The Office of Development: Year in Review

We began the 2017-2018 school year with the theme Be Inspired. Many of our donors shared stories about what inspires them to support Regis, and the school year that followed included many more reasons to be inspired by the generosity and commitment of our community.

The Annual Fund achieved yet another record, reaching $9.9 million raised, an increase of $1.4 million over last year’s Fund, which was itself a record increase. We continue to be grateful for the generosity that sustains Regis and its unique mission. This work takes many hands—over 5,000 individual donors made gifts this year. Please accept our sincere thanks.

In looking back over the year, a few highlights standout. From a fundraising standpoint, the campaigns around Giving Tuesday and Giving Weekend were yet again critical to our success. Giving Tuesday raised $254,000 from 680 gifts, an increase over the prior year.

Inspired by the remarkable success of the inaugural Giving Weekend in 2017, this year’s Giving Weekend campaign raised the bar and expectations. Led by a match of $1 million provided by Trustees and Board Committee members, over 1,200 donors contributed $1.2 million over the days between Baccalaureate Mass and our 101st graduation exercises.

Thank you for all that you do for Regis. Thank you especially for making 2017-2018 inspiring and successful!

Reunions are a key part of any year at Regis. We always look forward to welcoming alumni and their guests back into the building and providing an opportunity for old friends to reconnect.

• In a hallmark fundraising campaign, the Class of 1968’s 50th reunion raised a remarkable $820,000, surpassing 1967’s already impressive mark of $650,000.
• The Class of 1993 raised $164,000, breaking the prior record for a 25th reunion held by the class of 1980.
• The Class of 1952 commemorated their 65th reunion with an effort to provide funds for a new altar in the Chapel. The Class of 1957 raised funds for the Regis endowment to help the school sustain itself financially. The Class of 1962 raised funds to endow a REACH scholarship.
• We also visited alumni around the country, including regional receptions in Boston (November), Philadelphia (February), and Washington, D.C. (May). Other smaller gatherings took place in Atlanta and North Carolina.
• JUG Night continues to be a popular fall event for all alumni. Plans are already in the works for this year’s annual gathering, taking place on October 26.

From receptions to fundraisers, parent events provide a great opportunity for moms, dads, and grandparents of current students to come together from the many different boroughs and communities Regians commute from.

• The President’s Office hosted three receptions for parents: Freshman in the fall, Senior Parents on Mardi Gras, and Sophomore and Junior Parents after the President’s Day holiday.
• Many parents were very generous this year. A highlight is the Senior Parent gift, which raised $515,000 to support a partial scholarship for future Regians.
• The Parents Club’s auction raised over $500,000 for Regis, with the Auction Challenge raising nearly $200,000 for the purpose of updating three classrooms with improved technology and a more modern learning environment.
• Our inaugural Grandparents Day in mid-October gave students the opportunity to take their grandparents on a tour of Regis. Father Lahart said Mass in the refurbished cafeteria, which was followed by a light lunch for all guests. Next year’s day is on the calendar for October 21.

A diverse offering of events—including guest speakers and specialized affinity group gatherings—highlight another year of community at Regis.

• At the fall Deo et Patriae reception, which recognizes Order of the Owl level donors, Arthur Bender, SJ ’67 was presented with the Deo et Patriae Award, and attendees received a “bobblehead” likeness of the popular history teacher.
• In November, just after the conclusion of the World Series, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred P’05 spoke at Regis in a lively discussion moderated by Jon Sciambi ’88.
• In February, Chris Nowinski, co-founder and executive director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, gave a talk about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
• Alumni affinity groups organized a number of events, including the Regis Financial Network, the Regians in Media and Entertainment (RIME), and a first-ever gathering of the Regians of Color group.
• Once again, the President’s Dinner was held at the St. Regis Hotel. Muscical entertainment was provided by current students.