(DePaul University/Jamie Moncrief)
DePaul University is honored to announce a multifaceted gift from John and Kathy Schreiber, who are supporting several DePaul programs to help underserved and vulnerable populations. Their generous gift to DePaul includes over $1.2 million pledged to the Schreiber Catholic Future Teacher Leader Program and a nearly $600,000 gift to the DePaul Migration Collaborative, among other transformative programs at DePaul. The Schreibers’ gift also supports the Egan Hope Scholars and the Egan Family Engagement and Coalition Initiative.
The Schreiber Catholic Future Teacher Leader Program in the Office of Innovative Professional Learning in DePaul’s College of Education is aimed at developing a diverse pipeline of future Catholic school teachers and leaders who are committed to continuing their educational journey and coming back to serve in their communities. The program provides an innovative model of training — involving community equity projects, mentoring and an internship — for middle grade and high school students from underrepresented backgrounds.
John and Kathy Schreiber (Photo courtesy of the Schreibers)The Schreibers’ gift also supports the DePaul Migration Collaborative, an innovative program that engages scholars, practitioners, students and alumni to work together for systemic change to build a better future for immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.
The Schreibers’ generosity builds on previous gifts that they have made to DePaul over many years, including their longtime support of the Egan Hope Scholars, which was created to honor Monsignor John Egan’s lifetime work of social activism and community service. Kathy Schreiber is Monsignor Egan’s niece and is inspired by his strong legacy of social service.
“John and Kathy Schreiber have made important commitments to further Catholic education, develop diverse future leaders and advance social transformation,” says DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel. “Their visionary support helps DePaul offer programs in critical areas that prepare the next generation of inspired leaders, critical thinkers and problem solvers who can tackle society’s greatest challenges.”
The Schreiber Catholic Future Teacher Leader Program will grow over the next few years, thanks to the Schreibers’ support. “The Schreibers show a deep commitment to expanding and diversifying the teacher and leader pipeline, supporting our Catholic partners and creating lasting impact,” says Donna Kiel, director of DePaul’s Office of Innovative Professional Learning, which launched the program.
The DePaul Migration Collaborative is an interdisciplinary effort between DePaul’s College of Law, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Division of Mission and Ministry that works on migration issues through community-engaged projects, advocacy and research.
“The DePaul Migration Collaborative will use this generous gift to pursue innovative scholarly and community-engaged projects to advance better public policy, stronger communities and a more just society,” say the program’s codirectors, Sioban Albiol and Shailja Sharma.
For years, John and Kathy Schreiber have used their philanthropy to address important gaps in education, human rights and health care. Their gift supports initiatives that are at the heart of DePaul’s Catholic, Vincentian urban mission.
“John and I believe deeply in the importance of investing in the next generation of socially minded leaders and doing so with a focus on equitable access to educational attainment,” Kathy Schreiber says. “DePaul’s dynamic programs are working to address social needs and changing lives in the process.”