Development
Architectural renderings of the soon-to-be upgraded Smith Gym
Refreshing and Enhancing a Sacred Space BY DIANE SALZMAN, VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
During the past 18 months, we have reimagined our various fundraising events, including our single largest initiative, the Auction. For a second consecutive year, we were faced with the question of how best to engage our alumni, current and past parents, and friends of Jesuit High School as we aimed to create a sense of virtual community and assist essential programs dependent upon fundraising efforts.
Recognizing the importance of refreshing the Smith Gym to provide a sacred space for Mass and the need to raise funds for tuition assistance, we created the Changing Lives Together initiative in place of our traditional Auction in May. On April 26, we launched a two-week digital campaign which featured a virtual fundraising event on Saturday, May 8. Throughout the two weeks and during the Saturday event, we shared inspiring stories of how Jesuit impacts students’ lives through faith, community, service, academics, and co-curriculars.
For several years we have discussed creating an enhanced sacred space for the most important hour of every week at Jesuit – Friday Mass. Students and parents alike have asked how we can improve the technology, lighting, and seating in the Smith Gym for our Friday Masses.
Our hosts for the May 8 event, Nina Mehlhaf ’98 and Dale Johannes with Artisan Auctions, were energetic and enthusiastically encouraged viewers to support the campaign. To date, we have raised over $900,000 for the spring initiative! We will continue the Changing Lives Together campaign as we aspire to raise a total of $3 million for the Smith Gym refresh. A key component of the virtual event was a matching gift presented by Renee James and Steven Cooney and Sean ’82 and Jennifer O’Scannlain. Each family donated $50,000 to the campaign and challenged our community to collectively give 50 gifts of $1,000. Our audience rose to the occasion.
We are in the wonderful predicament of needing a larger space for Mass and the Smith Gym is one of the few places on campus that can accommodate up to 1,000 of our students who want to gather with their friends and classmates to celebrate the Eucharist every week. While the Smith Gym allows for a large number of people to come together, we knew that we could provide a more reverent, intimate setting – a sacred space – for our Friday liturgy.
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