MT. STERLING — "Five Catholic Education Leaders Honored at NCEA Seton Awards Gala in Washington, D.C." screamed the headline of the nationwide press release issued by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the Tracy Family Foundation was one of them.
Known for its tenacious support of Catholic education in west central Illinois, the Mt. Sterling based foundation received the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award.
"Our honorees believe in the importance of passing on the faith to the next generation and we thank them for their ongoing commitment to Catholic education," NCEA President Brother Robert Bimonte, FSC, said at the Oct. 6 event.
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki nominated the Foundation for the prestigious award. "The Tracy Family Foundation has been in full support of Catholic education in our diocese for many years," said Bishop Paprocki. "Their efforts focus on helping Catholic schools, located within their footprint, to strive for and achieve excellence. The three-generation members of the Tracy Foundation truly embody the goal of promoting and improving Catholic education. This dedication enables the teachings of our Catholic faith to be available for many generations to come."
Named after Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in recognition of her lifelong dedication to teaching and children, Seton Award recipients have a scholarship presented in their honor to a deserving Catholic school student in their local community. That student is Nicholas Hun, a junior at Quincy Notre Dame High School.
Family matriarch Dorothy Tracy and her late husband Robert began the foundation in 1998. They also began the family business, DOT Foods, also based in Mt. Sterling. Millions of dollars have been plowed back into their home turf of Brown County and throughout west central Illinois through competitive grants awarded to deserving non-profit organizations. Over the past three years, more than $1 million has been donated to 10 area Catholic schools — five in Quincy, two in Jacksonville and one each in Mt. Sterling, Carrollton and Jerseyville.
"I can honestly say that its support of Catholic schools has been nothing short of incredible," said Ray Heilmann, former principal of Quincy Notre Dame. "Rather than invest funds into the general operating budget of schools, the Tracy Family Foundation invested in sustainable, long range planning initiatives that have changed the course of the schools today and in the future."
Jean Johnson, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, assisted Bishop Paprocki in nominating the Tracy Family Foundation. "I was so pleased that our nominee was selected to receive the award this year," Johnson said. "The Tracy Family Foundation members so generously share their time, treasure and talent with west central Illinois Catholic schools. We are very appreciative of their efforts to assist us as we all strive to keep Catholic school education strong in our diocese, and are so proud of their accomplishments."
Foundation President Jean Buckley, points to the values her parents and their strong Catholic faith instilled in her and her seven brothers and four sisters.
"When you live in a community, you should help make the community stronger, to aid in any way you can," Tracy said in the video presentation played at the Washington gala. "This is home."