Thank You for Making Our 12th Annual Wine Tasting Dinner a Huge Success!

We are overflowing with gratitude! Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, our 12th Annual Friends of John Paul School Fundraising Dinner was an unforgettable evening that raised over $52,000 to support quality education and faith formation for students in rural Uganda.

With over 100 guests in attendance, the energy in the room was electric from start to finish. Whether you attended, bid on silent auction items, purchased wine raffle tickets, or donated items, you made this milestone achievement possible.

Guests enjoyed a spectacular five-course dinner paired with outstanding U.S. wines with Italian roots. Beyond our silent auction and wine raffle, the night took an exciting turn with a special, impromptu live auction!

A huge thank you to Fr. Brian Chabala for generously offering his time for multiple dinners, and to Paul and Nancy Collier for offering a second week at their beautiful condo. Their spontaneous generosity brought incredible excitement to the room and helped boost our total raised to new heights!

An evening of this scale requires incredible partners, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who opened their doors and hearts to support our mission:

• Rito Lisi & The Silver Spoon: A heartfelt thank you to Rito Lisi for his boundless generosity and continued commitment to the students of John Paul Secondary School.
• Chef Daniele Dell’Acqua: Thank you to Chef Daniele for crafting an exquisite menu that left every guest delighted!
• Giordana West: A special thank you to Giordana West for guiding us through the evening and brilliantly presenting each of the delicious wine pairings!

Every dollar raised during this evening directly impacts the students and community of Chelekura. Thanks to your continuous support:

• A Door to Learning: We recently completed the 8-foot boundary wall surrounding the JPSS campus, providing safety and security for over 800 students and staff.
• Academic Excellence: For the fourth consecutive year, JPSS ranked #1 out of all 28 secondary schools in the Pallisa district, placing in the top 8% in all of Uganda.
• Scholarships & Opportunity: This year, we welcomed 10 new Hungerford Scholars and added 4 new scholars to our Graduate Scholarship Program.

From our Board of Directors to our volunteers, sponsors, donors, and every single guest who joined us – thank you! Together, we are turning opportunity into achievement and opening doors to bright futures for JPSS students.

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!