Xavier Gala Raises Funds for Scholarships 

The Xavier community’s generosity was on full display at Gotham Hall on April 8 as close to 400 parents, alumni, and friends gathered to support the Scholarship Fund.

This year’s Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala set fundraising records, well surpassing last year’s total and this year’s goal of raising $200,000. Unprecedented sponsor support boosted the event, and silent auction proceeds increased by 27% this year, bringing in an all-time high of $56,140.

Student speaker Andrew Kiarie-Mumbi ’16 stirred the crowd to action as he recalled how his life changed when he was offered a scholarship to Xavier. Born in Kenya, he was raised in abject poverty and lost both of his parents at a young age, but thanks to the generosity of Xavier and a host family, he excelled on 16th Street and earned an acceptance to Georgetown University.

After Kiarie-Mumbi’s speech, the Fund-a-Student drive surpassed its goal of $25,000, setting a new high of $32,050 (funding more than 1.5 scholarships).

“The Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala, in just its fifth year, has become one of the hallmark evenings for our community. It’s a wonderful evening for our parents, alumni, friends, and partners to come together in celebration of this great institution and to ensure it remains accessible and affordable for young men of diverse backgrounds and means,” said Director of Annual Giving Shane Lavin ’03, who coordinated gala efforts. “The support of our sponsors, the generosity of so many during our auction and Fund-a-Student appeal, and the generosity of time and spirit of our volunteers converged for a fantastic night for Xavier. Truly, the night would not have been possible without the hard work and planning of our committee. From gift-gathering parties, to auction items, to journal advertisements and raffle tickets, to set up on the day of, they did important work that made the Gala so successful.”

To learn more about how you can support Xavier, visit xavierhs.org.