Portland, OR. 250 guests celebrated 21 years of De La Salle North Catholic at its new campus. The benefit on October 21st raised $645,000 for financial aid at the school. Guests included Mal McAninch, Gretchen Johnson, Janeen McAninch, Mary Boyle, and Tom Doyle. (Photo credit, Andrea Lonas)
Attendees toured the school’s new campus at 4300 NE Killingsworth Street in Portland. They had a chance to wander through the hallways, socialize in the Commons, and then raise their paddles in the Michael Kelley Gymnasium. The theme for the benefit was “There’s No Place Like Our New Home.”
Lilianna Fierro-Davis ’17 was honored at the event for her “Full Circle Story” of how De La Salle and its innovative Corporate Work Study Program launched her career. Here’s a video about her journey:
In addition, Kelly Hale of RBC Wealth Management was honored with the 2022 Cassin Award for Commitment to Mission. The video below details her contributions.
From DeLaSalleNorthCatholicHighSchool:
If you weren’t able to join us you can still support the Fall Benefit Dinner & Auction by donating at the link here!
DeLaSalleNorthCatholicHighSchool serves a racially diverse community of capable, interested, and motivated college-bound students, primarily from North and Northeast Portland who would not otherwise have access to reliable college preparatory education.
4300 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97218Phone: 503.285.9385
Portland, OR. Over 150 guests gathered to cut the ribbon and officially open the new De La Salle North Catholic High School. The school is located at 4300 NE Killingsworth Street in Northeast Portland. The new facility includes state-of-the-art science labs, a visual arts center, and a new gym. It will serve up to 350 students—significantly more than the 280 who attended at the previous location on North Fenwick Avenue.
Amanda Weingarten ’05, Lech Kaiel ’05, Jonna Frater ’06, and Nik Tucker ’14.
Former Principal Tim Joy along with Lisa Bendt and Charles Leverton from the Multnomah Athletic Club.
Oscar Leong, Brother Chris Patiño and Tim Joy pose next to the statue of St. John Baptist de la Salle.
The Kelley Family in the Michael Kelley Gymnasium.
Board members Cyndy Maletis and Mary Boyle, and guest Gay Jacobsen.
Mary Boyle, the honorary co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee, said “When we found out that we needed to have a new campus, our own campus, we started looking around and working with the architects and trying to see what kind of campaign we could do, and what we could raise, $30 million was out in the air and we said no way can we raise that amount of money, maybe $15 million? Little did we know, with an incredible campaign committee and all our donors and supporters that we were able to complete a full gym and renovate this whole school and raise $26 million during a pandemic.”
De La Salle North Catholic High School opened in 2001 to provide a faith-based, college preparatory high school education to underserved students from the Portland area. These families needed and wanted a viable and affordable choice of schools to send their student. Other private high schools in and around Portland were not an option for most of them because of the cost and the distance their student would have to travel to go to school each day. They spoke out and said, “put your school right here in our neighborhood.”
De La Salle was the first school to replicate the innovative Corporate Work Study Program pioneered by Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. There are now more than 37 schools throughout American cities that model their school on this Cristo Rey model.
De La Salle North Catholic is sponsored by The De La Salle Christian Brothers and is a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland/Western Oregon. A nationwide, independent rating agency has identified De La Salle North Catholic High School as the most diverse private high school in all of Oregon.
Students at De La Salle North Catholic High School attend class four days per week and work for a local company one day each week as part of the Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP). The CWSP provides work experience, business contacts, and helps offset the cost to educate them. This school exists to provide this unique educational opportunity to families who would not be able to afford a private, Catholic education. Our goal is to develop tomorrow’s community leaders by making high-quality education accessible to motivated young people in a learning environment that values cultural, spiritual, and ethnic diversity. We don’t turn away any capable, motivated, or interested students because they cannot afford our modest tuition.
Portland, OR. Administrators at De La Salle North Catholic High School (DLSNC) say their new school campus is on budget and on time. They broke ground in July 2020 and will open to students in the Fall of 2021, as planned, including the new gymnasium pictured above. The new campus will have room for up to 350 students—significantly more than the 280 currently attending.
School president, Oscar Leong says, “We have raised 96% of our $26 million project goal. Over 200 individuals, foundations, and corporations have contributed to the future of Knight Nation. Our time at North Fenwick Avenue is coming to an end, and we will soon be in our new location at St. Charles Parish in Northeast Portland. Plans for the new campus include state-of-the-art science labs, a visual arts center, a vibrant courtyard, and our very own gym for our award-winning student-athletes.”
