John and Dorothy Shea have been supporting local Catholic schools for more than three decades. Their major giving started with the J. F. Shea Company supplying 30-plus kindergarten and 30-plus Writing to Read portable computer classrooms to urban Catholic schools serving low-income neighborhoods in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

"Our thinking was that we had to help get disadvantaged kids off to a good start in school," explained Dorothy. "We realized how important early intervention was for these children."

During 1994 and '95, the Sheas funded and their company built a new library, cafeteria, multipurpose center, gym and football field at Verbum Dei High School, doubling the size of the Watts all-boy's campus.

The Pasadena couple also provided computer labs to Verbum Dei and, at the time, its consortium sister school, Queen of Angels Academy in Compton. More recently, they funded extensive building projects at Salesian High School in East L.A. and other Catholic urban schools, including St. Raphael and St. Malachy in South-Central Los Angeles.

"If you really want to help inner-city families, the best place to put your efforts and your dollars is in Catholic schools," John stressed. "They are very, very effective."