Denver-based foundation supporting special education to host gala with Sen. Rick Santorum
The Catholic former senator will speak at the fifth-annual gala about the grace of loving his daughter Bella, who was born with Trisomy 18.
A foundation that champions the enrollment of children with disabilities in Catholic schools is set to host its annual gala Aug. 29 in Denver, featuring Sen. Rick Santorum as the keynote speaker to share a message on hope and family.
About 400 people are anticipated to attend this year’s BonFIRE Gala, which aims to support schools’ efforts for inclusive Catholic special education, according to an emailed press release from gala host FIRE Foundation Denver.
In the keynote, Santorum “will speak about the grace of loving a daughter with profound disabilities,” the release states.
According to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), the rare genetic condition that Bella was born with has a survival rate of only about 10% for babies born with it; and of those survivors, only 10% survive to their first birthday. Doctors told Bella’s parents that her condition was “incompatible with life.” Defying the odds, Bella celebrated her 18th birthday this year.
In 2015, the Santorums authored a memoir about their family and caring for Bella titled Bella’s Gift: How One Little Girl Transformed Our Family and Inspired a Nation. Bella’s mother, Karen, told CBN News at the time of the book’s release, "She taught so many people how to love better, love and serve Christ better, live in the moment, how to treasure each and every day, how to focus on what is most important in life and to celebrate each and every life.”
In a Facebook post, the FIRE Foundation stated that Santorum will “share a deeply inspiring message of hope, rooted in his journey as a Catholic father. His life’s work is profoundly guided by his beautiful daughter Bella, whose journey with Trisomy 18 is a witness to the power of family and faith.”
FIRE Denver Executive Director Gerard Graveline said in the release that the gala is an invitation to the local faithful to join in the responsibility of inclusion and to support local Catholic schools in building a culture of life through inclusivity of children with disabilities.
“The Santorums’ family witness to human dignity offers each of us the opportunity to reflect on our own calling to serve those with disabilities,” Graveline said in the release. “Locally, we believe that supporting FIRE Denver is a way to respond to that call.”
Archbishop James Golka of Denver is set to attend the event, which will be emceed by Catholic evangelizer Chris Stefanick and feature an auction led by journalist JD Flynn. FIRE Denver has supported Catholic schools in Denver with $2.4 million to champion this mission of inclusivity over the past five years, according to the release. The organization also provides professional development for teachers to learn the skills for teaching all children in their classrooms.
Graveline noted that FIRE Denver works “to help Catholic schools open their doors for the enrollment of students with significant disabilities and learning differences” and that the gala is an opportunity for the local Church community to participate in that mission.
“We believe that every child has a place to belong in our Catholic schools,” Graveline said, “and that disabilities should never be an obstacle to inclusion.”
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