Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, Alabama, will host its Rey of Hope Gala this month, raising money for its mission of educating the underprivileged with college and workforce-oriented education.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 9, at The Club, Inc., with guests including the school’s corporate work-study partners, donors, community leaders, and other supporters.
“The Rey of Hope Gala is our school’s annual celebration of that mission—and a vital investment in its future,” the historic Catholic school said in an announcement.
“Your support fuels excellent classrooms, meaningful work experience, and resources that help students succeed in college and career. Join us in 2026 as we celebrate our scholars and open doors across Birmingham.”
Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School
The Rey of Hope Gala is the largest annual fundraiser for HFCR, and has in past years collected more than $700,000 over the course of the single-night event. This year’s event will include a live auction with several notable offerings, including four tickets to the 2026 Iron Bowl in November, a Bermuda getaway for two, and a trip to the 2026 U.S. Open also taking place this fall.
The money raised from the gathering will support the school’s roughly 200 students, virtually all of whom are African-American and Latino and come from low-income families. Each year the school must bridge a funding gap of roughly $16,500 per student, given the sliding tuition scale.
The Cristo Rey model was built around a Corporate Work Study Program founded by Jesuit priest John P. Foley and educator Richard R. Murray in Chicago in 1996. It features partnerships with local businesses that receive students for weekly employment to subsidize tuition.
Nate Tinner-Williams
The larger Cristo Rey Network was founded in 2000 and includes schools across the country. The Birmingham location was founded with the Passionists in 2007 from an older Black Catholic school dating to 1938. Holy Family Cristo Rey was the network’s first school in the South, is Birmingham’s oldest Catholic school, and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate.
The “three-legged stool” model of funding for Cristo Rey schools also involves traditional philanthropy, including from sponsors such as those supporting the Rey of Hope Gala in Alabama. Those highlighted this year include Coca-Cola UNITED, Regions Bank, and Truist Bank.
"Our support for Holy Family Cristo Rey is more than just a partnership,” said Carol Maxwell, a manager for the Vulcan Foundation, another one of this year’s sponsors.
“It's about investing in the bright futures of the students, giving them the tools and experiences they need to [succeed] in college, career, and life."
Tickets for the Rey of Hope Gala, which will begin Thursday at 5:30pm CT, are available online and start at $250 for an individual ticket. Sponsorships start at $1,500, and those interested can also make tax-deductible donations to HFCR online or via other means listed on their website.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
