Holy Family’s donors support the University for many reasons, and for that we are grateful. One such donor is Jerry Wutkowski ’13, who is a member of the President’s Club, Holy Family’s leadership donor society, and serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Jerry is the Assistant Director in the Office of Communications & Public Relations for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, which serves the four counties of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren in New Jersey.
Where did you grow up, and why did you choose to study at Holy Family?
I grew up in Central New Jersey to a family dedicated to education. I always knew that higher education was on my path but I did not realize that it would be a challenging reach. That was the reality until I randomly found a message from Holy Family inviting me to an Open House. It was a Godsend! After attending the Open House, and being welcomed by many kind souls, I knew that this is where I belonged, this is where I would go.
However, the reality sunk back in when college affordability was simply out of reach. Without the generous offer of scholarships and assistance from Holy Family, I would not have had the great honor of attending. I chose Holy Family because Holy Family decided to give me a chance at achieving my dreams. Reflecting on this decision, I know we chose each other and instantly, in a way, belonged to each other's journey.
What was the most memorable experience of your time at Holy Family?
When I look back on my time at Holy Family, I do not think of a specific event or moment; I speak about the space that created long-term relationships in a shared growth journey. If we talk about 'family values,' this is not just a fun catchphrase; it is truly lived out. I remember each member of the community always supporting and challenging me to be a better person; the most memorable experiences were the moments when our family never gave up on me.
How did Holy Family challenge you to grow personally and professionally?
Holy Family challenged my entire core and opened so many doors that I did not realize were right in front of me. From providing an internship with the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to scholarship opportunities to continue my studies with the Kosciuszko Foundation in Krakow, Poland, Holy Family challenged me to reach beyond myself and serve a community as if it were my own. The small little pushes that so many provided created more opportunities that have propelled me into my professional career within the Roman Catholic Church.
What is your career? How did your time at Holy Family guide you?
My career has been in service at the institutional level of the Roman Catholic Church in various sees, including dioceses in Illinois and New Jersey. By witnessing the University's core values and spirituality, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth instilled a life a service that eventually called me to my current line of work. The Church completes its mission by those who sacrifice with great love. The great love Holy Family provided laid the foundation for my existing service to the mission of Jesus Christ and those who are most vulnerable and in need.
How do you hope your support will make Holy Family a better place?
I hope that my support to Holy Family will continue to build on what the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth saw so many years ago, a chance to educate students to assume lifelong responsibilities towards God, society, and self.
Our world is in desperate need of servant leaders willing to make the sacrifice for their neighbors. Holy Family is that sacred space to cultivate that within a person, and I pray and hope that many more will, through my humble support, be given that chance to grow into the servant leader they were created to be.
Why would you encourage fellow alumni to give back to Holy Family?
To my fellow alumni family, we stand where we are in our careers and communities because Holy Family saw who we were and who we would become. Even if that was decades ago or just a few years, Holy Family instilled that idea of selfless care for another. Today we have that chance to continue to support our family and all its future members so that many more can experience that great love and truly transform our world. We give back in gratitude for the great gift given to us. I encourage you to join me in honoring that gift of family we all share.