Thirty
scholarships given in memory of Lacey Gallagher
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
On Friday night, April 27, 2007, Lacey Gallagher, who was 18, left the
Little Flower High School senior prom along with five companions to drive
up to the Poconos to continue their celebration. In the early morning
hours, on the fog-shrouded Pennsylvania Turnpike, there was a single-vehicle
accident. Lacey Gallagher died.
On Friday, April 25, this year — by coincidence the night of this
year’s Little Flower senior prom — her memory was honored
by several hundred people who gathered in her parish, Holy Name of Jesus
Parish in Fishtown, for the presentation of 30 scholarships. Worth $1,000
apiece, they went to eighth-graders to help pay tuition to the Catholic
high school of their choice. Present were Lacey’s parents, Frank
and Denise Gallagher; her brother, Sean, and her sisters, Brianna and
Lexi.
“Every one of these students is well-deserving, and it means a lot
to us to do this,” Denise Gallagher said. “Lacey was proud
to be the recipient of scholarships, herself, from the sixth grade on.
In future years, we’ll do our best to keep this going.”
Holy Name’s pastor, Father Francis Groarke, said, “A lot of
our kids wouldn’t be able to go to Catholic high school if they
didn’t receive help. The hardest thing we have to deal with in the
city is tuition.
“This is a great thing. God has a way of turning things around,”
Father Groarke added. “I don’t think it was His plan that
this child would die. The role of the good Lord is to try to put things
together in time of tragedy. I think that is what happened in this.”
The scholarship drive, he said, “united the neighborhood. It pulled
the people together.”
The scholarships were the result of a number of fundraisers, which will
continue, according to Bill Francisco, a member of the Lacey Gallagher
Scholarship Committee. In fact, the day after the scholarships were presented,
a benefit golf outing was held in Blackwood, N.J., and a fundraiser is
planned for Wildwood, N.J., in June.
At the same time, the spiritual dimension of the effort has not been forgotten.
A memorial Mass was held for Lacey on April 27 at Holy Name of Jesus Church.
Father Groarke and Holy Name’s parishioners deserve credit for what
has been accomplished, Francisco said: “Without the parish, and
the use of the hall, we could never have done this.”
Scholarship applications were received from students in 14 parishes, according
to the committee. More than half of the winners have chosen to enroll
at Little Flower. Other schools that have been selected include Northeast
Catholic, John W. Hallahan, Archbishop Ryan, Roman Catholic, St. Hubert
and Mercy Vocational high schools.
“I’m proud and happy to get a scholarship like this,”
said Emily Vizza of St. George School, who is headed to Archbishop Ryan.
“I’m excited and honored,” said Ave Amoroso of Our Mother
of Divine Grace School, who will go to Little Flower.
John Kradzinski of Our Lady of Calvary, who chose Northeast Catholic,
said he wanted to “thank Lacey’s family.”
Lacey valued her Catholic education, her brother said. “She wrote
in her journal she would have a bright future,” Sean added. “With
these scholarships, her legacy will not die.”
For further information visit: www.thelaceyfund.org.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.
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