St. Mary’s Academy Sets Auction Record of Over $1 Million for Third Year

Portland, OR. For the third consecutive year, the St. Mary’s Academy’s school auction hit a new high mark, raising $1,075,000. It’s the most in the 158 year old school’s history. 2017 Auction Co-chairs were Andrew Berlinberg, Ria Look, Anna Graham, Gay Ellen Eagan and Mike Hagel. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)

“This year’s theme was Oh, The Places You’ll Go, and it was appropriate, given that the journey taken by each young woman at St. Mary’s Academy is made possible by the support of our community,’ said Christina Friedhoff, St. Mary’s Academy President. “The generosity shown by our parents, alumnae and benefactors continues to amaze me. They truly believe in the value of what we do as Oregon’s only all-female, Catholic, college-preparatory school.”

Over 700 guests gathered at the Oregon Convention Center for the April 8th event, which was emceed by Deb Knapp of KATU-TV. Highlights included a performance by the cast of St. Mary’s Academy’s production of The Sound of Music. Guests bid on over 45 live auction items and contributed the tune of $356,500 as part of Bids for Kids, a paddle-raise to fund St. Mary’s Academy’s tuition assistance program that benefits over 40% of the school’s families.

The event’s success was due in large part to the work of this year’s co-chairs, SMA parents Andrew Berlinberg, Gay Ellen Eagan, Anna Graham, Mike Hagel and Ria Look. “Our auction is both a celebration of St. Mary’s Academy and the most important fundraising event for our school,” said Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, Vice President of Development at St. Mary’s Academy. “So much work goes into the event, and we could not do it without our co-chairs, who give their time, expertise and other resources for months leading up to the event. They are wonderful examples of the kind of generosity demonstrated by hundreds in our St. Mary’s community.”

From St. Mary’s Academy:

At St. Mary’s Academy, We Believe.

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, OR, St. Mary’s Academy is the state’s oldest continuingly-operating school and its only all-girls secondary school. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy serves over 725 young women in grades 9-12. The school’s college acceptance rate is 100% and SMA students achieve, excel and are recognized locally, regionally and nationally in academic fields, the arts, athletics, community services and extra- and co-curricular activities.