Catholic Academy of Bridgeport to honor Jim Colica, the late Kathy Hanson at annual gala

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport will honor Jim Colica and his late wife, Kathy Hanson, at its Guiding Lights Annual Fall Gala on October 29. The event will take place at the Woodway Country Club and includes a cocktail hour, dinner, an auction, and a program dedicated to the honorees.

Colica and Hanson have supported the academy for nearly 20 years. According to executive director Angela Pohlen, the couple sponsored more than 30 Rising Stars students and helped establish the Alegre Program for the Performing Arts and the Faith & Futures after-school programs.

The gala serves as one of two major fundraisers for the school this academic year. Proceeds will support the more than $3.3 million required annually for need-based scholarships. Pohlen noted that 96 percent of students receive need-based assistance, as 85 percent of academy families live at or below the poverty level.