A Night to Remember: 2025 Night of the Lion Raises $1.3 Million for Tuition Assistance
President Ryan Aiello reflected on the 2025 Night of the Lion event, hosted at Saint Viator High School on April 12.
“You took my breath away at the Night of the Lion this year. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this event one of the best nights of my career. From the warmth and hospitality you shared with me and my wife, Kelly, to the amazing energy, to the heartfelt wishes, to the incredible treasure you shared, I was overwhelmed. You helped us raise over $1,331,043 for tuition assistance!”
“You took my breath away at the Night of the Lion this year. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this event one of the best nights of my career. From the warmth and hospitality you shared with me and my wife, Kelly, to the amazing energy, to the heartfelt wishes, to the incredible treasure you shared, I was overwhelmed. You helped us raise over $1,331,043 for tuition assistance!”
At the sold-out Night of the Lion fundraiser in April, Christine and Matt Boler ’84 received the 2025 Saint Viator Legacy Award, which recognizes extraordinary commitment from an individual or family to the school. Christine and Matt Boler have demonstrated that dedication through their strong commitment to the school over the years and through their active leadership.
Their commitment to Saint Viator and Catholic education goes back to the early days of their marriage, when the couple moved from the city to the Northwest suburbs once they started having children. They gravitated back to the Palatine area, where Matt and his four siblings had grown up, and to St. Theresa Catholic School and, ultimately, Saint Viator High School.
“When you think about it, you’re turning your kids over to someone for 70% of the day,” Matt says. “In thinking about that, it was really important to us that the teachers and the school have the same values and faith as we have. We felt that the formation of the person was far more important than anything else.”
Ultimately, Matt and Christine remain committed to helping Saint Viator distinguish itself—academically and athletically—as a leader in Catholic education, and they encourage others to join them.
“It is critically important for the future of the Catholic Church to teach kids about their faith,” Matt says. “Viatorians have been uniquely focused on accompanying high school students in their faith development, and we admire that. “Take a leap of faith,” he says, “take a seat at the table and get involved.”
The Night of the Lion is a celebratory night where alumni, parents, and friends of Saint Viator gather to raise funds to benefit the tuition assistance program. As the cost of education continues to increase each year, there is an urgent need to offer meaningful tuition assistance to our students. “I was excited to see the vested interest in our school’s future. Together, we will build a stronger and even better Saint Viator High School,” remarked Aiello.
Saint Viator High School
Located in Arlington Heights, IL, Saint Viator High School is a private, co-ed, Catholic school for grades 9-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
