Eight Catholic Schools Receive SAGE 2016 Awards for Excellence in Advancement

The Healey Education Foundation awarded $50,000 tonight for excellence in enrollment management and fundraising by Catholic schools. The awards were presented at the Foundation’s fourth annual Celebration of Achievement attended by 248 guests at the Union League of Philadelphia.

More than 40 student performers from St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ) entertain guests at the program’s opening. Their final number: “I Want to Set the World on Fire.”

Three schools from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were among the winners, including Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School (Philadelphia), recipient of both the $15,000 Founder’s Award and an Enrollment Award. Two schools in the Diocese of Allentown, two in the Diocese of Camden and one in the Archdiocese of Baltimore also earned awards.

The Reverend Daniel R. J. Joyce of the Society of Jesus spoke at the event. Father Joyce is Executive Director of Mission Programs and Director of the Alliance of Catholic Education at Saint Joseph’s University. He is also a Senior Fellow in The Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Catholic schools have over decades helped shape good citizens,” Father Joyce said. “They give our children a spirituality that allows them to be self-possessed but not too proud.”

Rev. Daniel R. J. Joyce, S.J. addresses SAGE 2016 attendees. He stressed the need for involving a wide variety of people in the generative process required to create tomorrow’s opportunities in Catholic education. “We need to keep widening our circle,” he said.

He spoke of the need to “make the case for what we do in Catholic schools,” suggesting a more intentional approach to telling the story of Catholic education “with a little more tenacity than we have in the past.”

Father Joyce addressed an audience of philanthropic leaders, diocesan officials, pastors, school principals, and school advancement, development and admissions directors all united around the mission and work of Catholic school sustainability.

The evening began with a musical performance by students of St. Mary School (Vineland, NJ), recipient of the 2015 Founder’s Award. The Foundation’s newest partners in Saint Paul and Minneapolis were featured via a video of the Mass of the Holy Spirit, sponsored and planned by the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE).

Lisa Anderson, Director of Schools who had recently begun work with schools in the Twin Cities, was welcomed by Christine Healey, President of the Healey Education Foundation.

Robert T. Healey, Founder, congratulates Bruce Robinson, President, Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School (Philadelphia). The school received both the $15,000 Founder’s Award and a $5,000 Enrollment Award.

Healey also acknowledged the seven Diocese of Allentown schools that achieved alumni status for successfully learning and practicing the Healey Advancement Methodology.

Jason Morrison, Healey Vice President of Operations, and Kathy Link, Senior Director of Schools, led the awards presentation. Joining on stage was Kim Flaville, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Connelly Foundation, co-sponsor of the Annual Fund Awards.

Robert T. Healey, Founder and Trustee, shared stories of his youth and acknowledged “the cause people” in the audience before presenting the Founder’s Award. The organization’s CFO, Rick DeCarolis, then closed the event with a prayer.

2016 WINNERS – SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT GRANTS FOR EXCELLENCE (SAGE)

FOUNDER’S AWARD ($15,000)

• Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School (Philadelphia) Bruce Robinson, President; Hugh Quigley, Principal; Shaniqua Rudd, Director of Institutional Gifts; Anthony Ragno, Director of Admissions

ENROLLMENT AWARDS ($5,000 EACH)

• Highest Percentage Growth in Enrollment, K-8, Elementary School
  St. Jerome Regional School (Tamaqua, PA), 62.8%
  Amy Hannis-Miskar, Principal; Manda Smarr, Advancement Director
  Achieved through exceptional efforts to increase enrollment through retaining students in the Catholic school system
  
• Highest Percentage Growth in Enrollment, High School
  Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School (Philadelphia), 5.2% Bruce Robinson, President; Hugh Quigley, Principal; Anthony Ragno, Director of Admissions
• Highest Percentage Growth in Enrollment, Healey Alumni School
  Guardian Angels Regional School (Gibbstown and Paulsboro, NJ), 12.4%
  Sr. Jerilyn Einstein, Principal; Marcie Voight, Advancement Director

ANNUAL FUND AWARDS ($5,000 EACH)

• Highest Percentage Growth in the Annual Fund, Elementary School
  Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School (Wallingford, PA), 169%
  Therese Waters, Principal; Linda Rooney, Advancement Director
• Highest Percentage Growth in the Annual Fund, High School
  Cardinal O’Hara High School (Springfield, PA), 24%
  Thomas S. Fertal, President; Jennifer Tuberosa, Director of Institutional Advancement
• Highest Percentage Growth in the Annual Fund, Alumni School or Special Learning Center
  Cape Trinity Catholic School (North Wildwood, NJ), 93%
  Sheila Murphy, Principal; Julie Roche, Advancement Director

SPECIALTY AWARDS

• Retention Award: Highest Percentage of Current Students Re-registering for the 2016-17 Academic Year, Elementary School
  Monsignor Slade Catholic School (Glen Burnie, MD)
  Alexa Cox, Principal; Carrie Hilmer, Advancement Director
• Advancement Staff Awards: Exemplary Achievement as Advancement Director; Director of Development/Admissions
  Elementary School: Trinity Academy (Shenandoah, PA) in recognition of Christine Fannick, Advancement Director
  High School: Cardinal O’Hara High School (Springfield, PA) in recognition of Jennifer Tuberosa, Vice-President of Development
  

Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School (Wallingford, PA) received the award for Highest Percentage Growth in the Annual Fund, Elementary School (169%). From Left: Christine Healey, Foundation President; Beth Missett, Development Chair; Linda Rooney, Advancement Director; Sean O’Reilly, Enrollment Chair; Joe Dougherty, Board Chair; Therese Waters, Principal; Kim Flaville, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Connelly Foundation, award co-sponsor; Rosemary Endres, Business Manager; Mike McArdle, Board Member; Jason Morrison, VP of Operations, Healey Education Foundation; Father Ed Hallinan, Pastor, St. John Chrysostom.

The Healey Education Foundation invests in PK-12 Catholic schools. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 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 fundraising. Since its establishment in 2004, the Foundation has grown to serve more than 60 elementary and high schools across five dioceses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Minnesota.

See related news announcement on Archdiocese of Philadelphia schools. For further information: Contact Valerie Asuncion, Director of Communications, Healey Education Foundation