Brian Williams at the 65th Annual Peabody Awards.
NBC News Anchor Brian Williams donated $50,000 to Mater Dei Catholic high school in New Jersey on Saturday, March 21.
The school organized an event called Save the Seraphs Gala, a fundraiser. The seraph is the school mascot. The purpose of the fundraiser is to keep the school’s doors open for current and future generations.
The fundraiser was a gala and gift auction at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. It was a sold out event sponsored by the Parent Teachers Association, the Booster Club, Alumni Association and 50th Anniversary Committee. Williams attended the event with his wife Jane Stoddard.
Williams’ generous donation helped the event raise $95,000. The campaign’s total is $962,000. The goal is to reach $1 million.
Mater Dei is Williams’ alma mater. He graduated in the year 1977.
"This is Mater Dei. It's been a very, very important part of my life. I had four great years here. I did not know it then, but it was the last degree I'd ever earn," Williams said to The Two River Times. "It's a wonderful school, and it should be open for a long time, for everybody." After receiving his high school diploma from Mater Dei, Williams went on to college but never graduated, according to a piece in the New York Times.
It was announced on Tuesday, February 3 that the high school would close on June 2015. The reason behind it is due to a large financial deficit. Instead of accepting the bad news, many people have joined in a cause to keep the school open.
An example of such people is Emily Morgan, a junior at Mater Dei. Morgan created a Go Fund Me site to raise money for the school. The site has raised $22,620.
The student body and staff have begun a social media campaign called #SaveTheSeraphs. Savetheseraphs.org is the official website for the fundraiser.
An upcoming fundraiser is a Save the Seraphs Benefit Concert on Thursday, April 30. Tickets to the concert go on sale on Friday, March 27 at noon.
