Steps for Students hits the ground running with presenting sponsor

Steps for Students 5K Walk/Run co-chairs Diana and Roman Martinez thank new 2023 presenting sponsor Gilbert Andrew Garcia, with the Bolt the Colt mascot costume, and wife DeeDee Garcia, pictured at a past Steps for Students event. (Photo courtesy of the Development Office)

HOUSTON — The Steps for Students 5K Walk/Run, set for Feb. 11, 2023, welcomed its new presenting sponsor, Gilbert Andrew Garcia and Garcia Hamilton & Associates, donating $25,000 for Catholic education at the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

A Yale University graduate, Garcia and his money management firm Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P., (GH&A) presented the check on Sept. 16 to Steps for Students returning co-chairs Román and Diana Martínez.

Garcia and his wife, DeeDee Garcia, a graduate of Texas A&M and an optometrist, said they always believed in Catholic education. Their four children attended Corpus Christi Catholic School in the Willowbend area. Later, their two sons attended St. Thomas High School, while their youngest daughter is currently a student at St. Agnes Academy.

“I’ve done everything at the school from coaching soccer to wearing the horse mascot costume (Bolt the Colt), to serving as gala auctioneer, and announcing at all the GHCAA (Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association) track and field meets,” Garcia said.

“My wife and I helped kick off the church capital campaign with a lead $500,000 gift,” he added. “She is even more involved - serving on a new principal search committee and serving on both the current CCS capital campaign and building committees.”

The Garcias remain committed to Catholic education, especially with the Archdiocese’s 46 elementary and middle schools along with the 11 Catholic high schools.

Mrs. Garcia said, “We toured Catholic high schools because we wanted the amazing church family and community that our children had in elementary at Corpus Christi school. The children made their choices for high school and they landed right where they needed to be.”

She added, “Now I’m a parent ambassador at St. Agnes.”

Meanwhile, their oldest son graduated from Oberlin College and works in internet security. Their second son recently graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University and is now working on Wall Street. Their youngest son, who graduated this May from St. Thomas High School, has started at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Garcia said, “Together, my wife and I recently donated $250,000 to St. Thomas High School for all the support they provided our boys. We live in a changing world. It’s important for people to know the accomplishments by Hispanics, blacks and women and how much we contribute to the community.”

His GH&A firm was awarded “Outstanding Diverse Organization” in 2022 by the Houston Business Journal and received Best Places to Work in Money Management for five years in a row by the Pensions & Investment Magazine.

“We are proof that if minorities have access to a good education and business opportunities, this, in turn, helps the community overall,” Garcia said.

Both Román Martínez, himself a graduate of Catholic schools and alumnus of Yale University, and wife Diana, a graduate of Harvard University, agree with the assessment of the importance of a Catholic education as a strong foundation.

“More than ever, businesses need to support the Catholic Church and the help that it provides to families in need,” Martínez said.
The Martínezes are leading the Steps for Students steering committee toward the one-million-dollar fundraising goal, which they reached for three years running before COVID-19 shut down large public events.

With Steps registration kicking off earlier this year, 1,355 students and supporters have registered so far, with a total of $26,714 donated directly to schools. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School currently has the biggest team participating with 239 and is in second place with donations of more than $3,300 raised. Assumption Catholic School, which receives support from its church parishioners, has raised more than $4,100.

Claudia de Guia, Archdiocese’s development coordinator organizing Steps, said, “More than one-third of our Catholic school students were Hispanic in the 2021-2022 school year. It’s beautiful to have Steps for Students leadership reflect the diverse communities our Catholic schools serve to provide role models that they can see in themselves.”

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who blesses 5K Walk/Run participants and counts down runners at the starting line, said, “Steps for Students provides a great sense of unity with parents, students and the community sharing the event.”

Catholic Schools Superintendent Debra Haney said, “It is thrilling for us as well as students, their families and schools’ staff members, to come together in one place and see the diversity of ages, cultures, and personalities who make up the Catholic schools in our Archdiocese. We are grateful for this celebration of our faith, families and formative Catholic education.”

Catholic schools have used the Steps funds to purchase computers and offer teacher training and student programs, including tuition assistance. Other schools use their fundraising for their general operational funding. This allows the schools to keep their tuition affordable for parents yet academically enriching for students.

Early Bird registration sale ends Oct. 31. To register, sponsor or for more information, www.steps4students.org.