St. Mary’s Academy Community Raises Nearly One Million Dollars to Support Young Women

St. Mary’s Academy Community Raises Nearly One Million Dollars to Support Young Women

by | May 5, 2018 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. More than 700 guests gathered to raise their paddles in support of the young women of St. Mary’s Academy at the school’s 30th Annual Auction: “Pearls of Wisdom.” Beautiful pearls helped transform the Oregon Convention Center and set the stage to celebrate future female leaders. Cathy Marshall of KGW served as the mistress of ceremonies for the evening, keeping the crowd enthusiastic and engaged. St. Mary’s raised nearly one million dollars thanks to the generosity of the school’s dedicated community. Alumnae from the class of 1994 joined in the celebration including Kelley (Morrison) Ogle, Jen (Schulte) Masi, Jamie Sprando, Brittney Clark, Jessica (Hickox) Meyer, Karis Stoudamire-Phillips and Joan (Harold) Chaney.

Molly (Fink) Soong ’99, Ezra Becker, Marilyn Fink, Jeani Fink ’97, Tom Fink and Patrick Soong

Regan Look, Ria Look, Mike Hagel, Shawn Hagel and Dana Berger

Mike and Tracey Clark

Brad Maier, Sara Jewell, Haewon Nam, Dustin Klinger

“We are so very fortunate to be supported by generous parents, alumnae, friends and community members who believe in the power of young women and the value of a St. Mary’s Academy education. Your partnership allows us to impact hundreds of young women each year and we are so very thankful,” said Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, Vice President for Development at St. Mary’s Academy.

Highlights from the event included exciting raffles for the chance to win a 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport SE or a $5,000 travel adventure voucher, packages for getaways to an African Safari, Wine Country Hot Air Ballooning and Hawaii, and the school’s highly anticipated Bids for Kids paddle raise. Bids for Kids is an opportunity for auction guests to contribute to the school’s tuition assistance program. This school year, St. Mary’s awarded $1.9 Million in tuition assistance to 40% of current families.

Bids for Kids speaker, Liane Rae, all-girls school alumna, St. Mary’s Academy Science teacher, and recently appointed Assistant Principal of Curriculum Design and Instruction, shared that she believes that “the exceptional young women at St. Mary’s must be offered the opportunity to observe, think critically, interpret, appreciate precision and scale, and communicate the perspectives of a female scientist, visual artist, mathematician, computer scientist, performance artists, or engineer as well as a host of other professions that our programs foster and encourage. Your investment tonight allows us to offer qualified and eager young women the St. Mary’s experience, regardless of her family’s financial situation.”

This year’s auction was co-chaired by St. Mary’s Academy parents Sara Jewell, Dustin Klinger, Bradley Maier and Haewon Nam, who lauded the “amazing talent and inspiring altruism” of all volunteers who were committed to creating an extraordinary experience while raising significant funds to support the school and their mission.

The auction is St. Mary’s largest annual fundraising event with proceeds benefiting every student in meaningful ways.

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. www.stmaryspdx.org

25th Annual St. Mary’s Academy Auction Raises Record $800,000

25th Annual St. Mary’s Academy Auction Raises Record $800,000

by | Apr 29, 2013 | Events, Features, Uncategorized

Portland, April 13th, 2013. St. Mary’s Academy’s 25th annual auction, Silver Revelry, raised more than $800,000, the largest amount in the event’s history. More than 600 guests joined the festivities at the Oregon Convention Center. Parent volunteers Allison and Chris Martin and Dana and Michael White chaired the event and inspired others with their generosity.
This year’s auction had special meaning for the Martins and the Whites, since both of their daughters are seniors.

St. Mary’s Academy Board Chairman Bob Harold; his wife, Sue Harold; their daughter, Joan Chaney; and her husband, Brian Chaney

Silver Revelry guests including St. Mary’s Academy Board Chairman Bob Harold; his wife, Sue Harold; their daughter, Joan Chaney; and her husband, Brian Chaney, enjoyed exciting silent and live auctions that included packages ranging from a behind-the-scenes look at the Portland-based NBC show “Grimm” to a trip for two to London to experience the best of the West End Theatre District.

The auction is the largest fundraising event for Oregon’s premier Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women. Proceeds are critical to the financial strength of St. Mary’s Academy and benefit each of the school’s 640 students. “We are all incredibly proud of and grateful for the unprecedented success of our April 13 auction. Financial success like this provides the resources for more opportunities for students,” said St. Mary’s Academy President Christina Friedhoff. “We’ve seen young women from all backgrounds become confident, compassionate leaders through their experiences at St. Mary’s.”

Catherine and Mark Myers

Silver Revelry guests included Catherine and Mark Myers. The couple are generous supporters of St. Mary’s Academy, and they have three daughters who are past and current students at the school. Catherine is a member of St. Mary’s Academy’s board of directors.

Mike and Tracey Clark

Mike and Tracey Clark, parents of a St. Mary’s Academy alumna, are longtime supporters of St. Mary’s Academy and its annual auction. The giving spirit of guests such as the Clarks helped make Silver Revelry a record-breaking success.

Debora Knapp, KATU news anchor, served as the evening’s mistress of ceremonies. She kept the crowd entertained and raising their paddles high. Among the evening’s highlights was Bids for Kids, an opportunity for event goers to donate to the school’s tuition assistance program. Linda Patrick, SNJM, a 1967 St. Mary’s Academy graduate who now serves as Assistant Principal of Student Life, led the appeal. Bids for Kids raised more than $256,000 in support of the 42 percent of St. Mary’s students who receive financial aid. This is another record-breaking figure in a record-breaking year for the St. Mary’s Academy annual auction. Bids for Kids’ success was made possible in part due to $60,000 in matching funds from several generous sponsors: the B.P., Lester and Regina John Foundation; Mary and Tim Boyle; Dan and Gina Jones; and Ron and Tammy Witcosky.

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About St. Mary’s Academy
St. Mary’s Academy is a Catholic high school for young women located in the heart of downtown Portland that provides a challenging college-preparatory education with a focus on developing the whole person. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and offers a supportive learning environment to a diverse student body from more than 35 cities in urban, suburban and rural Oregon and Southwest Washington. It is the only school in the state to have received three Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education. For more information about St. Mary’s Academy, please visit www.stmaryspdx.org.