The school is still actively fundraising to fill the gymnasium, classrooms, and hallways with the furniture and equipment.
Students helped break ground for the new campus at St. Charles Parish in July of 2020.
Students at De La Salle North Catholic High School attend class four days per week and work for a local company one day each week as part of the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). The CWSP provides work experience, business contacts, and helps offset the cost to educate them.
The school is getting ready for an annual Changing Destinies Luncheon 2021 which will be virtual this year. Apr 22nd 2021 at 12:00 PM PDT. Click here for a link to the event.
Students pictured before the pandemic.
Here’s a look at some of the facilities under construction:
Trusses being installed in the new gymnasium.
The new counseling center.
Inside of the new commons.
Physics lab in the new Science Wing.
Information about the fundraising drive:
Below is a list of donors:
Knights Circle Donors
Mary & Tim Boyle,
Clark Family,
Epping Family Foundation,
Thomas W. Holman Jr. Memorial Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation,
Cyndy & Edward Maletis,
Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund,
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust,
Colleen & Werner Nistler,
James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation,
Sause Bros.,
Silver Family Foundation,
Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation,
Lead Gift Donors
Anonymous (4)
Lisa & Tom Brenneke
Cristo Rey Network
Enderby Foundation
Leslie & Mark Ganz
Mary & Frank Gill
Lynda & Bill Glavin Jr.
Grand + Benedicts
Kelly & Bob Hale
Joseph & Elizabeth Hoffart Charitable Foundation
Frederick D. & Gail Y. Jubitz Foundation
Chuck Kaady
Michael Keiser, President of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation
Market Express
Harry A. Merlo Foundation
Miller Family Foundation
Carolyn & Terry Murphy
Cathy & Mark Myers
OnPoint Community Credit Union
Phillips Family Foundation
Don V. Romanaggi, M.D.
Carolyn & Peter Shea
Barbara & Steve Spence
Swigert Warren Foundation
Walker Family Foundation
Sherie Weisenberg & Mark Simmons
Sue & Dan White
Robin & Michael Yonker
Angela & Brad Zenger
Major Gift Campaign Donors
Anonymous (2)
Leslie & Robert Bentley
William K. Blount Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Joan & John Bollier
Nancy & Bruce Bolton
Cheryl & John Bradley
Julie & David Brands Family
Brownor Enterprises Inc. Charitable Remainder Trust
Nancy & Andy Bryant
Katherine & Clifford Dias
Jim Dovenberg
Eileen & Bruce Drake
Jackie & Curtis Dunckley
Nancy & Richard Green
Evan Marnix Guillaume Foundation
Gay & David Jacobsen
Johnson Charitable Trust
Lech Kaiel ’05
Laurie & Mike Kelley
Rosa & Oscar Leong
John Maletis
Mackenzie
Thanne & Steve Moore
David Nemarnik
Nike Employee Matching Gift Program
Patti & Ed O’Mara
Pamela & Bernie Pliska
Suzanne & Jim Price
Robert D. and Maria H. Randall Charitable Trust
Beth & Brent Rempe
Kathleen & Russell Rottiers
Sanctuary for Sacred Arts
Liz & Chris Sarles
Anthony Schapker
Sharon & Joe Schlechter
Ione & Don Spear Family
MJ Steen & Frank Langfitt III
Rob Stuart
Swigert Foundation
Sarah & Joseph Tennant
Claudia & Graciani Valderrama
Frances and John Von Schlegell
Summer & DJ Widmer
Anna Youngren
Generous Campaign Donors Anonymous (9)
Mary & Dick Adkisson
Sarah & Drew Anderson
Hannah Andrews
Jane & Phil Argento
Morgan Armstrong & Keegan Davis
Shannon & Jim Armstrong
Jeff Baffaro
Maggie Baird
Barbara Banner
Hilary Barr
Ashley ’05 & Giovanni ’05 Battles
Kailee Bean ’06
Jeremy Benedict ’05
Beverly & Stephen Bookin
Mary Lea ’05 & Devin Bordelon
Anne Broyles & Larry Peacock
Joanne Bruno
Amy Carl & Stephen Hamilton
Mark Christensen
Michael Coon
Killian Czuba ’06
Ashleigh & Christo de Villiers
Diana Dominguez
Energy Trust of Oregon
Dina Erickson
Kris & Tim Evens
Molly & Nick Fandel
Michael Fantazia ’06
FFA Architecture and Interiors
Joan Flora
Elza Foley
Janice & John Frater
Jonna Frater ’06
