A Promise Kept

When Bret Giaimo '10 was a student at Gonzaga, he became close with then-Gonzaga President Rev. Allan Novotny, SJ.  "He offered me advice and guidance that I remain grateful for," say Bret, now a third year student at Georgetown Law School.  "Despite all his duties as President of the school, he took the time to get to know me and help me think through some things I was wrestling with at the time."

Bret's parents, Robert and Kate Britton Giaimo, became close friends with Father Novotny as well, and were devastated by his sudden death in the fall of 2010—just months after Bret's graduation.  

"I had told Father Al that when the time was right, our family wanted to give something back to Gonzaga in thanks for his friendship, and his support of all the boys of Gonzaga, including our son," says Kate.  "But he passed away so suddenly and unexpectedly. It was a shock to the entire Gonzaga community."

But the Giaimos never forgot their promise, and in the fall of 2016, they established the Father Allan Novotny, SJ Endowed Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga, which provides need-based tuition assistance. 

"Father Al meant a lot to our family, and is deeply missed," says Kate. "So keeping that promise was really important to us. Our hope is that with this scholarship, deserving students for decades to come will arrive on Eye Street with a connection to his legacy of selfless service to the young men of Gonzaga."