“Para mi me gustó por convivir con mi hijo y mi esposo y al mismo tiempo el conocer a los padres de familia y maestros.” - Rebeca Sifuentes
“For me, I liked spending time with my son and my husband and at the same time meeting the parents and teachers. “ - Rebeca Sifuentes
¡VIVA Arrupe!, Arrupe Jesuit High School’s first-ever family gala was a great success! On November 4th, 140 Arrupe family and community members gathered to celebrate Arrupe’s 20th-year Anniversary and cheered to a brighter future made possible by the Lead the Way Capital Campaign. In the spirit of the Magis - the more - the campaign seeks to impact more students, deepening the student experience, and making it richer and more fruitful. A cornerstone of this campaign is the expansion and renovation of the campus to provide continued opportunity to the students of Arrupe.
The night kicked off with a delicious meal consisting of homemade traditional Mexican cuisine graciously provided by a variety of families and friends of Arrupe. Before the meal was enjoyed, Father Louie Hotop invited everyone to join together in our faith and to pray in gratitude for the blessings of Arrupe and those who worked so effortlessly to put on the event. The evening continued with a presentation revealing the plans for Arrupe's new building, offering our community insight into the school's vision for growth and development. President Michael O'Hagan and Bishop Jorge Rodriguez also took the stage to share heartfelt recognitions, acknowledging the collective contributions that have propelled Arrupe's advancement. Their remarks expressed gratitude for the dedication of the Arrupe community and its unwavering support.
The celebration continued with music and dancing, fostering a celebratory atmosphere that brought together parents, faculty members, and supporters. This joyous occasion not only marked the success of the gala but also emphasized the strong sense of unity and purpose within the Arrupe community. When reflecting on ¡VIVA Arrupe!, Ana Maria Rivera a parent of Arrupe, shared her thoughts on the event by saying, “Congratulations, personally, I felt it was a success. The good vibe that was felt was admirable. Which also influenced the fact that the guests I brought decided to send their student to Arrupe for the next year. Congratulations." The night was made possible by every individual’s willingness to be with us. In addition to the incredible night of being together in community, ¡VIVA Arrupe! totaled over $6,000 in ticket sales and donations, well exceeding our $5,000 goal for the inaugural event. Thank you to all of our generous families that came out to celebrate with us.
As the event concluded, it left a lasting impact on everyone, reinforcing what it means to “be of Arrupe”. The inaugural Families' Gala serves as a testament to the commitment, collaboration, and spirit that characterize the Arrupe experience, laying the foundation for continued growth and prosperity in the years ahead. We are so thankful for the hard work of Families Together in launching this great event. We would like to provide special recognition to La Despensa Latina, Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc, Rancho Diamante Negro, and Annie Vianney Colorado for their donations that made the dinner, photo booth, silent auction, and music possible. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge and note that the event was made possible by the leadership of Mrs. Estefany Socarro, Ms. Sylvette Rivera, and our Events Manager Ms. Jamie Loeffl! Lastly, we would like to thank the awesome group of contributors and volunteers who helped make the event a success.
Contributors and Volunteers:
Flor Estrada & Antonio Cabral, Glenda Contreras, Estela Jaime, Ever Pizarro, Gloria Betancourt, Eliana Montoya, Maria Colin, Veronica Sifuentes, Rebeca Sifuentes, Sandra & Jose Millan, Mario Vielma, Esther Romero, Maria Padilla, Filomena Terrones, Adela Bonilla, Silvia Yadira, Petra Rios, Rocio Tapia & Family, Giselle Moncada, Maria Lopez, Ana Maria Rivera, Alejandro Moran, Araceli Flores, Angelica & Victor Verdin, Bety Pozos, Martina Ortiz, Gabriela Cervantes, Raquel Mireles, Sofia Mendoza, Luis Treto, Maria Escoto, Maria Medina, Juanita Luevano, Esther Matos, Maria & Gabriel Inzunza, Margarito Aguilar, Grisel Moncada, Norma Miranda, Mario Socarro, Meredith Blatner, Mike Lovinguth, Patty Moncada, Liz Cole, Kelly Thomas, Bryan Torres Santiago, S.J., Esmeralda Huizar, Fr. Louis Hotop, S.J.
