St. Mary’s Academy’s 21st Annual Food for Thought Luncheon Raises $500,000

St. Mary’s Academy’s 21st Annual Food for Thought Luncheon Raises $500,000

by | Jan 18, 2015 | Events, Features

Portland, November 18th, 2014. St. Mary’s Academy hosted its 21st annual Food for Thought Luncheon benefitting financial aid. Principal Kelli Clark, Laura Phillips ’15, Debbie Spitznagel Ryan ’89, President Christina Friedhoff, Melissa Strain Angeli ’86 & Brigid Schulte ’80 helped make the event a success. Brigid Schulte ’80, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author addresses work life balance,The event sold out in record time and drew more than 800 attendees who are passionate about St. Mary’s Academy and ensuring that a first-class education remains accessible to young women who desire it, regardless of financial circumstances. Thanks to generous donors, the Luncheon raised more than $500,000.

Keynote speaker Brigid Schulte ’80

Keynote speaker Brigid Schulte ’80

Academy welcomed Brigid Schulte ’80, award-winning journalist for the Washington Post and author of New York Times bestseller, Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has The Time. At the luncheon, Schulte spoke about work life balance, with an emphasis on managing life as a working mother.

This year’s Food for Thought Luncheon was co-chaired by alumnae Melissa Strain Angeli ’86 and Debbie Spitznagel Ryan ’89 in tribute to their mothers, Dianne LaGrand Strain ’60 and Diane Spitznagel.

Their mothers served on the board of St. Mary’s Academy and were on the founding committee for Food for Thought at its inception more than 20 years ago. Although, Dianne and Diane have both passed away, they are memorialized with scholarships at St. Mary’s Academy.

“Our moms always believed in giving back and modeled for us the importance of giving through our time and our support. They were deeply committed to St. Mary’s and believed that a SMA education could change a young woman’s life. We are honored to continue to support this important event in their memory,” said Melissa and Debbie.

Learn more about the inception of the Food For Thought Luncheon, two of its founders and financial aid at St. Mary’s Academy in this short online video: bit.ly/FFT14.

St. Mary’s Academy’s 20th Anniversary Luncheon Raises Record $506,014

St. Mary’s Academy’s 20th Anniversary Luncheon Raises Record $506,014

by | Dec 14, 2013 | Events, Features, Uncategorized

Portland, November 12th, 2013. St. Mary’s Academy’s 20th anniversary Food for Thought tuition assistance luncheon raised a record-breaking $506,014. The signature event at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower and drew 725 attendees united in their passion for ensuring that a St. Mary’s education remains accessible to all young women.

Tom Fink, Bob Harold

Sue Alstadt, Sue Benson Henningsen ’87

Henry and Tracy Hooper

Henry and Tracy Hooper

This year’s event revenue represented a 24 percent increase over the previous record of $407,000 set in 2003.

The event was co-chaired by alumnae Suzann Baricevic Murphy and Megan O’Donnell Murphy and emceed by KGW morning news anchor Brenda Braxton, also a current St. Mary’s Academy parent. This year’s keynote speaker was New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jane McGonigal and the student speaker was senior Ceirah McCauley, a tuition assistance recipient.

Mary Mathews Stevens ’80, Molly Mathews Bjorklund ’83, John Murphy, Christina Friedhoff, Megan O’Donnell Murphy ’89

Kimberly Cooper, Bob Harold, Priscilla Lewis

Kimberly Cooper, Bob Harold, Priscilla Lewis

Sam Romanaggi, Louann Lynn, Dr. Donald Romanaggi

Sam Romanaggi, Louann Lynn, Dr. Donald Romanaggi

Food for Thought is St. Mary’s largest fundraiser in support of tuition assistance. Financial aid provided by St. Mary’s has increased more than 160 percent in the past decade. This year, 41 percent of students receive need-based aid, totaling nearly $1.4 million.”