Chesterton Academy of Orlando was delighted to host our 2025 Gala on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.

It was a spectacular night, full of beauty and hope, with over 700+ people in attendance.

The evening was emceed by G.K. Chesterton himself (played by John Walker, drama professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville) and featured renowned keynote speaker Dr. Peter Kreeft.

Thanks to their support, we were able to raise over $425,000 in one evening. Praise God!

When we launched the school in 2022, we dreamed of something rare: a school where academic excellence, deep faith, and authentic joy come together—not just to form students, but to form saints.

At the Gala, we shared just how far that dream has come—and how the Holy Spirit continues to do more than we ever imagined.

For example, this year:

• We will be sending our first Chesterton graduate to the seminary (David Ewing—featured below!) to become a priest for the Diocese of Orlando
• We added a confessional and sacristy to our Chapel, allowing us to offer Mass multiple times each week.
• We began offering Confessions at school, and the first day nearly half the students chose to go, running toward Christ in the sacrament.

Think about that: in a world where millions of young people are walking away from the Church, our students are running toward Christ, to receive his mercy. That’s the kind of school this is.

Brandon Vogt, founder and chairman of the school, shared more updates and vision here:

He unveiled three special projects we hope to complete this summer to accelerate our success:

PROJECT 1 - New Entrepreneurship Program ($10,000)

One of the most exciting new initiatives we hope to launch next year is the CEDE Entrepreneurship Program—a bold, Catholic approach to business and vocation created by the Catholic University of America. This nationally acclaimed program helps students discover their God-given gifts, learn real-world business skills, and design ventures that serve the common good. But more than that, it teaches them to see entrepreneurship as a form of discipleship—a way to bring truth, beauty, and charity into the world. With your help, we can launch this program and begin forming the next generation of Catholic creators, leaders, and builders.

PROJECT 2 - Classical Education Teacher Training ($12,000)

Our teachers are the heart of Chesterton Academy—and when they grow, our students flourish. This summer, we hope to send our faculty to the Chesterton Schools Network Summit, a week-long immersion in classical education, fellowship, and joyful formation. It’s more than professional development—it’s spiritual and intellectual renewal that strengthens every classroom.

PROJECT 3 - Chapel Phase #3 ($50,000)

And finally—the heart of our school—the Chapel. Thanks to many of you, we finished Phases 1 and 2 of our Chapel project over the past two summers. This included demolition and structural work, expansion, plumbing, and electrical, while adding a new sacristy and confessional, so that we can have more Masses, more confessions, and draw more students closer to Christ.

In this phase, we hope to take more steps to beautify the space, adding trim work, lighting, and other aesthetic improvements, moving our chapel closer to the vision you see in our renderings.

Those three projects would accelerate the school to the next level and brought the total goal for the evening to $447,000.

We then welcome the Chesterton Academy student choir onto stage. Under our choir director, Mr. Cristian Caiola, students performed two songs: Kyrie Eleison and the Homeward Bound.

The choir was followed by three testimonies. Senior students Hope Staffieri and David Ewing shared what the school has meant to them and how it has transformed their lives. Mike and Laura Roche shared why they believe in and support the school.

Our keynote speaker, Peter Kreeft, then gave a talk titled “Why You Should Invest Your Money (In Fact Lots Of It) In Chesterton Academy” (read the whole text here):

The evening then concluded with an opportunity for guests to join this great mission.

By the grace of God, we are thrilled to announce that the total raised that night in gifts and pledges exceeded $425,000!

That not only covers our basic operating expenses but will even allow us to complete one or two of the special summer projects.

(If you’re able to help us raise the final $22,000, so we can complete all three summer projects, we sure would be grateful! Just click below to donate.)

We are beyond grateful to God. The Lord has blessed this high school in so many concrete ways, and the Gala evening was just the latest instance of his Provident care.

Once the night drew to a close, we immediately began planning for next year's Gala. We hope to see you then!

Thanks to Victora Ybarra Photography for these wonderful photos!