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Ascension

School

How Can You Help?

Ascension is blessed with a generous and committed extended family and has benefited in many ways throughout the years from their kindness.  While we are always seeking ways to offset general operating expenses and thus reduce the tuition burden on school families, we have also developed programs that allow our benefactors to choose a specific way to help.

How can you help?  The profits from the following fundraising activities go directly to the operating budget:  the Annual School Auction, the Kathy Adams Run-a-thon, the Shopping Certificate Program, Market Day and Schoolpop.com.  For more information about any of these programs, please call the Development Office, 708-848-2703 ext. 258 or e-mail us at the Development Office.

For specific ways to help:

The Professional Development Fund, begun in the spring of 2005, helps our faculty and staff continue their professional growth by continuing their education. Begun with generous pledges from two school families, and then expanded with gifts from many of our constituents, the fund has granted over $46,000 in tuition assistance, books, fees and workshop registrations in its first year.  Ten members of the faculty have benefited from the kind support of the friends of Ascension who contributed to the PDF. 

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The Sponsor-A-Student Program is a tuition assistance plan for school families.  Families in need contact the Pastor and ask for a full or partial tuition waiver.  All waivers are based on financial need and are granted at the discretion of the Pastor and Principal. Contributions to the program are solicited annually by the Pastor and collected in a special Sunday Offertory envelope.  Approximately $20,000 in waivers is granted each year.

The Ascension School Endowment Fund is a fledgling program to help ensure the future of Ascension School.  While no formal campaign to build the fund has been launched, we do accept gifts to help build our 'nest egg'!  The funds are being collected in an account separate from other monies; a formal endowment will be formed when that account reaches $10,000.

The Annual Alumni Appeal reaches out to Ascension grads to help sustain the growth and vitality of Ascension School.  The first and second appeals, held in 2002 and 2003, raised over $80,000 for the renovation of the Pine Room.  About half of that amount was donated by several families who have chosen to dedicate classrooms in honor of loved ones. The third appeal, 2004, raised about $15,000 for science and technology:  helping with an update of the science and computer labs.

The fifth and sixth appeals were directed to school operating expenses.  The appeals from 2007 through 2012 comprise the Centennial Fund.  These monies will help Ascension prepare for its Centennial in 2012.

Impact Award

Ascension School has recognized the wonderful volunteer work of Mary Jo McEnery ('77) by presenting her with the Impact Award for 2006 - 07.  The award, instituted by the Archdiocesan Development Council (ADC), is a vehicle for honoring the work of staff members, volunteers or donors whoe contribution make a difference (have an impact) on Chicago-area Catholic Schools.  Mary Jo is involved in every single project, every event, coming out of the Development Office.  Her commitment to Ascension School is remarkable.  We thank her for her great work and congratulate her on this honor!

If you are a 'missing' or newly found alumnus and would like more information on the appeal -- or if you are interested in dedicating a classroom to someone you love -- please call Lynn Fredrick, Director of Institutional Advancement, 708-848-2703, ext. 258.

Now you can Support Ascension by contributing on-line.

Project: Pine Room is the fund established with the first Annual Alumni Appeal, and expanded with memorial gifts throughout the last eighteen months, to help repay the loan from the Archdiocese which made the renovation possible.  You do not have to be an alumnus to contribute to the Project: Pine Room fund. Click the photo to read about the Pine Room Project.

Lynn Fredrick, Director of Institutional Advancement, (708) 848-2703, ext. 258 Or e-mail us at Ascension Development Office