Vic Nussbaum Jr.GREENSBORO — Former Greensboro mayor and long-time parishioner of St. Pius X Church, the late Vic Nussbaum Jr.’s charitable legacy continues to impact students at two Greensboro schools. With an endowment of $1.5 million for tuition assistance at the diocese’s St. Pius X and Our Lady of Grace schools, students and families continue to have the opportunity for a Catholic education in the Piedmont Triad.
Chris Kloesz, principal of St. Pius X School, said the $31,515 annual grant offered tuition assistance for 28 students this school year alone.
“It is very possible that without the generous ongoing proceeds from the Nussbaum Family Endowment there could be families that could not afford to give their children the opportunity of a Catholic education,” Kloesz said.
Our Lady of Grace’s Principal Catherine Rusch said 17 students benefitted from the $31,515 grant this school year.
“By providing access to an authentically Catholic education at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, this generous endowment is providing a most precious gift: an education with a foundation of faith that invites Christ into the lives of these children today and throughout their futures,” Rusch said.
The late Nussbaum – a self-proclaimed “Catholic Yankee in Dixie” who became one of Greensboro’s biggest boosters and its mayor for three terms, from 1987 to 1993 – was focused on expanding libraries, providing low-income housing and improving the quality of public education.
He was a devout Catholic, attending Mass every day at 6 a.m. and was a friend to the downtrodden, said Jim Melvin, who was mayor when Nussbaum was first elected to the Greensboro City Council in 1973.
He attended Our Lady of Grace Church and sent his children to Our Lady of Grace School, and after a cross-town move later attended St. Pius X. He believed Catholic schools not only provide a great education but are critical to carrying on the faith, family recalled.
Donors across the diocese like Nussbaum have given one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledged to capital campaigns or projects, or left gifts in their estate plans. Such gifts have benefitted parishes, Catholic schools, the diocese, the diocese’s foundation and St. Joseph College Seminary.
“We receive gifts of every amount – and all of them make a difference,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “Endowments in particular help change people’s lives because they keep on growing and providing returns year after year. Everyone can find a cause in the Church that speaks to them, just as Catholic education spoke to Mayor
Nussbaum, whose generosity not only makes an impact today but will do so long into the future.”
— Courtney McLaughlin
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
‘United in faith and community’
CHARLOTTE — Schools across the Diocese of Charlotte recently joined in celebrating National Catholic Schools – with each day featuring a special theme, enlivening students and offering opportunities to live out their faith and engage with their communities.
Several parishes kicked off celebrations with special Masses for students and the school community, then embarked on a week filled with service, prayer, fellowship and a lot of fun.
Organized by the National Catholic Education Association and marking its 50th year of celebrating Catholic education, the week ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 and aims to showcase all that Catholic schools have to offer, build community and encourage charitable outreach.
“Catholic Schools truly are ‘united in faith and community,’” said Superintendent Greg Monroe, echoing the theme for this year’s celebration. “Not only do they provide a first-class education grounded in faith, they also give students a deep appreciation for the needs of their community – and instill the Christian virtues of compassion, service and charity to help meet those needs.”
Demand for Catholic education has surged in the growing diocese, where half of the 20 schools are at or near capacity, with a record enrollment of 8,100 students this year, and a flood of applications for the 2024-25 school year. Read more about schools growth.
The week’s festivities reinforce the positive impact Catholic schools have in their local communities by engaging in community service, celebrating vocations, honoring our nation and other spirit-building activities for students, families and parishioners.
On Jan. 29, St. Patrick School kindergartners and their fifth-grade prayer partners walked two blocks from school to deliver 50 casserole meals to Dilworth Soup Kitchen in Charlotte.
Sacred Heart School in Salisbury celebrated their community, beginning with a visit from Mayor Karen Alexander, who spoke to students about the importance of sharing and caring for their community. Students also launched service projects and showed school spirit by dressing as a favorite movie, television or book character.
In Winston-Salem, St. Leo the Great School celebrated its community with all grades joining together in a school-wide service project, creating special goodie bags for patients and staff of Brenner’s Children’s Hospital Oncology Floor.
“Catholic Schools Week took on special meaning for us this year,” said St. Leo Assistant Principal Callie Moore. “We always use this time to reinforce in our students the importance of giving back, and this year we chose to honor Brenner’s Children’s Hospital because of all they did for Finley Price – a beloved Kindergartner here who passed away from cancer in November. We wanted to thank the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in her care.”
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by Troy Hull and provided