Chana Frederick
Christina & Daniel Friedhoff
Francesca Gambetti
Kortney Garrison & Andy Poundstone
Sr. Sara Goggin
Holly Grennan
Chrissy Gross
Susan Happ & Chris Shine
Kelley & Pat Harrington
Frances & Robert Heffernan
Rachel Henry ’13
Ruth Henry ’15
Steven Hickcox
Bryana Hoffman
Zac Horne ’05
Jean and Russell Hutchison
Interface Engineering
Jan & Peter Jacobsen
Chantina Johnson
Luke Johnson ’05
Nancy & Robert Jordan
Joseph Alemany Community
Monique Karimu
Claudia Kay
Melanie Kermin
Konell Construction & Demolition
Linda & Egbert Kunrath
Nancy & Steve Lagozzino
Chelsea Lambert
Macey Laurick
Evan Leadem
Corliss Lee
Senka Lenn
Mary & Stuart Levy
Daniel J. Lower ’05
Ann & Chuck Macfarlane
Kevin Machia
Mary & Joseph Magnano
Matt Mardesich
Lise-Marie & Scott Massey
Mary McConnel
Judy McDermott
Jim McGregor
Sarah McManus
Herbert Medina
Rachel Mendoza
Kendra Miller
Barbara Mills
Mary Monnat & Steven Slater
Missi & Tim Morgan
Dawn Myers
Anne Myrthue
Julie & Rick Nelson
Annie Nguyen ’06
Thomas O’Donnell
Eileen O’Neill Odum
Zaida Pacheco de Silva
Marissa Pasaye-Elias ’20
Trinity Peacock-Broyles
Leslie Porter & Lee Lower
Kyle Pounder ’06
Jamie & Matt Powell
Julia Reisemann
Ruth Richard
Ellen Richardson
Monique Richmire
Rose Rustin
Heidi Schmitz
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
The Skanner Foundation
Michiko Slick
Kelly & Blake St. Onge
Josh Stellmon
Matthew Sundby ’05
Meghan Thivierge & Tim Wiginton
Karen Thomas & Jack Bird
Lauren Thompson
Blair Townsend
Mary Valeant & Charles Paternoster
C. Joseph Vanhaverbeke
Brendan Vo ’06
John Vyhlidal
Caitlin & Stanley Walker
Christine Wang
Emily Witt
Martha & Gerry Wyrsch
Margaret & David Zeps
Portland, OR. Students at De La Salle North Catholic High School (DLSNC) (pictured above before COVID-19) are excited about having a new facility. Since the launch of its Capital Campaign in March of 2019, DLSNC has raised $20.5 million to construct a new and more permanent school campus in the Cully Neighborhood of North Portland. However, the additional $3.65 million needed for a new gymnasium has not been raised. So far, DLSNC has raised $900,000 for the gymnasium, but time is of the essence because leaders will face a one million dollar price increase and the project will be delayed if the remaining $2.75 million for the gym is not raised by an August 3rd deadline.
Architectural rendering of De La Salle’s new school campus in North Portland.
“It’s not just about our students, it [the gym] will be apart of the Cully neighborhood, a place for after school sports and renting out the facility for youth sports on the weekend,” says Ashleigh de Villiers, VP for Advancement at De La Salle North Catholic High School.
Opened in 2001, De La Salle North Catholic High School serves a racially diverse population of students in the Portland area who typically do not have access to an affordable college preparatory education. De La Salle is the most diverse private high school in Oregon, with 93% of the student body being students of color. It also maintains an income cap that ensures students from low-income families can attend. Students cannot attend La Salle if their family makes more than 75% of the area’s median income.
Each student works one day a week as a part of DLSNC’s Corporate Work Study, a program that partners with corporations, local businesses, and nonprofits to work with students one day a week. By working one day per week, each student earns half the cost of their tuition throughout the entire four years they attend. DLSNC maintains affordable tuition to ensure a quality education for underserved populations.
Currently, the school rents gym space for sports, but even without a proper on-campus gym, De La Salle’s men’s basketball team earned the 2018 and 2019 state championship title. The high school has made a total of six state appearances.
“The gym is special to us because our boys’ basketball team were the 2018 and 2019 state champions, and they did this without having a home gym,” says Ashleigh de Villiers.
