Each year the Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools Award is presented to a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Hartford.  The award was initiated in 1992 and since that time, many exceptional volunteers have been recognized for their significant and positive impact on the schools with which they’ve been involved.  Without question, it is always an honor and a pleasure to bestow this award. 

I’d like to first take a moment to recognize the members of the Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools Selection Committee and thank them sincerely for their efforts.  They are Julie Pion, Principal of St. Mary Magdalen School in Oakville; Kathy Molner, Principal of Assumption School in Ansonia; Bob Biancamano, Principal of St. Paul School in Kensington; and Father Stephen Sledesky, Pastor of St. Bridget Parish and School in Manchester. 

This year, for reasons that will become obvious in a moment, Julie Pion had to excuse herself from the voting process, and our thanks go out to Karen Santacross, Director of Advancement at St. Christopher School in East Hartford who ably covered for Julie.  It is not always easy to select the “best of the best” and the committee did a wonderful job, especially considering the extremely strong pool of candidates. 

At this time I’d like to ask Assistant Superintendent Maria Maynard to join me on the podium.  In just a few minutes Maria and I will invite our honoree to come forward, but first I’d like to take a moment to tell you why he was chosen as the 2008 Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools. 

Keith Breiner has been involved with St. Mary Magdalen School since 1997.  He was an active member of the school board from 2000 to 2007 and served as its chair for three years.  He was also assistant coach for the baseball team from 2003 to 2005 and, like any good advancement volunteer, always attended the OCS workshops! 

There are many aspects of St. Mary Magdalen School that have been positively impacted by Keith Breiner, but it is the “look” of the school that would in no way be the same without him.  When the outdoor pavilion was built, Keith did the excavation work at no cost to the school.  When Sacred Heart High School offered the school ten sets of their bleachers gratis, he offered to go get them, transport them to his warehouse, and store them until the school’s new gym was completed.  He made sure that three sets were placed in the new pavilion and on the ball field.  When the back stop on that ball field needed to be moved, Keith led a committee of dads who dug out a new field and replaced the back stop. 

In 2005, St. Mary Magdalen received a grant to build a walking trail along the perimeter of the school’s property.  In order to save the school money, Keith single-handedly organized and built the entire walking trail.  For the past year, Keith has served, and continues to serve, as the volunteer “Clerk-of-the-Works” for St. Mary Magdalen’s $1.5 million dollar building project.   The school administration has the security of knowing that he is working closely with the builder to ensure that all the work is being done to specification and without extra expense.  As the school progresses through the second phase of its capital campaign to complete the second floor of its expansion, Keith has already informed them that no one will be hired to come in to do any of the work that he feels that he can do or recruit other dads to do! 

Keith was also instrumental in procuring a wood floor for the school’s new gym.  This floor, valued at $80,000 , was offered as a donation by a local roller skating rink, IF someone could remove it and transport it – no small task!  Ignoring the “nay sayers” among his colleagues in construction, Keith devised a means to cut the floor into large sections and transport it to St. Mary Magdalen with the assistance of a team of 18 – 20 school dads.  This beautiful wood floor will be installed and refinished by Keith as well! 

But there’s more!  Several years ago, the second grade classroom at St. Mary Magdalen was divided in order to provide the Advancement Director with an office.  Since the second grade this year has 30 children, they needed the full classroom once again, so Keith meticulously removed the wall himself.  The school’s architect alerted them that the Timex corporation was renovating their kitchen and would be willing to donate their “old” equipment to St. Mary Magdalen, but again, only IF they could have someone remove it.  Keith, without hesitation, went to work removing a stove hood worth $10,000 which he will reinstall at the school, in addition to a stainless steel counter and sink.  In order to ensure the partial certificate of occupancy for the new Pre-K prior to the opening of school, Keith also put lines in the newly paved parking lot, made sure the outdoor lighting was correct, and did a schematic of the shrubs to be planted. About now I am sure that there are many principals in this room thinking, “Can I borrow this man??”  And yet, there’s more! 

In addition to all of these extraordinary efforts, Keith also works the phonathon every year, assists with the annual carnival, serves on the gift certificate committee, helps serve hot lunch every Friday, and serves on the advancement committee and assists with every event.  Because of his myriad talents and areas of expertise, Keith is the school’s “all around go-to-guy”, repairing, painting, and building.  He never asks for or wants any recognition, but simply expresses his strong faith through his altruistic actions – a true servant leader.  As principal Julie Pion states, “In my 25 years at St. Mary Magdalen, I have never seen anyone who is so dedicated and committed to our mission.  He is an inspiration to our entire school family.  His efforts encourage the involvement of others.  I believe that Keith is most deserving of this honor.”

 Well, the selection committee clearly agreed with Julie, feeling that Keith Breiner demonstrates beautifully the dedication and commitment of the exemplary Catholic school volunteer. 

On behalf of the Archdiocese of Hartford, we join the St. Mary Magdalen community in thanking Keith Breiner for his tremendous contributions on behalf of Catholic school education. 

At this time I’d like to ask Archbishop Mansell and Superintendent Hoyt to come to the stage, as we invite Keith Breiner to join us and accept the 2008 Distinguished Friend of Catholic Schools Award.