Though Mount Carmel High School closed its doors in 1976, its alumni have not forgotten the excellent education they received at the Carmelite-run secondary school in South Los Angeles as well as at the area Catholic elementary schools from which they graduated.

Members of the Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation (MCAF), encompassing approximately 2,000 graduates of the former high school at 71st and Hoover streets, provide support and financial assistance to the Carmelite Community and to several inner-city Catholic schools in Deanery 16 near the secondary school's old site.

Richard Monteilh, a member of Mount Carmel's last graduating class, MCAF board member and vice-principal of St. Odilia School, is involved with the foundation's efforts in promoting the Catholic Schools Academic Junior High Decathlon taking place March 15 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

"The idea is to get more Deanery 16 schools involved with the decathlon," said Monteilh, St. Odilia's decathlon coach. "We hope decathlon participants get an understanding that they can compete at the academic level."

MCAF is sponsoring St. Odilia's 13-member decathlon team by supplementing the additional costs for fees and textbooks and finding volunteers to help coach the 13-member decathlon team. The foundation has also provided financial assistance to Deanery 16 schools towards fostering AJHD programs among the 13 elementary schools.

"While the Deanery 16 decathletes may lack the best 'cutting edge' educational tools, they do not lack the heart or the commitment to compete," said Gerald Kelly, MCAF treasurer and '63 Mount Carmel High School alum. In a recent issue of "The Crusader," MCAF's newsletter, Kelly urges fellow alumni to contribute to the decathlon project "or even consider adopting a Catholic grammar school, perhaps the one you graduated from."

Last year, MCAF donated $2,000 to each Deanery 16 elementary school. The majority of the schools used the money for students' tuition assistance. Other schools used the financial gift to purchase computer program upgrades, library furniture and textbooks.

"We are looking for help from other charitable foundations, individual donors and volunteers to work in collaboration with MCAF," said Katie Strachan, MCAF executive administrator and granddaughter of a Mount Carmel alum.

MCAF's ultimate goal is to have more Deanery 16 schools participate in the decathlon. This year, seven Deanery 16 schools will participate in the decathlon, including: Mother of Sorrows, Nativity, St. Raphael, St. Odilia, St. Columbkille, St. Frances X. Cabrini and St. Malachy.

The foundation's annual Padre Golf Tournament, scheduled May 19 at the Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills, is MCAF's main fundraiser. Last year, MCAF provided financial assistance in excess of $50,000 to inner-city Catholic elementary schools and the Carmelite Fathers. For information on the golf tournament, contact Tom Forgue, (714) 778-5555, or Katie Strachan, (714) 918-4515; kstrachan@kelly-co.com.