From Bishop Guilfoyle Academy
Bishop Guilfoyle Academy publicly announced the Called to Lead: The Campaign for Bishop Guilfoyle Academy at a special kickoff event on May 7.
It is the first major capital campaign in the history of the school. BG’s Called to Lead Campaign focuses on four strategic areas:
- Facility upgrades to convey excellence
- The Student Experience which includes support for faculty, technology, infrastructure, classrooms, and athletics
- The new BG Hollidaysburg campus which opened this year and adds a new site for PreK through grade 2, growing to grade 5
- Scholarships and tuition assistance for families.
“The last significant change to our school buildings were in 1985,” stated Joseph Adams, President of Bishop Guilfoyle Academy. “The buildings need to be updated to reflect the experience that is now happening at BG… personal, excellent, and advanced. In addition to facility improvements, funds will go toward faculty compensation and scholarships. BG has a commitment to funding the full need for every family who wants to be part of BG. It is part of our mission and money should not be a barrier. Additionally, the new elementary school in Hollidaysburg has supported growing enrollment, yet there is an investment period while we add grades at that campus.”
According to Lisa (Lightner) Georgiana, BG’s Director of Advancement, donations will make an immediate and direct impact on day-to-day life for students. “Our students love being at BG. This campaign will have a tangible impact on facilities and programs to benefit our students.”
The campaign will result in pledges of funds that will be received over the next 5 years, and investments will occur steadily over that time frame. Early support has been strong.
“We are grateful to share that $5.2 million of our $7 million campaign goal has already been committed by several dozen early donors,” said Adams. “This includes gifts of cash, securities and planned gifts where benefactors include BG as a beneficiary in their 401k plan or will. Our generous benefactors are investing to help us grow so we can make a positive impact on an even greater number of families in our community. We hope to build momentum and maybe even exceed our goal which will allow for an even greater vision for transformational upgrades in the future that require even more funds.”
A Campaign Leadership team was formed to help guide and lead the effort. The Leadership team consists of Matt and Tiffany Stuckey, Chairs; Tony and Cathy Misitano, Honorary Chairs; and members George and Sarah Delbaggio, Patrick and Kim Irwin, Mark and Allison Ritchey, Rob and Karen Tribeck, Doug and Lisa Wolf, and Dr. Stewart VanHorn and Dr. Sarah Schroeder.
“Our family recently joined the Bishop Guilfoyle community, and we love it,” said Matt and Tiffany Stuckey, Campaign Chairs. “We appreciate the strong academic focus paired with a nurturing, warm environment. We love how the values of goodness, discipline and knowledge are woven through the interactions between the staff, students, and parents. Both parents and staff were welcoming and helpful as we entered this new school environment.”
Honorary Campaign Chairs Tony and Cathy Misitano who both graduated from BG in 1972 concur, “We have been truly blessed and feel a true sense of obligation to make things better – happier and healthier – for the next generation of BG students. It’s an honor to be a part of this historical initiative.”
[Photo: Bishop Mark poses with Bishop Guilfoyle Academy students during the school’s capital campaign kickoff on May 7.]
