School kids really love their bishop
By DANIEL F. DeLONG, Globe editor
Posted June 27, 2002

DENISON - When it comes to raising $20 million for the Centennial Campaign for Excellence for the Diocese of Sioux City, every cent that comes in is important.

That's what the 96 students at St. Rose of Lima School thought, too.

So during Catholic Schools Week last January, the students - kindergarten through sixth-grade - decided to have a bake sale and give the money directly to Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo.

"That's right," explained Robert J. Meyer, principal of St. Rose, "the kids wanted to raise money and send it directly to the bishop."

Meyer, who gives complete credit for the fund-raising effort to the students and teachers, said the original goal was to be able to send the bishop $100 after baking and selling chocolate-chip cookies.

The kids surprised everyone and the sale raised $223. Meyer wrote a letter for the kids, included the check and mailed it to the bishop, who was deeply touched by the act.

Meyer said during his three years at St. Rose the children have held fund-raising efforts for a number of worthy causes, ranging from Catholic Charities to Operation Rice Bowl.

"The kids were amazed when they began collecting diapers and other things that were sent to Catholic Charities - there was so much," Meyer recalled.

But the Centennial Campaign for Excellence brought out the absolute best from the St. Rose kids.

"The students knew that the fund was divided into different areas," Meyer said. "They simply wanted to send the money to Bishop DiNardo and let him decide how to spend it."

The goal of the Centennial Campaign for Excellence is to raise $20 million over a five-year period for endowments in four specific areas of diocesan life - Catholic schools, adult formation: religious education and youth ministry, Catholic Charities and multicultural ministries.

The major gifts phase of the campaign began last fall and the parish phase kicked off in January.

According to Jim Steier, president of the Steier Group, many of the parishes are in the final stages of the campaign.

"We are attempting to wrap up the active campaign at many of the parishes," he said. "Some of the parishes are still hard at it and will continue their solicitations over the course of the next month or so. They want to ensure that all of their parish families are contacted and given the opportunity to contribute."

The president of the development company pointed out that they have received great support from the pastors and the volunteers. About 2,000 volunteers have participated in the effort, reaching out to their fellow parishioners.

Steier noted that money continues to roll in.

"We are really excited about the current status of the campaign," he said.

In an endowment, money realized is not spent; instead, the principle is invested and the interest that accrues is used to further the specific ministries.

The breakdown as to how the $20.5 million will be used in these four areas: $10.5 million for the Catholic Schools Endowment Fund, $4.5 million for Catholic Charities Endowment Fund, $3 for the Adult Formation: Religious Education and Youth Ministry Endowment Fund, and $2 million for multicultural ministries Endowment Fund.