope Inspires Catholic Community
- Guest Contributor
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
With Father Mike Schmitz as the keynote speaker, Seeds of Hope celebrated its mission to form young disciples and the families whose lives are transformed.
By Jay Sorgi
The Denver Tech Center was abuzz with activity late last month, as hundreds of supporters of local Catholic education gathered for the annual Evening of Hope, benefitting Seeds of Hope.
The yearly gala drew record-breaking numbers, both in attendance and generosity, with 600 attendees raising a whopping $1.3 million to support those seeking Catholic education in one of the Archdiocese of Denver’s K-8 schools.
Among those gathered was Father Mike Schmitz, the nationally renowned Catholic podcast evangelist, who, as the guest of honor, offered the keynote address at the annual event. As he spoke, he reflected on the prime mission of Catholic education: to go and make disciples as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28.
“If at the end of the day, Catholic schools do not produce disciples, what are Catholic schools? They're a failure,” he said, challenging those gathered to rethink why the Church and her ministries exist. “Because Catholic schools don't exist simply to educate young people. It is to make disciples ... The job of a Catholic school is nothing more, nothing less and nothing else than to make disciples.”
To support that mission of making disciples, those in attendance at the Evening of Hope gave generously. Whether through corporate sponsorships, such as that of CommonSpirit, the evening’s Legacy Sponsor, or through individual philanthropy, those gathered made Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Denver far more accessible through their giving. They had the opportunity to see just how powerfully God is at work in the lives of young people in Catholic schools across Northern Colorado.
Since its inception, Seeds of Hope has created opportunities for students and families to receive financial assistance, opening the door to an education that can plant seeds and grow minds and hearts in the Catholic faith for Jesus.
“We are all about providing that seed, that child, the ability to get into rich soil and flourish,” said Seeds of Hope Board Chair John Zimmerman.
The 2025-26 school year has seen the foundation offer at least 1,425 Hope Scholarships, encompassing $2.7 million, bringing the total amount of support to 28,000 Hope Scholarships, totaling $52 million in grants.
In addition to direct scholarships, Seeds of Hope also provides grants to schools to enhance their facilities and technological capabilities.
(Photos provided)
Seeds of Hope’s impact became clear through a recent survey of its alumni by QREM. In the survey, Seeds of Hope alumni were found to be far better prepared for college and the workplace compared to their peers. Even more importantly, these alumni also reported a much stronger commitment to their faith than their peers.
That profound impact is seen ever more clearly in the lives of the families that the organization supports, including those who undergo unexpected crises, such as illness and job losses, as well as parents who make extra sacrifices to find a way for their kids to receive a Christ-filled education.
“They live on tight budgets. They will take second jobs. They work overtime. They do whatever it takes to make sure that future children rooted in faith can have hope,” said Tricia Sullivan, the organization’s executive director, during the gala’s presentation.
“When life brings unexpected hardships, illness, job loss, or crisis, our Catholic schools become a village. And that village is full of love, support and hope,” she continued.
It’s the exact kind of village that the Stegmueller family needed for their daughter Mary’s 40-month battle against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare form of cancer that took her life at 7 years old in 2024.
Frassati Catholic Academy in Thornton surrounded her with that love.
“The teachers, students and families became our village. They all offered prayers, sacraments, meals, rites and a thousand acts of silent love,” said Kristin Stegmueller, Mary’s mother.
“The fundraisers, snowflakes, t-shirts, MaryStrong … this is the kind of love Catholic education offers,” she continued. “Every child should have a chance to grow up in a school where Catholic values are not just talked about, but they're lived in. Every child should be surrounded by teachers and classmates who remind them how special they are, that they are made in the image and likeness of God.”
It’s the kind of love in action that plants seeds that grow into the disciples Father Schmitz calls Catholic schools to nurture and develop.
“The Church is meant to be a giant saint-making machine,” said Father Schmitz.
“Heaven's a big deal, and God wants it to have everything to do with you. But that's not because you did good. Not because you or I were a good person. It's because you knew God,” he continued.
That’s the impact Father Schmitz says Catholic schools need to make, the kind that helped Mary Stegmueller know God in her short seven years of life, the kind that Seeds of Hope plants within Catholic school students who might otherwise not receive an education rooted in discipleship.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting Seeds of Hope,” Stegmueller said. “Your gift is not just giving children a second chance. Your gift is hope, faith and a home that will carry through the darkest of nights. Our family would not be here today without the Catholic faith.”
