Saint Patrick High School is proud to announce that it has surpassed its goal for the recent capital campaign, Building a Stronger Future Together – The Campaign for Saint Patrick High School. Launched in 2017, the Campaign sought to raise $7.5 million in cash and commitments, including $5.5 million to support the school’s Endowment and $2 million to build a new STEAM facility.
Through the work of President Dr. Joseph G. Schmidt, AFSC, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Jeff Ardito ’87, the Campaign Core Committee, and the IA Department, the campaign raised $7,885,000 from 57 donors through one-time gifts, pledges over three to five years, and estate plan provisions.
At the outset of the Campaign, former Saint Patrick Board Chairman Robert A. Brullo ‘66 and his wife, Kathy, were excited about the vision for the STEAM program and the countless opportunities the curriculum and a new lab would present for the student body. The Brullos provided a transformational Campaign gift to help make a STEAM Lab possible. As a result, the Brullo Family Science Center (the “STEAM Lab”) was completed in 2017 on the school’s third floor.
With the use of the STEAM Lab, students can participate in more complex lab classes, utilizing a state-of the art “fume hood” which allows for safe demonstrations of chemical reactions and their effects. The STEAM Lab also allows for more collaborative learning, with team-oriented projects requiring hands-on learning, actual problem-solving, and more critical thinking. These enhancements, along with the availability and use of other new STEAM Lab technology, has brought science to life for the school’s STEAM students.
The Campaign has also provided a needed boost for the endowment, making it possible for students who may not otherwise be able to afford a high-quality Catholic education to attend Saint Patrick.
Reflecting back on the Campaign, Dr. Schmidt said, “It was a true honor to be able to speak passionately about growing our endowment and our STEAM curriculum to so many dedicated benefactors. This Campaign and future campaigns to come will undoubtedly provide the necessary funding to make Saint Patrick High School financially accessible for the neighborhood we serve,” he said. “Remaining accessible to as many families as possible is our greatest testimony to the Lasallian mission.”
Accessibility was certainly on the mind of Dick Gadomski ’58 who committed $2,500,000 to the Campaign through a generous pledge and estate plan provision. For his generosity and lifelong commitment to Saint Patrick High School, Gadomski will be honored with the Saint Patrick Legacy Award at the upcoming Shamrock Green + Gold Gala on Thursday, March 11.
Ardito said he is grateful for the generosity of the 57 donors to the Campaign and he looks forward to bringing the special group of benefactors together to unveil a new donor wall when it is safe to gather again. “The successful completion of this campaign marks another significant accomplishment in the rich history of our great school,” he said. “It is very fitting to be able to celebrate this milestone in our 160th school year. I am confident that our efforts with the current campaign, and that of the next few years, will position our school to remain vibrant and viable for decades to come.”
Saint Patrick would like to thank the volunteer Campaign Core Committee members who provided valuable assistance and guidance: Dr. Joseph Burke ’66, President Emeritus Brother Konrad Diebold, FSC, Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Board Chairman Mick O’Rourke ’86, Vice Board Chairman Greg Josefowicz ’70 and Former Board Chairman William McManaman ’65.
Finally, Saint Patrick would like to thank the 57 donors who contributed to the Campaign and made it possible to expand the reach and quality of education at the school today, while providing greater hope and opportunity for the future.
