By Erin Michelle Herbert - Cardinal Gibbons HS
Photographer: COURTESY | Darryl Nobles
The Gunther family poses together with their commemorative plaque following the halftime recognition ceremony. Back row, from left: James Gunther, PJ Healey, Reece Healey (child being held), Jay Gunther, Terry Gunther. Front row, from left: Taylor Gunther Healey, Peyton Healey, Graeme Healey.
FORT LAUDERDALE | Cardinal Gibbons High School has received a $250,000 gift to the Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future Capital Campaign from Gunther Motor Company.
The gift was announced during the halftime ceremony of the school’s homecoming game, Oct. 25. Representatives from the Gunther family were brought onto the Dr. Bud Tight Field and given a commemorative plaque as a thank you from the Cardinal Gibbons community for the family’s immense generosity and outstanding leadership.
The Gunthers’ donation will help fund the construction of the Phil Smith Family Building, the top priority of the Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future Capital Campaign.
Also in recognition of the donation and the Gunther family’s longstanding support of Cardinal Gibbons, a chief-themed mural, designed by renowned marine-life artist and Gibbons alumnus Dennis Friel, ‘92, was installed on the south side of the baseball dugout.
Photographer: COURTESY | Darryl Nobles
A close up shot of the chief element of the Chief mural, designed by renowned marine-life artist and Cardinal Gibbons alumnus Dennis Friel '92, that was installed on the south side of the high school's baseball dugout in honor of the Gunther family.
The mural, which was unveiled during the announcement of the donation, is dedicated to: Jay Gunther ‘74; Casey Gunther ‘75; Josh Gunther ‘96; Taylor Gunther Healey ‘01; PJ Healey ‘01; Joe Gunther ‘02; and James Gunther ‘12.
Gunther Motor Company and the Gunther family have had a strong philanthropic presence in the South Florida community since opening their first dealership’s doors in 1969. They have supported local organizations including Holy Cross Hospital, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. They currently operate Volkswagen, Volvo, Mazda, KIA and used car dealerships throughout South Florida.
Taylor Gunther Healey, director of philanthropy at Gunther Motor Company, explained, “Our family has been a part of the community for over 50 years and giving back is at the heart of what we do.”
Though the Gunthers have been longtime supporters of Cardinal Gibbons’ athletic programs, Gunther Healey said supporting academics and empowering students at Gibbons has now become a priority.
“There is a great need for a facility like the Phil Smith Family Building at Cardinal Gibbons; times are changing and education is becoming far more advanced,” she said. “I am confident that the impact the Phil Smith Building will have on Cardinal Gibbons students will be tremendous and will only further set apart Cardinal Gibbons graduates.”
The 20,000-square-foot Phil Smith Family Building will be located on the south side of the Cardinal Gibbons gymnasium and will feature an engineering room, choral room and secondary practice space, band studio, digital music lab, a Genius Room and television editing and production studios, as well as collaborative STEAM classrooms and labs.
Photographer: COURTESY | Darryl Nobles
The Chief mural, designed by renowned marine-life artist and Cardinal Gibbons alumnus Dennis Friel ‘92, that was installed on the south side of the baseball dugout in honor of the Gunther family.
