2023 American Catholic Press Benefit

The American Catholic Press (ACP) benefit is held on Friday, December 1, 2023. Reception begins at 6:00 p.m. with dinner starting at 7:00 p.m. The venue for this benefit is Olympia Fields Country Club, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. You get there by going south on I-57 Expressway, exiting eastbound at Vollmer Road, and turning south on Western Avenue. Just after Joe Orr Road, you turn west, on the west side of Western, onto Country Club Road. After about a quarter mile, you come to a watchman and a barrier; the club is gated. You identify yourself to the watchman at the gate; just say that you are there for the American Catholic Press benefit. The watchman then causes the barrier to go up. You then proceed forward and park in the lot in front of the main building, which you enter. No further identification is required. Click here for a local map of the area. Here is a link to a video of Olympia Fields Country Club.

The Gratiam Dei Award

The 2023 Gratiam Dei Award is given to State Representative Anthony DeLuca.

Anthony DeLuca

State Representative Anthony DeLuca is the chairman of the House Cities & Villages Commitee. He has passed leadership term limits and ethics reform. He works to eliminate excessive regulation, to help business in Illinois. He promotes improvement of our transportation network, especially a third regional airport and the Illiana Expressway.

Honorable Anthony DeLuca was President of the Bloom Township H.S. district board of education. As president, he helped expand the local industrial education program.

As mayor of Chicago Heights, he cut wasteful spending, balanced the city budget and improved public safety. He engineered a policy to get unused property back on the tax rolls.

Representitive DeLuca has been given numerous leadership awards, too. In 2023, for his service to the common good, he receives the American Catholic Press Gratiam Dei Award.

The Henry Hyde Award

The 2023 Henry Hyde Award is presented to Mark and Karen Bajenski.

Mark and Karen Bajenski

Stevie Bajenski

In 2010, Mark and Karen Bajenski founded their foundation, "Do It Stevie's Way 2:19."

This foundation hosts an annual tournament, awards scholorships to students at Mt. Carmel High School, and contributes to other foundations, such as the Ronald McDonald House.

Overall, their foundation has awarded over half a million dollars in scholorships and support to families in need of deserving children.

They and their foundation have done much good in memory of their late son, Stevie. They richly deserve the 2023 American Catholic Press Henry Hyde Award.