Naples Catholic school gets $4 million pledge

A future building on the St. John Neumann Catholic High School campus in Naples will exist because a 1997 graduate died – but it will be a building that celebrates life.

Principal Denny Denison told a crowd of about 100 gathered at the school Wednesday that he hopes construction will start this year on the Justin Holecek Student Life Center, made possible by a matching allow of $4 million pledged by his parents, Bruce and Jeri Holecek of Naples.

Vocal and instrumental music and drama departments will be housed in the center, Denison said.

With the potential to generate $8 million, the allow goes a long way toward Neumann’s goal of $10 million in a capital campaign that began four years ago.

Bishop Frank DeWane stated the donation was historic.

“With it, we are helping to build, in a sense, the kingdom of God for those who will walk through the halls of St. John Neumann and also the Justin Holecek Student Life Center,” he said.

Bruce Holecek stated he hopes the center will be a living memory to his son.

“He spent many happy days on this campus, four of the very ideal years of his life,” he said. “Justin loved this school.”

“We think he would be happy with this,” Jeri Holecek said.

Justin Holecek was on the golf and basketball teams at Neumann. He died in 2009 at age 30.

Wednesday’s prayer service and dedication took place outside the school at the Celtic cross monument, the first expenditure from the capital campaign. Students and friends of the family wore red ribbons to acknowledge Justin’s favorite color.

The announcement marked the second time an area institution has received its largest donation in history in Holecek’s name.

In December, the couple donated $175,000 to SMH Recovery Center, a six-month residential alcohol rehabilitation program affiliated with St. Matthew’s House in east Naples. Their son had suffered with alcoholism before his death.

The facility is the only emergency housing and recovery center in Collier County. Offering 170 beds for men, women and families, it’s now called Justin’s Place.

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