Phone-A-Thon Underway

Hi everyone,

As I mentioned in my last post, we have been working with some of our students and teachers on sending information about Walsh to all of the bishops in the United States. We sent the last of those letters out last week, and are now waiting for a response. The students included personal stories about what Walsh has done for them, as well as pictures of different things going on at the school. We are hoping there are a few bishops out there interested in helping save a Catholic high school.

While we await response, we have started a phone-a-thon to contact various alumni and friends. Fr. Barry and myself, as well as some board members, teachers and other volunteers will spend this week contacting different constituents about what they might be able to give to Walsh. Tonight was our first night and already we had a handful of people commit to giving $1,000 each year for five years.

While the money side of the issue is being tackled from every possible angle, I still have yet to receive word about enrollment for next year. Brother Mike has been meeting with many families in Bradford and Wellsville (where there are Catholic elementary schools), but I have not heard an official number of students registered for next year, or how interest has been in the Bradford and Wellsville areas. Hopefully I can post an update on that in the coming days.

On another positive note, I am happy to report we will officially be resurrecting the Walsh Alumni golf tournament this summer. I have been meeting with '71 grad Tim Flanigan, who works at Holiday Valley golf course in Ellicottville, and it looks like we'll be holding the event at that course on Saturday, August 2, the day after the reunion dinner and dance. We still have yet to work out the details, but the date is set in stone, so start spreading the word.

J.P. '03