The Augustine Educational Foundation has been successful over the past 24 years thanks to a generous cast of mostly unsung contributors who are willing to exchange multi-thousand dollar checks for the satisfaction of providing a Catholic education to kids in Hawaii.

About 65 of them were treated to a small gesture of appreciation and some special attention at an informal gathering June 25 at the Halekulani Hotel where they mixed with Bishop Larry Silva and his vicar general Father Marc Alexander while enjoying fancy pupus and late afternoon libations.

Photo courtesy of the Augustine Educational Foundation Harold Conroy who established a $365,000 charitable remainder annuity trust with the foundation in 2002, poses with Bishop Silva.

Bishop Silva is the president and Father Alexander is the vice-president and chief executive officer of the Augustine Foundation, which the late Bishop Joseph A. Ferrario established in 1984 to provide scholarships based on need to students in Hawaii Catholic schools.

The guest speaker, Sacred Hearts Academy senior Lowella Antopina, confirmed the worth of the foundation through her own example.

She said the Catholic education made possible by the foundation “opened new doors and new opportunities” for her.

“I learned to be more appreciative of what God has given me,” she said.

Lowella said by attending Catholic Schools, she has “grown to be more mature,” has “developed leadership skills” and is “able to express my beliefs and values.”

Both Lowella, 17, and her sister Mary Antonette, an eighth grader at Holy Trinity School, are recipients of Augustine foundation.

“We really feel blessed,” she said.

A new guest at the annual event — Kamehameha Schools, represented by director of financial aid scholarship services Joy Kono and financial aid analyst specialist Donna Lubong — added some excitement to the proceedings with the announcement that Kamehameha’s Pauahi Keiki Scholars Kindergarten Program will provide 126 kindergarten students in 24 Catholic schools with $551,000 in tuition aid this fall.

Other donor guests were former diocesan attorney Harold Conroy who established a $365,000 Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust with the Augustine Foundation in 2002; long-time foundation supporter and founding board member Edith Leong who presented Bishop Silva with a $10,000 contribution to the Jack & Edith Leong Scholarship Fund; and Jeri Spain of St. Joseph Schools in Hilo who brought a check for $70,000, raised through alumni contributions and an annual country fair, for the scholarship fund her school established with the Augustine Foundation in 2006.

According to Sue Ferandin, the Augustine Foundation’s executive director, the Leong Scholarship Fund has nearly $100,000, and the St. Joseph Schools Scholarship fund now has more than $320,000.

Also present was investment advisor Peter Backus of Morgan Stanley who has guided the foundation’s investments since 2001, greatly contributing to its success, according to Ferandin.

“The foundation wouldn’t be where it is today financially if it weren’t for his help and expertise,” she said.

In its new Pauahi Keiki Scholars program, Kamehameha Schools is awarding more than $1.2 million in private-school kindergarten need-based scholarships to 240 children across the state for the upcoming school year. More than half of them will attend Catholic schools.

Kamehameha is offering this program to a total of 720 students over a three-year pilot phase. Once accepted in the program, families may reapply each year to receive assistance through grade 12. The entire 15-year program will cost Kamehameha Schools $47 million.

Kamehameha gives preference to students of Hawaiian ancestry. According to the Hawaii Catholic Schools office, about 17 percent of Hawaii’s Catholic school students are of Hawaiian descent.

Scholarship amounts are determined using a sliding scale based on the school’s tuition and the estimated amount each family is able to contribute. Kamehameha’s contribution is capped at $6,000 per student.

According to Ferandin, the need for tuition assistance has grown this year, in part due to the closing of Aloha Airlines which put 1,900 people out of work. This year, 1,160 students have applied for about 450 available scholarships.

Last year, a little more than $500,000 was awarded to 418 students. High school students receive $1,250 and elementary students $1,000.