Eighth Annual National Speakers Luncheon Honored Charlie Cheever and Featured Rev. Edwin D. Leahy

The Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation (Friends Foundation) held its 8th Annual National Speakers Luncheon on September 25. Charlie Cheever was honored with the Beacon Award in recognition of his outstanding philanthropic support and leadership in our community. Reverend Edwin D. Leahy was featured as the keynote speaker.

Charlie Cheever, a family businessman, currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of Broadway Bank. Charlie was the driving force behind much of the growth and expansion Broadway Bank enjoyed during his time as bank president, a position he assumed in 1961, at the age of 32, after joining the bank in 1957. Before joining Broadway Bank, Charlie graduated from West Point in 1949, served as an Air Force pilot instructor, and later retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. He also earned his law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1957. Throughout his life, Charlie has personally embraced the spirit of giving back to the community, which his parents instilled into the culture of Broadway Bank. He has served as Co-Chairman of the San Fernando Cathedral Restoration Project, as Chairman of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Capital Campaign, Chairman of the United Way, and as Trustee of Incarnate Word College and Southwest Research Institute. Charlie also has served as Chairman of the University of Texas Health Science Center’s advisory board for the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics, as well as the KLRN Capital Campaign.

Rev. Edwin D. Leahy and Charlie Cheever.

Mistress of Ceremonies Sarah Forgany KENS 5 showing the growing MMU thermometer.

Featured speaker Edwin D. Leahy spoke to the crowd telling stories of the importance of community.

(Left to Right) Friends Foundation President John Bel, Reverend Edwin D. Leahy, Beacon Award Recipient Charlie Cheever, Sister Teresa Maya CCVI hold up the Beacon Award.

Our featured speaker, Reverend Edwin D. Leahy, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, became the 23^rd Headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in 1972. Reverend Leahy began his work at St. Benedict’s Prep in 1967, teaching biology and religion, and assisting with the wrestling and football teams. Following the decision by the then-larger community of monks to suspend the operation of St. Benedict’s in 1972, Fr. Edwin, then 27, was chosen by the remaining stalwart group of monks, parents, alumni, and friends to re-open the school as soon as was feasible. Under his direction, St. Benedict’s reopened its doors in 1973, with 89 students and 14 faculty members, including 13 monks who re-committed themselves to the school’s mission of serving young men from largely low-income families in Newark. Today, St. Benedict’s operates a co-ed, Kindergarten to 6th grade Elementary Division, a Middle Division comprised of separate, single-sex 7th and 8th grades, and an all-male 9th – 12th grade Prep Division.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, community partners, and friends who contributed to our event, raising more than $207,900 for patients at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospitals, with an additional $35,406 raised in support of our Mobile Mammography Unit. That’s 253 free, life-saving mammograms for women in need. Incredible!

It takes a strong community to support quality and compassionate health care for all whom we are privileged to serve. To learn about how you can support our mission, visit FriendsFoundation.org.