Established in 2009, the award recognizes an individual, couple or organization whose contributions have significantly fostered and strengthened Catholic schools in the Quincy community.

The Rinellas have been staunch supporters of Pre-K through 12th-grade Catholic education in Quincy since 1960, when their eldest son began first grade.

Pat spearheaded a group of mothers who founded, staffed and organized the then-new St. Peter School library, while Sam was responsible for organizing and mobilizing a group of Quincy business leaders to financially support the establishment of Catholic Boys High School, when Christian Brothers High School announced it would close at the at the end of the 1969-70 school year.

Before retiring in 1998, the couple owned and operated Rinella Company, a beer distributorship, which their son, Jim, now owns and operates.

Tickets for the Foundation dinner are $100 per person, corporate table sponsorship is $1,000 for eight dinner tickets. Revenue from the dinner goes to QCES Foundation's Tuition Assistance Fund for students. Since its' inception in 2009, the Foundation has awarded more than $365,000 in tuition assistance to families with students enrolled at Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis and St. Peter schools.