Mr. John Gorman originally established this endowment to help start a local Irish Heritage Festival honoring the contributions of early Irish immigrant settlers to Southern WV. As the festival is now an annual event with other funding sources, the fund was renamed and the income directed each year to St. Francis DeSales School in Beckley, WV. John Gorman was born in Elmira, NY in 1927. He proudly served in the US Army and was an alumnus of Notre Dame and worshipped at Saint Francis DeSales. John was known for his generosity, concern for others’ well-being, and dedication to his adopted community of Raleigh County.
