Notre Dame Club of the Western Carolinas
For Notre Dame alumni, community spirit runs just as deep as school spirit—if not deeper. Since 2000, the Notre Dame Club of the Western Carolinas has served St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School with fundraising and facility improvements, to tutoring and special events.
Active and well organized, the club is deeply committed to the school. It’s no surprise it has received a “Club of the Year” award three times (most recently in 2009) among Notre Dame alumni clubs across the country.
Award criteria includes thoroughly covering the “6 C’s” in activities and outreach: current student support, communication, continuing education, camaraderie, Catholic/Christian spirituality, and community service. St. Anthony’s School has been touched by several of the C’s.
Club president Chris Reddick (‘78) says that they truly feel like they’re helping the school and students. He recalls the club providing transportation for a first grade field trip. “The smiles on the students faces are the payback. Their enthusiasm is contagious. The kids are just fun to be around,” he explains.
The club also provides opportunities for teachers’ professional development, such as funding trips to “Excellence in Teaching” weekend workshops at Notre Dame, which were attended by Donna Barkey and James Williams.
In addition, they’ve brought the spirit and camaraderie of their school to ours. They invited the Notre Dame Glee Club to perform for the students. “During one of the songs, they joined the kids in the audience and encouraged them to sing, too. It was very touching,” recalls Dick Erlenbaugh (‘64), former club president.
“When you’re an alum, it’s time to give back. Most guys of my vintage, we got through college and life because we worked hard and supported our families,” says Dick. “We’re at a time in our lives that we can help others even more, providing ways to expand young people’s horizons. Hopefully, they’ll learn that life is what you make it to be.”
Learn more about our local Notre Dame alumni club. Go Irish!