After renting current elementary school building in Kenton from Portland Public Schools, DLSNC decided to pursue a more affordable and sustainable option. It has faced ever-increasing rent, with next year’s rental bill topping out at $480,000. After three years of searching, the school signed a new 50-year lease agreement co-locating with the Saint Charles Parish on 42nd and Killingsworth. The agreement includes two possible 25-year lease extensions which could result in a 100-year lease.
DLSNC hopes to have the new campus built by the Fall of 2021. It will include a visual arts center, science center, and welcoming campus, with the gymnasium being the final part of the facility. Construction is planned to begin at the end of July and will take 12 to 18 months. The new school campus will also allow the student population to increase from 280 to 350 students. Currently, 95% of graduating seniors are accepted to universities.
Four graduating students, DLSNC Class of 2020
“To have a gym where we hang our banners and have our logo on the floor is something we really care about,” explains de Villiers,
De La Salle North Catholic High School serves a racially diverse population of capable, motivated, and interested college-bound students from the Portland area who would not otherwise have access to a faith-based, rigorous college-preparatory education.
Here’s more information and some additional architectural renderings of De La Salle’s new school campus in North Portland:
Portland, OR. “Reach for the Stars” was the theme of the 10th Annual De La Salle North Catholic High School Fall Benefit. The popular gala was held at the high school facility on North Fenwick Avenue and raised $522,000. Organizers thanked members of the Class of 2020 who helped serve dinner and the parents, faculty, and staff who volunteered for the October 24th fundraiser. (Photo credit, Andrea Lonas)
Phil Silver, Marty Brantley, Cyndy Maletis, Fred Jubitz
VP for Advancement Ashleigh de Villiers, Martha Richards and Alice McCartor pose with the recipients of this year’s Cassin Award, Barb and Steve Spence. HS President Oscar Leong also extends his congratulations.
Senior Juan Larazo addresses the gathering.
Michael Alexander, Board Member Milt Coleman, David Leonard
Founder Matt Powell and Tom Brenneke
Kim Malek (center) of Salt & Straw
Sanda Stein and Cooper DuBois
Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson, Amy Donohue, HS President Oscar Leong
Werner Nistler of Touchmark
Fred and Gail Jubitz
Brittney Clark and Chris Brooks
Carolyn Murphy raises her paddle.
Alumna Khadjia Bruce (on right) and her family return to support the school.
Here’s a video featuring Khadija Bruce, De La Salle North Catholic High’s Class of 2015, (George Fox Class of 2019.) She shares her journey to become a 5th-grade teacher at Sabin Elementary.
From De La Salle North Catholic High:
Our mission is to provide an affordable, college preparatory, faith-based education to young men and women throughout the Portland metro area with limited financial resources. Over 325 years ago, St. John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the De La Salle Christian Brothers and their schools, established the practice of providing a Christian education to the young, especially those who are most on the margins of society. Today, along with the support and sponsorship of the De La Salle Christian Brothers (San Francisco New Orleans District), De La Salle North Catholic strives to continue this mission.
Since the school was founded in 2001, our school has continued to grow and develop into a community of dedicated teachers and staff who, along with our many corporate work-study partners and volunteers, provide our unique education to capable, motivated and interested young people.
What is so unique about our school:
Our school turns no one away based on an inability to pay tuition. Even though our tuition is more than $10,000 less than any other private, Catholic high school in our area, most of our families still would find it hard to afford our low tuition.
Every student in our school works five days each month at “real-world” jobs. Not only does the money they earn at these jobs off-set nearly 50% of the cost to educate each student, but the work experience is life-changing for them. We are a founding member of the Cristo Rey Network® of schools which, today, number over 30 and are located in every major urban area throughout the United States.
In that we are a relatively small, faith-based school, we can provide a safe and supportive environment where students truly do “enter to learn and leave to serve” (our school’s motto).
Our students don’t simply graduate high school; over 95% have been accepted to colleges and universities—each and every year. Our students go to college with employable skills which help them pay for their college education, which ultimately, will help them break the cycle of poverty. Their success is a result of a culture of goal setting and achieving high standards by blending rigorous academics, four years of professional work experience and Catholic morals.
So, on behalf of our religious sponsor, the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the Board of Trustees and the entire De La Salle North Catholic community, thank you for your interest and we invite you to come visit our students and experience our unique, innovative, and transformational school! More information at: https://www.delasallenorth.org/
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