—Story, photo courtesy of Vicki LaFave—
Holy Name Catholic School and Holy Name High School—A Chesterton Academy are pleased to be the recipients of a $5,000 donation from generous longtime Holy Name donors Ken and Patricia Gartland of Escanaba. The donation will go toward the school’s annual drive, in which Holy Name plans to raise $80,000 to pay for a band teacher, instruments, and music to bring back the school’s band program.
On Thursday, Dec. 19, Ken Gartland presented the $5,000 check to Holy Name Principal Nathan Vande Hey. The donation from the Gartlands was written from the fund held by the Community Foundation for Delta County (CFFDC), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula.
“To learn music at a young age is important, and it can be a part of the school’s Religion program as well,” Gartland noted, adding: “God loves music.”
Music hits home for the Gartlands, being that three of their seven children participated in the Holy Name Band program when they were students. Both Ken and Patricia believe strongly in Catholic education, having sent all seven of their children to Holy Name, along with many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and feel that both the Catholic elementary and high school are needed in the community. “Holy Name really is a landmark in Escanaba,” Ken said.
In early 2023, the Gartlands created an endowed fund, with a donation of $500,000, also held by the CFFDC, which gave $2,000 scholarships to 2023 eighth grade HNCS graduates who are Delta County residents and show need—along with any incoming ninth graders from another Delta County area public school going on to attend HNHS—who show need, to help pay for their high school tuition. They plan on continuing scholarships into the future for eighth grade graduates going into HNHS dependent on availability of funds and need. HNHS graduates will also be eligible to receive a scholarship to attend college or trade school.
“I am so grateful for the generosity of the Gartland family,” said Nathan Vande Hey, Principal of Holy Name. “Their dedication as Holy Name alumni is beautiful and helps our school not only stay sustainable, but allows for great projects like restarting the band program.”
As members of the first two graduating classes of Holy Name High School in 1958 and 1959, respectively, Ken and Patricia are proud to give back to their alma mater. Ken would also like to encourage all alumni to donate back to Holy Name.
“I believe that there are a lot of Holy Name graduates—even their parents or grandparents—who could also give back to their alma mater through a trust or a scholarship,” he said. “I would like Holy Name graduates to join me in giving to the Catholic school.”
Ken, who was also a member of the HNHS Board of Education from the 1960s through the early 1970s, described his philosophy of giving and why he donated to Holy Name at this time: “My favorite quote is, ‘He who gives when he lives knows where it goes.’”
“My education is from Holy Name High School—the Christian brothers,” he said. “That education gave me the opportunity to be in business, so that’s why I’m giving money to Holy Name. The Catholic education that I received made me a better person, and was a large factor in helping me run my businesses successfully over the years.”
The Gartlands have owned several businesses in Escanaba since 1962, with the Gartland sons currently owning these growing businesses. Ken reiterated, “We want to give back to the school and to the people of this community who supported us over the years.”
The Ken and Patricia Gartland Holy Name High School Tuition Assistance & College Scholarship Endowed Scholarship Fund joins with several other funds within the CFFDC that support additional scholarships and operating expenses for Holy Name. You can start a fund of your own, give a donation of any size to the General HNHS Scholarship Fund, or donate to one of CFFDC’s other Holy Name funds by calling the Community Foundation at (906) 786-6654 or emailing office@cfup.org. For information on Holy Name, please visit holynamecrusaders.com or call (906) 786-7550.
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