St. Edward Fundraiser Brings in $380,000

The final tally is in. 

’s fundraiser, Wings 2012: An International Celebration — seeking to raise tuition money for prospective students — brought in nearly $380,000.

That’s nearly double the tally of last year’s fundraiser.

The March 31 event — with its nautical theme of a cruise ship, complete with the hallways decked into the starlit night of an ocean liner — blew all expectations out of the water. 

Greeted at their cars by student ambassadors, more than 540 people attended the Wings event.

They came with their wallets open. They browsed and bid on an array of silent auction items. Alumni, parents and friends of St. Ed’s socialized as images of the live auction flashed across the big screens at the event.

The highest ticket item, selling for $11,000, entitles the winning bidders to a New York City adventure with St. Edward alum Michael Symon that includes tickets to a taping of ABC’s The Chew, an afternoon tour of NYC with Symon and dinner at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain restaurant. 

The money will go toward helping incoming freshmen pay tuition.

“That's the most rewarding part about raising the money for Wings,” said Judy Hilow, a co-chair of the event, adding that the gym was packed to capacity for the event. 

“You can imagine how excited everyone was to watch the numbers climb exponentially — not only for attendance, but also for the monies raised.”

Hilow said the event was so successful, in part, because of the hard work of the faculty, staff, students and volunteers.

“As a wife and mother of five, I pray that my family will be surrounded by people in their lives that will help them recognize their gifts, reach their full potential and help them understand the need to give back to the best of their ability,” Hilow said.

“The faculty and staff at St. Edward High School has done this for my husband Henry Hilow, Sr. (1974), my son Fred Hilow (2009) and my son Henry Hilow, Jr. (2012) who will graduate in May. It is the least I can do to say thank you.”