NussbaumGREENSBORO — The charitable legacy of the late Vic Nussbaum Jr., former Greensboro mayor and long-time member of St. Pius X Parish, continues to impact students at two Greensboro Catholic schools.
Thanks to an endowment of $1.5 million for tuition assistance for St. Pius X and Our Lady of Grace schools, 60 students have been given the opportunity to receive a Catholic education for the 2024-2025 school year. Each school received $30,990, which they allocated as needed.
Antonette Barilla Aguilera, principal of St. Pius X School, said the grant provided tuition assistance for 25 students this academic year.
“This opportunity to assist students through the generosity of Mr. Nussbaum helps us by reducing financial barriers and creating opportunities for academic and spiritual growth,” Aguilera said. “At St. Pius X, as is the case with our other diocesan schools, teachers practice and teach students to love our faith, fostering spiritual growth alongside academic excellence.”
Thirty-five students at Our Lady of Grace School received assistance, according to Principal Catherine Rusch.
“At Our Lady of Grace, the gift of endowment funds for financial assistance means so much to our students and families,” Rusch said. “It allows us to welcome children into our community where they can grow as saints and scholars – regardless of financial circumstances.”
The late Nussbaum – a self-proclaimed “Catholic Yankee in Dixie” who became one of Greensboro’s biggest boosters and its mayor for three terms, from 1987 to 1993 – was focused on expanding libraries, providing low-income housing and improving the quality of public education.
He was a devout Catholic, attending Mass every day at 6 a.m., and was a friend to the downtrodden, said Jim Melvin, who was mayor when Nussbaum was first elected to the Greensboro City Council in 1973.
He attended Our Lady of Grace Church and sent his children to Our Lady of Grace School, and after a cross-town move later attended St. Pius X. He believed Catholic schools not only provide a great education but are crucial to carrying on the faith.
Donors like Nussbaum across the diocese have given one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledged to capital campaigns or projects, or left gifts in their estate plans. Such gifts have benefitted parishes, Catholic schools, the diocese, the diocese’s foundation and St. Joseph College Seminary.
“We receive gifts of every amount – and all of them make a difference,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “There have been some individuals with significant resources who have had so much confidence in the Church’s leadership and commitment to their faith that they have given a million dollars or more. I invite more people to be a part of our mission in this kind of significant way to help build up the Church across western North Carolina. Gifts given to establish endowments in particular help change people’s lives because they keep on growing and providing returns year after year.”
— Courtney McLoughlin
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.o
This week we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week, and this year we highlight our Catholic schools as “United in Faith and Community.” This celebration comes during a very special time in the Church – a Jubilee Year, which only happens once every 25 years. Pope Francis has designated 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel uncertain about what lies ahead. Yet, every day in our Catholic schools, we’re reminded of the uniting power of faith and hope – values that guide us, even in tough times.
You see, hope is more than just wishful thinking. It’s the belief that no matter what we face in life – good times and bad – Jesus loves us and remains with us. And when we share our hope and faith by encouraging and helping each other, we make our world a brighter, better place.
That’s what makes our Catholic schools so special. Here, students are challenged to pursue excellence, with caring, highly qualified teachers and staff who work closely with students and their parents. But it’s not just about academics. Catholic Schools are about educating the whole child – mind, body and spirit – so students can grow closer to God and each other, then go out to transform the world.
I challenge you to think about what faith and hope mean to you. Whether it’s working as a team, being kind to your classmates or simply doing your best on homework – when you act with faith and hope, you help build up our entire school community and you begin to change the world.
As we go through this week, let’s lean into hope – hope for each other, hope for the future, and hope in the One who loves us: Jesus.
Thank you for being part of what makes our Catholic schools truly special. Let’s make this week – and this Jubilee Year – a beautiful example of being united in faith and hope.
Bishop Michael T. Martin delivered this video address to students, teachers and school staff across the diocese in honor of Catholic Schools Week.
Catholic Schools Week in photos:
