On Thursday, April 9th at 7:00 PM, at our candle-lit seated dinner, we are honored to host Raj Bhakta, Founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and BHAKTA Spirits, and former candidate for the United States Congress.

​Born to a Gujarati father from India and an Irish Catholic mother, Raj grew up in Philadelphia shaped by two worlds and spent decades searching for where they led.

​He has built and lost companies, run for Congress, stared at empty Vermont farmland waiting for God to speak, and turned a chance discovery of century-old Armagnac in rural France into one of America's most remarkable spirits ventures.

​Most recently, he made national headlines for gifting for free the former Green Mountain College campus a $20 million property, seeking someone with a vision for the revival of Western Christian civilization and the Catholic Faith.

​At Fides, Raj will share:

• ​What it means to wait on God and have Him answer in ways you never imagined

• How faith became the quiet center of his entrepreneurial life — not a brand, but a backbone

• Why he is giving away a $20 million campus in search of a Catholic civilization worth building

• What it looks like to take things that are broken and bring them back in business, in culture, and in the Church

Who should attend:

• Young Catholics discerning how faith and entrepreneurship belong together

• Founders and operators who have hit bottom and rebuilt

• Professionals wrestling with what success is actually for

Evening Schedule

​18:45 – Doors Open — Settle in and meet fellow mission-driven Catholics.

​19:00 – Cocktail Reception

​19:30 – Seated for Dinner — Appetizer and dinner are served.

​20:00 – Talk Begins — Raj shares reflections on faith, failure, restoration, and the long game.

​20:45 – Q&A — A conversation on providence, culture, and what it means to build with conviction.

​21:00 – Networking & Social — Continue the conversation over refreshments.

​23:00 – Doors Close

Attire

Business Formal (Suit and tie for men, suit/dress for women)

May 15, 2025 · New York City (exact location to be announced) · Black Tie

On May 15th, Fides Entrepreneurship hosts its largest event of the year, an annual fundraising gala honoring three extraordinary figures whose lives make the case that faith, lived seriously and without apology, produces some of the most remarkable entrepreneurs and leaders of our time.

The evening opens with a special address by Sam Goodwin, one of the few people in history to have visited all 193 countries, bestselling author of Saving Sam, and holder of a doctorate in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins. In 2019, while attempting his 180th country, Sam was detained by Syrian government forces and accused of being an American spy. He spent 63 days in captivity, 27 of them in solitary confinement 50 feet underground, surviving through a strict daily routine and his Catholic faith. His "Winning Through Uncertainty" framework now equips leaders around the world to navigate chaos and emerge stronger.

Three remarkable figures will then each receive the Fides Entrepreneurship Award:
Father Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez, "Fray Tormenta." The real Nacho Libre. A Mexican priest who, facing desperate financial need to fund his orphanage in Texcoco, made one of the most audacious decisions in the history of faith-driven entrepreneurship: he became a professional luchador. Training in secret at 4:00 AM before morning Mass, Father Sergio wrestled for 23 years, raising over 2,000 children in the process.

Eduardo Verástegui, Mexican actor, film producer, and founder of Metanoia Films. His 2023 film Sound of Freedom brought global attention to the crisis of child trafficking and earned him a private audience with Pope Francis. He will offer a preview of his upcoming projects at Fides.

Jordi Vilasuso, Cuban-American Emmy Award-winning actor, co-founder of The Code Red Foundation, and a man of deep faith. Jordi will also make a special public announcement on the evening, the first reveal of a new project rooted in faith and service.

"Fray Tormenta spent 23 years in a wrestling mask to feed orphaned children. Eduardo Verástegui turned a production company into a weapon against child trafficking. Jordi Vilasuso uses his platform to build foundations and give voice to the vulnerable."
— Luca Zocche, Founder, Fides Entrepreneurship

All ticket proceeds benefit the Student Ticket Fund, ensuring young Catholics from NYU, Columbia, and local Catholic high schools can attend Fides events at no cost, and the Clergy Fund, which guarantees that priests are always present in the room, free of charge.

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM (Doors at 8:00 PM, program begins 9:00 PM)
Venue: New York City
Attire: Black Tie

We would like to thank our sponsors!

Tridentine Brewing began the way the best things do - as a family hobby, passed down through generations. Founded by Jeff Alcorn and his sons Trevor and Cameron, the brewery takes its name from the Traditional Latin Mass, and its motto says everything: Braciare ad majorem Dei gloriam Brewing beer for the grater glory of God. What started in a kitchen, rooted in a grandfather’s wartime faith and love of country, has grown into a commercial craft brewery carrying that same spirit in every can. Faith, family, and country brewed into every batch. You can find out more about their story here.

Catholic Founders is run by my good friend Silas Mähner, and he's on a mission to help Catholics start and grow their businesses so that, through entrepreneurship, we can convert the country in the next 20 years. What sets Catholic founders apart isn't just faith as a backdrop it's the virtues. Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance aren't just spiritual ideals; they're practical tools that shape how we build companies, lead teams, and serve customers.

Catholic entrepreneurship is about building businesses that are not only profitable, but genuinely good rooted in a moral framework that the secular world increasingly lacks. They have a weekly podcast and newsletter that explore these topics with top entrepreneurs like Alessandro Di Santo and distill those into lessons for you and me to take away. I highly encourage you to follow their podcast and newsletter and check out their peer group called the Catholic Founders Guild. You can more information here about his mission.

Founded in 1888, The Catholic Herald transitioned from a weekly newspaper to a monthly magazine in 2014, bringing in-depth Catholic journalism to a modern audience. As a follower of Fides you get a special discounted ‘3 months for $3 subscription! Sign up here to get your special discounted subscription! Click here to know more about them!

Felix Empanadas (Desert Sponsor) has been handfolding tradition since 2017, starting in Charlotte and now bringing their flaky, seed-oil free empanadas to New York's Lower East Side, Optimist Hall, The Alley, and soon Miami. Traditional or fusion, steak or sides every empanada is made the way it should be: by hand, with care, without shortcuts. The kind of food that reminds you that the simplest things, done well, are always worth it. You can find out more about their story here.

Founded in 2005, Roots Run Deep started by my good friend Antonio Motta who was one of our past speakers we invite you to experience the pleasure of Brazil! Was very kind to sponsor us with some of their Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. You can find more information here about their story.

Back in May 2025 Jacob Ciccarelli of Truthly shared at their talk at Old Saint Paticks theirCatholic AI app designed to empower people with instant, reliable Catholic answers to any question or problem. Now backed by clergy, evangelists, and influencers around the world, Truthly has grown to over 100,000 downloads and is partnering with dioceses, seminaries, and ministries to provide priests and religious free access to this powerful tool for evangelization. You can find more information about them here!