From Bishop McCort Catholic High School
Bob and Mary Lou Walker graduated from Johnstown Catholic High School, now Bishop McCort Catholic High School, in 1959 and 1960 respectively. Devout Catholics, the Walkers went on to send all four of their children through the parochial school system and all are Bishop McCort Alumni. Their ties to Catholic education have always been strong and they have continued to be supportive throughout their marriage.
Recently, the Walkers established a Scholarship Endowment Fund through the Independent Catholic Foundation to perpetuate their financial support of the Bishop McCort Community. The Walkers have made this extraordinary decision “in appreciation for our own Catholic education with the purpose to preserve, promote, and support a faith-filled environment with high academic standards for future students from our parish, St. Benedict, Johnstown. With this donation we encourage the administration and faculty to continue preparing young people to survive as adults in our society and to live a purposeful Christian lifestyle. Our way to give back that will help students for generations to come, thus benefiting our Church community.”
Bishop McCort Principal & CAO Thomas Smith notes, “We are grateful to Bob and Mary Lou for the talents and financial resources they have shared throughout the years for the benefit of our students. The support and commitment to Bishop McCort from our alumni, community and friends is essential to the continuing growth of our Catholic school system.”
The Robert H. and Mary Lou Walker Endowment marks the 40th endowment directed to Bishop McCort Catholic High School through the Independent Catholic Foundation. According to ICF President & CEO, Chris Ringkamp, “Endowments such as the Walker’s are a critical component of financing excellent Catholic Education in our region.” The Independent Catholic Foundation is Central Pennsylvania’s largest charitable foundation with an endowment portfolio aligned according to the ethical, moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.
Bob and Mary Lou Walker were joined on July 28 at Bishop McCort Catholic High School with Principal/CAO Tom Smith and Chris Ringkamp from the Independent Catholic Foundation as the Walkers signed their endowment agreement in a setting much like a student athlete signing a commitment to college.
For information on establishing a family endowment, please contact Jeanne Feathers at Bishop McCort (814-248-3885) or Chris Ringkamp at the Independent Catholic Foundation (814- 201-2080).
