Advancement

Named Endowed Scholarship Spotlight: The Saas Family

Dear Mr. Saas, Thank you for all you have done for me these past four years at Magnificat. As a senior looking back at my high school career, it makes me very grateful for the scholarship that helped me attend such a fantastic school. Because of your scholarship, I was able to get a great education and life skills that I will be able to use throughout my future. Please know that I keep you and your family in my prayers. I will be forever grateful for your generosity. Again, thank you so much for all the support you have given me for my education. Sincerely, Emily '20

From left to right: Jim Pier, Janet Saas Pier, ’81, Michael Gaul, Julie Saas Gaul, ’90, Bill Saas, Maura Saas, Mark Saas, Holly Saas Rhodes, ’83, Stephen Rhodes.

Magnificat’s Named Endowed Scholarship (NES) program started in 1995 and currently includes 290 scholarships that are endowed by individuals and families who have very generously invested in long-term financial assistance for our young women. Each scholarship supports a student throughout her four years at Magnificat. Throughout their time at Magnificat, scholarship recipients stay in touch with their donors at our annual NES Brunch at the beginning of the school year and through mailed correspondence at Christmas and Easter. And, each spring, graduating recipients and their donors traditionally gather for a special year-end Mass and brunch to celebrate their graduation from Magnificat. This spring, since they could not be together in person, our graduating seniors wrote special notes of gratitude to their donors. Emily ’20 wrote the message above to the Saas Family to thank them for supporting her Magnificat education over the last four years.

Emily’s note is a testament to the impact the Saas Family has had on so many students over the years. In reflecting on his family’s experience of the NES program, Bill Saas said, “It's wonderful to get the letters and the cards and meet the students. I get so much out of meeting the girls at the brunches that are held at the beginning of the school year." Mr. Saas and his family have been supporting Magnificat students with scholarships since 1997. The Saas Family started supporting Magnificat students while Bill’s beloved wife, Rosemary, worked in Magnificat's Advancement Office; Rosemary was passionate about all-girls' faith-based education. "It's important to my family for us to continue Rosemary's love for education through scholarships. It amazes us how sincere and genuine the students and their families are in receiving the scholarships. Everyone is so grateful, which makes it worthwhile for us to continue to support Magnificat students with their education." Because of donors like the Saas Family who support Magnificat through the NES program and The Magnificat Fund, Magnificat is able to provide financial aid support for over 65 percent of the student body. We are forever grateful for the continued support of the Saas family and each of our donors whose generosity makes a Magnificat education affordable for many young women.

If you are interested in learning more about how to establish a Named Endowed Scholarship Fund, contact Amy Kubacki, Vice President of Advancement, at akubacki@maghs.org.

Thank you to all who contributed to the COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund and The Magnificat Fund!

The 2019-2020 school year was one unlike any other. Faced with a global pandemic and the uncertainty it brings, students and faculty successfully transitioned to online learning in mid-March for the remainder of the school year. Knowing that many families may experience financial uncertainty and hardship due to the pandemic, the Magnificat community came together to establish the COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund. While The Magnificat Fund helps us meet unexpected needs as they come up throughout the year, the COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund has enabled us to provide aid to more than 110 families to help cover the cost of tuition for both the spring semester and the coming school year. Despite the unprecedented challenges of the year, we are proud to report that we broke another school record for The Magnificat Fund! Thanks to our alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, we raised over $390,000 to advance Magnificat’s Mission. Your generosity year after year makes it possible for Magnificat to provide innovative academics, programming, and leadership development, all of which is grounded in the values and tradition of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. Thank you for your support!

The Class Agent Program is an extension of Magnificat High School’s Advancement Team that helps raise critical funds for The Magnificat Fund. This program consists of a network of alumnae class representatives who work with their peers to support Magnificat.

Carol O'Malley Richardson and her husband Brad.

Both Pamela Petrella Wolff ’76 and Carol O’Malley Richardson ’76 have been hardworking and dedicated Class Agents since the start of the program in 2018. This dynamic duo brings their love for Magnificat to the forefront when it comes to engaging their classmates and garnering support for The Magnificat Fund. “As an alumna, mother of an alumna (Grace '11) former staff member, and Class Agent, I was blessed with seeing the many facets of Magnificat’s positive impact. I support Magnificat because it forms students—one student at a time—to become caring, joyous, generous, intelligent leaders who are ready to make their mark on a needy world,” says Carol. Pamela and Carol understand why alumnae support of The Magnificat Fund is essential, and their objective as Class Agents is to share that knowledge and their enthusiasm for Magnificat with their classmates. The Magnificat Fund enables Magnificat to invest in curriculum and technology, provide more financial support to families, and expand our athletic, co-curricular, and faith-formation opportunities.

Pamela Petrella Wolff and family at her granddaughter's Baptism.

Describing how important the unique Magnificat experience was to her, Pamela says, “As an alumna I am forever grateful for my Magnificat education because it allowed me to thrive as a high school student. Magnificat both supported and allowed me to grow within my faith. I choose to support Magnificat for the students. I want them to have the same great experience as I did.” While the Class Agent program requires volunteer hours from our dedicated alumnae, it’s not all hard work! “The Class Agent program has been enjoyable. Having to reach out and request monetary donations is never easy, but I know it makes a profound difference for Magnificat students. Being part of the phonathon, working with other alumnae and parents, was both invigorating and inspiring. I would especially like to thank my classmates who answered the call, literally. I truly enjoyed hearing your voices again and reminiscing about our shared experiences. As we strive to be a community that reaches out to students of all economic backgrounds, the need for financial support is greater today than ever,” said Carol.

All of our Class Agents are helping Magnificat make a profound impact on our students' high school experience. If you are interested in joining the Class Agent Program or would like to learn more, contact Theresa Day at tday@maghs.org or Maggie Mroz Lamb ’84 at mlamb@maghs.org.