Inspiring Other Generous Hearts

When Carol and Dan Blundy began contemplating a named scholarship to help West Catholic students with tuition assistance, they looked toward the past for direction. Upon learning that in the early years of Catholic education in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the high schools were fully supported by area parishes, they brainstormed ways to create a model where this could be possible again.

Today the parishes still support Diocesan high school tuition through individual parish support for students as well as a diocesan-wide 8% “basket tax” to fund Bishop’s scholarships for students in need of tuition assistance. As critically helpful as this is, it still only covers about 10% of operating costs each year. Instead of asking, “Can the Church do more?” the Blundys asked, “What can we do to help?”

In typical Blundy fashion (Carol is the chairperson of our Finance Committee and sits on the West Catholic Board of Directors as treasurer, and Dan is an active and valued member of the Facilities Committee), they jumped in to find a solution. That is when the St. Patrick-Blundy Legacy Fund was born. This is an endowed fund created under the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan umbrella. Four percent of the fund’s balance spins off annually to provide scholarships to all the incoming West Catholic freshmen from St. Patrick Parish, Parnell. It is an open fund. Anyone with a desire to help St. Patrick, Parnell students become Disciples of Christ by obtaining a dynamic, excellence-driven Catholic education is encouraged to contribute.

“Our vision is that someday this fund can cover a significant portion of tuition—freshman through senior year—for all of St. Patrick, Parnell’s West Catholic students as the fund continues to grow,” Carol and Dan share. “We would love to inspire other people in other parishes to establish similar funds for West Catholic or other area high schools. Many hands make light work. Let’s pull together and help support Catholic education!”

Carol and Dan’s son Nic, a sophomore at Michigan Tech and a graduate of both West Catholic and St. Patrick School, is also part of the St. Patrick-Blundy Legacy Fund. “It’s important to our family to pass down a legacy of giving to Nic and all the generations that follow,” says Carol.

Thank you Carol, Dan and Nic for your beautiful vision and generous contribution to Catholic education!

You can join the Blundys in providing for our future by including a West Catholic Legacy Fund in your will or estate plan. To learn more, please contact Jill Annable at 616 233-5905 or jillannable@grwestcatholic.org.