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Advancement: Spirit of Xaverian Gala, the Gift of Scholarship and the newly renovated Performing Arts Center
November 14, 2019
The Xaverian community gathers annually at the Spirit of Xaverian Gala to recognize those among us who have achieved great things — professionally and in their volunteer work — and more importantly, in living lives that emulate the values of the Xaverian Brothers. Xaverian’s mission, a part of daily life at 7100 Shore Road, instills in our students a commitment to faith and service to community. This year the Gala will be held on November 14, 2019 at The Liberty Warehouse 260 Conover Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Proceeds from the Gala benefit Xaverian’s annual Clipper Fund. Questions regarding the Gala may be directed to Eileen Long Chelales P’26 at ELong@xaverian.org or (718) 836-7100 x197. Honorees
Spirit of Xaverian Award Recipient Michael T. Strianese ’74
is the retired chairman, president and chief executive officer of L3, a global aerospace and national security company with 2013 sales of $12.6 billion and approximately 48,000 employees worldwide.
Bernard McQuillan Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Thad Dupper ’75 has spent a career in technology, currently as CEO of Secure64, a cyber software company. Prior to that, he was Chairman & CEO of Evolving Systems (NASDAQ: EVOL) from 2007 until 2016. Mr. Dupper is a lifelong advocate of the U.S. Navy and a member of the Tailhook Association, having made four carrier arrested landings on the USS John C. Stennis, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Carl Vinson (2). He is the author of two techno-thriller novels, Attack on Nantucket and The Torchlight Gambit.
Michael J. Aiello,
Esq. ’87 is Chairman of the Corporate Department of the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Michael regularly represents public companies and Boards of Directors in connection with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, hostile takeovers and defense and other contests for corporate control and shareholder activism. He also advises clients on corporate governance matters.
Joseph Quinn, U.S.
Army (Ret.) ’98 is the Executive Director of the Headstrong Project, a national non-profit working to heal the hidden wounds of war for post-9/11 veterans through cost-free, bureaucracy-free, stigma-free, confidential mental health treatment.
St. Francis Xavier Award Recipient Elizabeth Mezzacappa
P’20 ’21 is a mother, volunteer and lifelong learner. An active member of her community, she has worked with the GRACE Foundation for 22 years, volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop leader for 11 years, and helped raise funds for charities including the Stephen Siller Foundation and the MHE Coalition.
XAVERIAN’S TAKE A SEAT CAMPAIGN is an opportunity to honor or recognize a family member, friend, teacher, classmate or specific group by sponsoring a seat. The $500.00 donation will assist in defraying the cost of the newly renovated performing arts center, which includes all new windows, audio visual technology system and a new and expanded stage for performances.
Each sponsored seat will bear a customized engraved plaque on the back.
For more information regarding the Take A Seat campaign, please visit www.xaverian.org/takeaseat, or contact Eileen Long Chelales P’26, Director of Advancement at (718) 836-7100 x197 or elong@xaverian.org.
The GIFT of Scholarship
Xaverian has always benefited from the kindness and generosity of its Clippers. Today, more than $3.7 million is given out each year in scholarships funded by the members of our community, for which we are forever thankful.
Julian Singh ’20
Recipient of the Class of 1965 Scholarship
“Receiving The Class of 1965’s scholarship was definitely a source of motivation for me. Knowing that I was chosen for something as prestigious as a full scholarship from Xaverian alumni who really cared about my success has motivated me to consistently do my best in school. I want to prove to everyone who supported me that it was worth it, and hopefully one day, I can do the same.”
Olivia Hamel ’20
Recipient of the Gilligan Family Scholarship
“The scholarship I received from the Gilligan family was one of the biggest blessings I could have as an incoming freshman and even now as a senior. By giving me the opportunity to attend Xaverian, the Gilligans have helped shape me into someone who will have the tools and the knowledge to give back to the community in the future.”
The Brian Hudec Scholarship Fund
“We are proud to support Xaverian in its endeavor to reward students for their academic achievement or participation in community service and to assist students in need of financial aid. We strongly believe that students who meet the criteria and wish to attend Xaverian should have the opportunity to do so. The Brian Hudec Scholarship Fund, in memory of our son, was established for that purpose, and it is rewarding to know that the scholarship helps to offset the cost of a recipient’s tuition. Simply put, it has been, and continues to be, a privilege to support Xaverian.”
–– Linda Hudec, mother of Brian Hudec ’00
Tommy Meo, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
“Our brother, Tommy Meo, Jr. wanted to go to Xaverian when he was older and unfortunately never got the chance. Our family chooses to give a scholarship to Xaverian so that another child can live Tommy’s dream. This is most important to us because we know that our brother is still being introduced to this world and for beautiful reasons.”
— Jackie Scollo and Gina Gampero, sisters of Tommy Meo, Jr.
