Portland, OR. St. Mary’s Academy challenged supporters to dream big at its 33rd annual auction and they responded, raising $851,000 for the all-girls, Catholic, college-prep high school. Hayden Thomas, Tom Fink, Greg Bell, Greg Meyer posed for a photo at the virtual event on April 17th. This year’s four auction co-chairs were all St. Mary’s Academy dads. In addition to Bell, the co-chairs included Tom Fink, past parent to three St. Mary’s alumnae: Amy ’95, Jeani ’97, and Molly ’99 and current member of the St. Mary’s Board of Directors; Greg Meyer, parent to current student Avery ’24; and Hayden Thomas, past parent to Claire ’04 and Lauren ’07 and current Board member.
Guests from across the country joined the live, webcast event for an hour and a half of entertainment, testimonials, and bidding on auction packages, including a 10-day trip to Molokai, Hawaii, a sailing experience on America’s Cup yacht in San Diego, and a private dinner for 8 at Cellar Z at Zupan’s Market.
The webcast event was co-hosted by Cathy Marshall, Managing Editor and former news anchor for KGW News channel 8 and Greg Bell, longtime Oregonian, author, motivational speaker, and father to Sofia ‘23, a current St. Mary’s student.
During the live event, current students shared how St. Mary’s has dared them to dream. Liana, class of 2023 shared, “St. Mary’s dares me to dream by challenging me to be my best self.”
Sophia, class of 2022, shared, “St. Mary’s dares me to dream by inspiring me to pursue my passions and giving me the resources to grow into a responsible leader.”
Rose, class of 2023, shared, “St. Mary’s dares me to dream by teaching me to be a decisive, strong young woman.”
Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, Vice President for Development, shared her thoughts following this year’s event. “We couldn’t be more thankful to our community of supporters who stepped up in ways unimagined to support the young women of St. Mary’s Academy. In the midst of an incredibly challenging year for our city, our country, and our world, they confirmed their commitment and belief in the power of an all-girls education. We are thrilled to be able to continue making St. Mary’s Academy accessible for any young woman, regardless of their financial situation, and are so proud to be graduating the future women leaders of tomorrow.”
Thomas shares his inspiration for being involved in this year’s event. “St. Mary’s has a long history of excellence, and I am always proud to say my daughters went to school there. What I admire most about SMA is the focus on the growth and development of young women. St. Mary’s is an institution that serves its mission so well and has done so from the very beginning. Annually, the auction is one of St. Mary’s signature events. It is not only a critical fundraiser but a joyful celebration of the SMA community, and I feel privileged to be involved in this year’s event.”
The live event was preceded by a week-long silent auction with over 250 packages available for bidding. Additionally, St. Mary’s again held its much-anticipated raffles for both a 2020 Range Rover Evoque S and a $5,000 travel gift certificate. Participants could also purchase tickets for a “Golden Ticket”, allowing the winner to select their choice of any of the live auction packages. This year’s Golden Ticket winner was Marcy Moore Forman ’67 and she selected an Italian Dinner for 8 with wine pairings in a location of her choosing. Upon learning she held the winning ticket, she exclaimed, “Wow, that is so great! Now I have to figure out how to whittle down my guest list!” Forman is a St. Mary’s Academy alumna, and her granddaughter will be joining St. Mary’s as a freshman in the fall.
Here’s a video about the school:
About St. Mary’s Academy:
Mission Statement: St. Mary’s Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary since 1859, is a Catholic high school for young women, providing a challenging college-preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment. Guided by the values and charism of the Sisters, St. Mary’s fosters a diverse community, educates the whole person by nurturing spirituality, encouraging creativity, promoting justice, and inspiring a sense of global interdependence to prepare students for service and leadership.
