Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Scholarship

When Richard Salat SMHS ’66, the faithful son and executor of The Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Foundation approached St. Mary’s and asked that a scholarship be named in his parents’ honor to benefit students of high academic achievement, we knew we would have a unique opportunity to bring together different generations to advance our mission. All four of the Salat children attended St. Mary’s High School. Since Joseph and Dorothy Salat were also parishioners of St. Mary’s Church and generous donors to the Parish Social Ministry – renamed Good Samaritan House after Richard arranged for his parents’ foundation to pay for the renovation of the ministry’s office – we also had the honor of having scholarship donors who had a long history with our St. Mary’s family of faith.   Indeed, Dorothy led the Altar Society for the parish for many years, starting under Msgr. John K. Sharp, seeing to it that the altar was kept immaculate, the confessionals were in good trim, and the priests’ vestments were always pressed and ready for Mass. 

“I am grateful to St. Mary’s for giving my sisters Mary ’60 and Margaret ’63 and me the opportunity to honor our parents’ philanthropic legacy in this special way," Richard Salat remarked. "My dear deceased brother Joseph ’61 would also be moved by this special memorial of our parents’ great regard for dynamic Catholic education.  My parents had such a deep affection for the Schools of Saint Mary and St. Mary’s parish as a whole, and it has been a true privilege as the executor of their foundation to set up the Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Scholarship. The student beneficiaries of the scholarship are all so impressive—well-rounded, poised, faithful, and full of high hopes for the future! They are a great testament to the robust faith and scholarly formation St. Mary’s gives their bright young students. Thanks to the scholarship, my parents’ legacy continues to do great good work.”