The sold-out 2025 Allelulia Ball attracted nearly 800 guests who helped raise more than $1.74 million for Catholic education in Northeast Ohio.
“Empowering Educators, Students & Innovation” was the theme for the Oct. 25 event at Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center. The gala was organized by the Catholic Community Foundation, which supports the mission of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland by encouraging faithful philanthropy. Foundation officials said proceeds from the ball will benefit students in financial need and support high-quality professional development for teachers in the 2026-2027 academic year.
(See above for a photo gallery from the event.)
This year’s event chairs were Meredith and Mike Hudec, with Amy and Tim Conti and Beth and Mike Valentine as co-chairs.
The evening began with Mass and included dinner, speakers, fundraising, music and dancing.
Special guest for the evening was Matthew Kelly, internationally acclaimed speaker, author, business consultant and founder of Dynamic Catholic. Kelly discussed the far-reaching impact of the Catholic Church. Whether feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, or educating millions, the Church is an unequaled force for good in the world, he said, challenging attendees to live lives of radical generosity, giving freely of their time, talent and treasure to be Christ for one another.
Bishop Malesic thanked the principals and teachers in attendance for their selfless witness to the transformative power of Catholic education. He also thanked all sponsors and guests for supporting students throughout the diocese who might not otherwise be able to attend Catholic schools.
“Here is where the spirit fills all of us who are parents, educators, clergy and benefactors united in one shared mission: to strengthen the gift of Catholic education. Together, we continue the Church’s work of forming saints and scholars — we support our young people who will carry the light of Christ into every corner of the world. And we continue to pass on to them the legacy of faith that was given to us by our own parents, teachers and mentors,” he said.
The bishop emphasized the importance of supporting Catholic school teachers, alongside students. “Catholic education nurtures the whole person, mind, body and soul, but it is our teachers who make that possible. They are mentors, role models and spiritual companions on the journey of learning …When we invest in our teachers, we are investing in the future of our students.”
Last year, more than 3,000 students attending the 108 Catholic schools in the diocese benefited from the Diocesan Tuition Assistance and Fund A Dream programs, both of which provide families with access to a Catholic education. Diocesan Tuition Assistance funds both general tuition assistance as well as special scholarship programs. Through the Fund A Dream initiative, $2,500 in tuition assistance is provided to individual students identified by schools through the scholarship application process. Students communicate with their donor throughout the year, providing them updates on how their year is going while thanking them for their support.
Click here for information about supporting Catholic education. Learn more about Fund a Dream here.