TEACHERS CELEBRATED DURING GIVING TUESDAY

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December 4, 2020

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Alumni, parents and friends sent a clear message on Giving Tuesday to the faculty and staff at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy—421 donors contributed $120,194 to honor teachers on this year’s global day of giving. They also wrote heartwarming messages to thank the staff for the role they play in students’ lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their gifts will be invested in the school’s response to the pandemic, which includes a new broadcast system to keep constituents informed by text and phone, state-of-the-art classroom technology, a new learning management system, and financial aid for families seeking a Catholic education.

“The good will we heard for teachers and staff on Giving Tuesday was incredible,” said Mark Roberts, vice president for advancement, who oversees philanthropy, alumni relations and communications. “Our goal was to talk with as many constituents as possible over a few days and let them know that every gift matters.”

“Not everyone said yes to a gift. We understand some families weren’t in a position to support us this year,” Roberts continued. “The economic impact of COVID-19 has been far greater on some families more than others. We hope people remember that gifts of every size make a difference. Small gifts add up quickly when a community like ours comes together like it did on Giving Tuesday.”

Roberts also pointed out that 179 alumni and parents made their first annual gift to the school on Giving Tuesday.

Beth Lockhart, director of alumni and donor relations, was instrumental in planning the school’s outreach. She said several alumni and parents volunteered to make it a successful initiative. Volunteers included members of the Board of Trustees’ advancement committee, Mia Burbank P'10, P'17, P'24; Mike Genord P'11, P'13, P'16, P'18; and Jill Seitzinger P'18, P'21; as well as the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s board of directors Liz (Halabu) Casselman NDP'09, Brian Dooley ND'85 P'18, P'21, P'28; Lisa Healy NDP'98, P'25, P'27; Amy Tkac NDP'02, and Meredith (Gifford) Scott NDP'02.

“We’d also like to thank alumna Sarah Brown, current and alumni parents Dan and JP Beaudoin, alumni parents Mike and Mary Durkin, and alumnus Kris Powell for signing our emails for Giving Tuesday. We are grateful to them and everyone who took the time to help us make this a record-breaking day for the school,” she said.

Annual gifts from alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of graduates and other friends play an important role for Notre Dame annually.

“It’s not well known that tuition only covers 80 percent of our operating expenses, much like other Catholic schools,” said Roberts. “Donors help us bridge that gap so we can go on educating students in a typical year. This year has been anything but typical for Notre Dame families, which is why the Board of Trustees and administration are investing in infrastructure and other upgrades to safeguard the school against the virus.”

Gifts that were made on Giving Tuesday are part of the school’s 2020-2021 Annual Appeal, which kicked off in the fall and runs through June 30, 2021. Donors may choose to support the Notre Dame Fund, Financial Aid Fund, or Faculty Excellence Fund. For more information about annual giving, please visit www.ndpma.org/support.

About Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that takes place in all 50 states and in countries around the world during the giving season. For more information, visit www.givingtuesday.org.

For information on enrollment and registration at Notre Dame, please visit the admissions section of our website here.

Comments or questions? dlai@ndpma.org

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.