Peekskill, N.Y. Father John Higgins of The Assumption Catholic Church walked to Manhattan this weekend to raise money for his churchs school, and said the cause was well worth the sore legs.
Higgins said Assumption, like many other Catholic schools, is struggling to cover its costs despite a robust enrollment of over 220 students.
"We have a lot of families that live below the poverty level," Higgins said. "Our tuition is $3,300 a year and it costs us over $6,000 a year to educate each child even when the kids' family pays the full tuition, and many can't even do that."
Higgins said the school helps disadvantaged students, including many who are the children of immigrants, catch up to more fortunate counterparts. Staff is the biggest cost, but heating oil and other utilities are also big expenses, he said.
The fundraiser was part of a larger initiative the Assumption School is undertaking this year called 105 For 105, with a goal of raising $105,000 in honor of the school's 105 years in existence. Higgins said he got the idea when someone asked him to sponsor them in a charity walk.
"I said, maybe I can do something, but because our need is so great it had to be something a little more lavish," Higgins.
After getting financial sponsors in the community, several TV news outlets picked up the story, which he said gave him added exposure. So far Higgins has raised over $35,000. Those looking to make a donation can still do so through the Assumption website or sending a check payable to Assumption School.
Higgins left Peekskill Thursday morning with parishioner William Taylor and finished the day in Yonkers. He stayed overnight at the St. Josephs Seminary, where he trained for four years. Archbishop Timothy Dolan also happened to be there that day.
"He received me very cordially and said he would be by the cathedral and if I got there in time to knock on his door, which I did," Higgins said. He greeted us very warmly at the end of both legs of the journey."
The pastor reached St. Patricks Cathedral in Manhattan the next day joined by several parishioners and Father Vincent Druding.
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