By Ame Phitwong
The Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., was awarded a Champion of Catholic Education medallion on Feb. 2 by the Fulcrum Foundation in Seattle. This was during the foundation's 2007 Celebration of Light event. Beauchamp believes the award recognizes the University of Portland more than it does himself.
"I was honored to be asked to do it, but it's more about UP and its role in Catholic education in the Northwest," he said.This year, six awards were given. Fulcrumfoundation.org described the "Champion of Catholic Education" award recipient as an individual who is a leader in the community.
"They recognize the role Catholic schools play in enriching our communities. They believe in the excellent faith-filled education that Catholic schools provide, and they want to ensure that this outstanding legacy continues for children now and in the future," the organization stated.
The purpose of the Fulcrum Foundation is to provide financial support for all Catholic schools affiliated with the Archdiocese of Seattle. The foundation does this by annual fundraising and increasing endowment.
"UP is seen again," Beauchamp said as he explained the benefits of the recognition. "We get another opportunity to have UP's name in front of people."
This year, more than 1,100 guests were present at the Celebration of Light event, raising more than $720,000 for the Fulcrum Foundation. In 2006, the foundation distributed $593,100 in tuition assistance to schoolchildren and $615,000 to twenty-two schools in need. It funded 890 tuition assistance grants to Catholic school students and 22 grants to Catholic schools who were encountering difficulty in maintaining operations.
