Paul Esch

Cristo Rey High School Sacramento transforms lives by providing a Catholic, College preparatory education and professional work experience to high school students with very limited financial resources.

At Cristo Rey, students work 5 days each month in local businesses to help offset the cost of their education. They know that education and a college degree will open opportunities. Through the Work Study Program model, students are helping themselves, demonstrating their commitment and changing the trajectory of their lives.

The educational opportunities Cristo Rey provides for low-income youth is unparalleled in the Greater Sacramento region. Educating and partnering with these motivated students who work diligently academically and in the workplace, Cristo Rey is helping these well deserving students succeed.

Currently over 80 corporations, businesses and non-profit organizations sponsor Cristo Rey students. With this model, students are able to offset nearly 60% of the cost of their education, and upon graduation, they will have more than 1,200 hours of real work experience. 

The class of 2025 had 75 graduating seniors, and 320 acceptances have been received at 92 different four-year universities, with 48% accepted into a UC school. 3 were accepted at UCLA, 3 were accepted at UC Berkeley, 1 accepted at College of the Holy Cross, 1 accepted at Georgetown University.

The Capital Cup adapts the historic Ryder Cup format—steeped in tradition—to promote community pride, healthy competition, and raise money for the Sacramento region’s most deserving charities. Each year, leaders from the Sacramento region are divided into two teams for an exciting 3-day golf competition. Donors have the opportunity to support their favorite player (or their favorite charity), as each player is competing to benefit his or her favorite charitable organization. The winning team's designated charities share a prize fund of $100,000! The tournament started with the ambitious goal of raising $250,000 in its first year. When it well surpassed that goal, the tournament committee raised the bar, and has continued to do so every year since—and every year, the participating golfers exceed expectations. The Capital Cup has raised more than $18 million over its history.