Patrick McPartland/Staff Photographer - Teacher Patty Page has been making a difference in the lives of Holy Family School students in LeRoy for the past 23 years.

Those who attended a Catholic school know the education they received is a special one. Each year, those who have dedicated themselves to ensuring the continued quality and success of Catholic education in the Diocese of Buffalo are honored at the Making a Difference Dinner. This will be the 12th year of the annual event, which will be held on Jan. 26 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Buffalo.

“We give needs-based tuition assistance for children in the eight counties of the diocese to attend a Catholic school,” said Susan Burns, coordinator of events for the diocese. “The children do not necessarily have to be Catholic.”

There are more than 700 families on the waiting list for tuition assistance and between 1,500 and 1,600 grants were awarded this year. Last year, the dinner raised $315,000. This year’s goal is $320,000.

Each year, two awards are presented during the course of the event. The Bishop’s Medal is awarded to two individuals or organizations that have strongly supported Catholic education during their career. Jerry and Barbara Mazurkiewicz, who chaired the dinner in 2002, are the recipients of one of the medals.

“They have supported Queen of Heaven Church and school, they have supported colleges, they have supported high schools, they have supported this dinner very, very strongly,” Burns said.

Also receiving a Bishop’s Medal award is Father Mark Wolski, pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Hamburg.

“He has worked throughout his entire priestly career supporting, Catholic schools and he loves it,” Burns said. “And St. Pete’s is a very strong, vibrant, active community.”

The Sister Lucille Socciarelli/Father John Sturm Making a Difference Award was established by Tim Russert, who was keynote speaker at the first dinner in 2001.

“Prior to his death, he gave $1,500 per year as an award to a teacher in the diocese,” Burns said. “The Catholic Education Department picks that awardee through nominees sent in from principals and canonical administrators for schools.”

The award recipient is a teacher in the Diocese of Buffalo dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Catholic school students. This year, the award will be given to Patty Page, who has been teaching at Holy Family School in LeRoy for 23 years.

Every year, the dinner features a keynote speaker, who gives an address related to the goals and values of Catholic education. This year’s speaker is Father Joseph M. McShane, president of Fordham University in the Bronx.

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