STOCK TRANSFER
Randal Jean-Baptiste ’88
“I give with appreciated stock because of the tax advantages. By giving with appreciated securities,
I do not pay taxes on the gains and can pass those along to the organizations that I wish to support. In many cases, it encourages me to increase my giving by the tax savings. In my opinion, it is the smartest way to give!”
WAYS TO GIVE
There are many ways in which you can contribute to Xaverian and help today’s Clippers receive an enriching academic and extracurricular experience.
The Clipper Fund is our annual fund which helps Xaverian with operational aid, merit and need based aid for our school and students. Gifts of Remembrance
Gifts of this nature are made in honor of another individual or in memory of a loved one.
Cash
This is the most frequent way in which individuals support Xaverian through checks or online gifts. To make a donation, visit www.xaverian.org/donate. • Recurring payments can be made directly from your debit or credit card. • Gifts of cash are fully tax-deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income.
Matching Gifts
Many corporations can double or even triple your annual contribution. Check with your company’s personnel or human resources department to find out if they will match your charitable contributions. They will provide the details on how to apply.
Stock
Xaverian welcomes gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual funds which provides a fantastic tax-incentive method to support the school. Often it is more beneficial to transfer stock directly to Xaverian because you avoid a capital gains tax on any increased value and also receive an income tax deduction at the full market value of the stock. Charitable IRA Rollover and Donor Advised Funds
are also great ways to support Xaverian.
JOIN THE WHITCOME SOCIETY
The Whitcome Society are members of our community who make plans to support Xaverian philanthropically through estate planning. Whitcome Society members have utilized the following opportunities:
Bequests
This gift is a special remembrance of Xaverian in your will. In addition to the special assistance given to Xaverian, this generous gift usually results in a significant estate tax savings.
Charitable Remainder Trust
This deferred gift usually has special benefits to you as well as Xaverian. A gift of appreciated property can be the means for significant tax savings, an attractive annuity and an impressive “tax free” legacy to your family.
RECURRING GIFT
Anthony Pescetto ’12
“I think giving back and paying it forward is so important. I was lucky enough to benefit from the kindness of others that gave back to Xaverian in order to help me have an amazing experienced. That’s why giving back even a little bit each month to a fund that can help pay for a student’s uniform on a sports team, provide funding so the stage crew can get better materials, or countless other small ways my donation can be put to good use ensures that I can help at least one student enjoy and get everything possible out of their high school experience, just as I did.” Anthony is currently a Business Relationship Associate at Signature Bank. He recently married his high school sweetheart, Noel, who he met through Dramatic/Stage Crew almost a decade ago. Xaverian, Fall 2019 25
A RENAISSANCE CLIPPER
MICHAELMEN RAISE MILLIONS TO SUPPORT XAVERIAN
Dr. Philip J. Whitcome ’66 attended Xaverian on a scholarship — in fact, he was one of the first Michaelmen scholarship recipients — and went on to earn a BS in Physics from Providence College. From there, he received an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from UCLA. Professionally, Dr. Whitcome was a highly respected and successful neuroscientist and businessman serving as an officer of numerous biotech companies including Bristol Meyers Squibb.
In 1995, he became an active alumnus. His recommendations became part of a strategic plan to increase fundraising levels and develop a significant endowment fund to ensure the school’s financial well-being and keep tuition competitive. Dr. Whitcome served Xaverian as a Trustee and ultimately Chairman of the Board. The Whitcome Society, named in honor and memory of Dr. Whitcome, is Xaverian’s Planned Giving Society through which life gifts are made to ensure the future of Xaverian through Clipper Fund, Endowment, Scholarship and Programmatic support. A benefactor, school trustee and a true Christian Gentleman who attributed his incredible professional success to the education he received at Xaverian, Dr. Whitcome knew the important role that philanthropy would have for the future of Xaverian. Today, his estate gift has contributed more than $11 million to Xaverian’s endowment.
Opened in 1926, St. Michael’s Diocesan High School was the predecessor of Xaverian. The last graduating class from St. Michael’s was 1960, and Xaverian’s first graduating class was 1961.
Dating back to 1993, the St. Michael’s Diocesan High School Alumni Association, whose motto is “The School That Would Not Die,” has provided scholarship and annual support and has raised funds for the building of the beautiful St. Michael’s Chapel at Xaverian. In total, the “Michaelmen” have raised $4,593,539 in support of Xaverian and the work of the Xaverian Brothers.
We thank you, for it is in your unwavering support of Xaverian that our Clippers are given the opportunity to chart their own course, create their own destiny, and capitalize on what your generosity has allowed to become the finest Catholic education one could hope for!
For a full list of our donors, visit www.xaverian.org/annualreport.
IT IS THE SET OF THE SAILS, NOT THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND THAT DETERMINES WHICH WAY WE WILL GO.
– Jim Rohn
