Foundation Delivers $50K in SAGE Awards to Catholic Schools
In its sixth annual awarding of School Advancement Grants for Excellence (SAGE), the Healey Education Foundation team went On the Road to deliver prize money as the organization’s senior executives revealed the winners online via a Zoom video conference. Robert T. Healey Sr., Founder, and Christine L. Healey, President, announced the recipients of $50K total in merit-based awards as partner school principals, advancement staff, board members and other hopefuls in 29 eligible schools tuned in remotely at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8. The awards recognize significant improvement in enrollment and fundraising as well as innovation by the Foundation’s partner schools.
Robert T. Healey Sr., Founder, and Christine L. Healey, President, announced the recipients of this year’s SAGE awards via a video conference hosted at the Healey Education Foundation’s office in Haddonfield, NJ.
St. Philip Neri School (Linthicum Heights, MD) in the Archdiocese of Baltimore received the $15,000 Founder’s Award for entrepreneurial spirit in action. The school also received Healey’s highest honor in the development awards category – $5,000 for highest percentage growth (50%) in annual fund for a current partner school.
In three years working with the Healey Education Foundation, St. Philip Neri progressed beyond implementing the Healey advancement approaches to learn from others and adopt innovations in 21st century learning. Through a partnership with Notre Dame of Maryland University, the school participated in the Academy of Catholic Educators (ACES) program to inspire and equip teachers to take full advantage of technology in the classroom and a new Maker Space lab. The school’s results included a 12% enrollment growth from 365 to 410 over the prior year and a 25% increase since its partnership with Healey began.
Following the announcement of St. Philip Neri School’s Development and Founder’s Awards, Kate Daley, Principal, held an afternoon assembly for all students to celebrate the school’s achievements.
Eight additional schools in five other dioceses also received awards. Community of Saints Regional Catholic School (West St. Paul, MN) and All Saints Catholic School (Wilmington, DE) were recognized as Founder’s Award runners-up. St. Jerome Regional School (Tamaqua, PA) won for highest percentage growth in enrollment at 20%. St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ) won in the alumni schools’ development category for a 42% increase in its annual fund. Each of these four schools received $5,000.
“In this transition year for our program, we’re excited to continue to acknowledge the achievements of our partner schools,” said Christine L. Healey, President, Healey Education Foundation. “To make SAGE even more amazing, we’re creating a future event that better engages our alumni schools, creates community around learning experiences, and also celebrates successes.” The Foundation successfully tested a learning component at SAGE 2017 with the addition of an afternoon presentation, panel discussion and Q&A titled The Visionary Board: Leading Your Catholic School Due North.
SAGE 2018 WINNERS — HEALEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
FOUNDER’S AWARD ($15,000)
St. Philip Neri School (Linthicum Heights, MD)
Mrs. Kate Daley, Principal; Mrs. Sue Wenzlick, Advancement Director; Mrs. Joetta Sterrett, Office Assistant; Father Michael DeAscanis, Pastor; Mr. Garrett O’Day, Board Chair
See St. Philip Neri press release.
FOUNDER’S AWARD RUNNERS-UP ($5,000 EACH)
Community of Saints Regional Catholic School (West St. Paul, MN)
Ms. Bridget Kramer, Principal; Mr. Doug Lieser, Advancement Director
See Congrats, Community of Saints!
All Saints Catholic School (Wilmington, DE)
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Muir, Ed.D., Principal; Mrs. Chantal Scott, Advancement Director
See Congrats, All Saints!
ENROLLMENT AWARDS
Highest Percentage Growth in Enrollment ($5,000)
St. Jerome Regional School (Tamaqua, PA), 20%
Mrs. Amy M. Hannis-Miskar, Principal; Ms. Manda Smarr Beers, Advancement Director
Highest Percentage Growth in Enrollment, Runner-Up ($2,500)
St. Alphonsus Catholic School (Brooklyn Center, MN), 13%
Mrs. Kari Staples, Principal; Ms. Tierney Peters, Advancement Director
DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Highest Percentage Growth in Annual Fund – Current School ($5,000)
St. Philip Neri School (Linthicum Heights, MD), 50%
Mrs. Kate Daley, Principal; Mrs. Sue Wenzlick, Advancement Director
Highest Percentage Growth in Annual Fund – Current School Runner-Up ($2,500)
Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School (Philadelphia), 41%
Mr. Joseph McColgan, President; Mr. Hugh Quigley, Principal
Highest Percentage Growth in Annual Fund – Alumni School ($5,000)
St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ), 42%
Mr. Steven P. Hogan, Principal; Mrs. Carol Kirchman, Advancement Director
Highest Percentage Growth in Annual Fund – Alumni School Runner-Up ($2,500)
St. Ann School (Emmaus, PA), 40%
Mrs. Diana Kile, Principal; Mrs. Lisa Schultz, Advancement Director
SPECIALTY INNOVATION AWARD ($2,500)
St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (Salisbury, MD)
Mrs. Debbie Traum, Principal; Mrs. Sarah Passarell, Advancement Director
This year, 29 schools in six dioceses were eligible for SAGE Awards. Community of Saints Regional Catholic School (West St. Paul, MN), one of two runners-up for the Founder’s Award, was visited by Healey Director of Schools Lisa Anderson to deliver congratulations and prize money.
Healey Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, invests in PK-12 Catholic schools. The Foundation provides a high-impact program delivered through a coaching relationship with dioceses and schools that are ready to embrace change. Healey’s work For the Future of Catholic Schools empowers grant recipients to deliver sustainable results through effective governance, enrollment management and development. Since its establishment in 2004, the Foundation has grown to serve 79 elementary and high schools across six dioceses in Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Foundation also co-founded and continues to support the Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden, NJ, through board participation and an annual grant.
The SAGE awards ceremony and networking experience empower and strengthen the resolve of the community working to revitalize and rejuvenate pride in Catholic schools. In the six years since the premier SAGE event, the Foundation has worked with partner schools to implement enrollment strategies that have impacted 62,000 children. In that same timespan, with the Foundation’s help, partner schools have raised more than $20 million in mission-based revenue through their annual funds.