Impact Gala 2026

St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy (PMA) is a co-ed Catholic school for grades 9-12 in Downey, serving over 600 students. This year, the school is hosting its biennial Impact Gala on April 25th at Bella Verde Golf Course! This event honors those who have made their mark on this school and given back in enormous ways. This year’s honorees are Fr. Samuel Ward, Kathleen Aikenhead of the William H. Hannon Foundation, and LaTanya Sheffield, PX ‘81. We hope you will join us in an evening of celebration, all in support of PMA’s stability and longevity.

This evening will benefit St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy and its greatest needs- supporting tuition assistance for its students and supplementing wage increases for the passionate and talented educators who ensure PMA students can grow in their faith, learn without limits, and live with a purpose. Currently, over 85% of PMA students demonstrate need to afford a PMA education. With the help of generous benefactors, over $3 million was allocated in tuition assistance and scholarships in 2025-2026. A gift to PMA is magnified by its results, as over 90% of PMA students matriculate directly to a college or university upon graduation. Among PMA’s recent graduates are Posse and Gates Scholars, future medical professionals, lawyers, engineers, NBA hopefuls, talented artists, athletes, future educators, and more.

The Honorees Include:

Fr. Sam Ward, ordained on May 31st, 2003, has served as the chaplain at St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy for 21 years! In 2021, he was appointed head pastor of St. Raymond Church, where he serves to this day. Having also been placed at St. Helen Church in South Gate and St. Emydius Church in Lynwood, Fr. Sam is a long-time fixture of both PMA’s community and the region at large. Fr. Sam proudly stewarded the next generation of priests by working in the vocations office from 2013-2021, being promoted from Assistant Director to Director during that time. It is rare for a priest to have multiple assignments close together, but it has been God’s plan for Fr. Sam to have such a close and long-standing relationship with this community. We are truly blessed!

Kathleen Aikenhead, niece of William H. Hannon, has been on the board of directors for the William H. Hannon Foundation since its inception in 1983. She has served as president since 1994. She was the chairman for the Board of Trustees at Loyola Marymount University for 5 years. She was also a trustee of the Catholic Education Foundation, and president of the Los Angeles Travel and Tourism Education Foundation. The William H. Hannon Foundation is dedicated to Catholic education and supports tuition assistance for many schools across the greater LA area. We are grateful for Kathleen and the William H. Hannon Foundation for all the lives they have changed.

LaTanya Sheffield PX ‘81, served as the Team USA Head Women’s Track and Field Coach for the 2024 Paris Olympics. At Pius X High School, Sheffield was a cheerleader turned sprinter when the squad joined Track and Field for conditioning. She took to the sport and went on to become an Olympian herself. Under her coaching, the US Women's Track and Field team has brought home 6 Gold Medals, 4 Silver, and 4 Bronze. Additionally, the US took both the 1st and 2nd places on the podium in LaTanya’s winning event, the 400-meter hurdle! LaTanya has coached over 13 seasons of Track and Field at California State University, Long Beach. She now serves as their Director of Track and Field.

Surprise Honoree: Due to their lifetime of civil service, and to respect the nature of their office, our final honoree will be named at the event. We hope to see the Pius X Classes of ‘75-79 in attendance to recognize this incredible Warrior.