2024 Legacy Capital Campaign Successfully Raises Over $2.7 Million
by Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A., Legacy Campaign Co-Chair, Province Advancement Counselor
The Legacy Campaign for the Midwest Augustinians has been successfully completed by surpassing our goal and raising more than $2.7 million dollars for Vocation/Formation and Evangelization Programs. Thanks to our 345 donors from 26 states for making this possible!
Special thanks to our Honorary Cochairs, Cardinal Bob Prevost, O.S.A and Bishop Dan Turley, O.S.A. Having their endorsement and support carried a great deal of credibility for our vision and encouraged many people to give generously.
Also, thanks to our Advancement Council and Campaign Cabinet. We had 100% participation from these two groups. Besides making a contribution, they hosted and attended campaign events, and opened doors for us to reach out to others to participate. We couldn’t have done this without them!
And great appreciation is due to Michael Gerrity, our outgoing Advancement Director, who agreed to stay on for one more year to be the Campaign Director and assist with the transition to our new Advancement Director, Ed Barrett.
Over the past 13 years, Michael oversaw the Advancement Office and raised more than 18 million dollars, inaugurated the Augustinian Gala, and significantly increased annual and planned/estate giving. He adds this Campaign to bring the total raised during his tenure to nearly 21 million dollars.
The Midwest Augustinians gave him the highest honor possible by making Michael an Affiliate of the Order. This was bestowed upon him by our Provincial, Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A. in the name or our Prior General. The friars present at the Gala as well as Michael's Family were on stage to show our love and gratitude for his ministry with us over these many years.
I would also like to express my gratitude to JoAnn Foertsch Altenbach and Rory Dayton for their behind-the-scenes work with events, mailings, communications, videos, etc. Their quiet work and expertise made this campaign flow smoothly and seamlessly.
But as a cochair of this campaign with my classmate, Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., we know it is never about the money, but about the Mission!
While we need funding from such special campaigns and annual appeals, it is about continuing the Legacy that the Midwest Augustinians have been building since 1905, namely carrying on the Mission of Jesus Christ in the Spirit of St. Augustine in our Schools, Parishes, and Foreign Missions. As we asked our families, friends, and benefactors to consider a gift to this campaign, we heard how the Augustinians have had a profound effect on their lives! Hearing donors speak about their experiences in our schools and parishes with our friars is edifying. These friars, past and present, just did what they thought was the right thing, never realizing the long-term implications of their ministry. Whether it was teaching, coaching, retreat work, preaching, administering the sacraments, or assisting a family with tuition to keep them in school, they changed people's lives for the better! We heard repeatedly, how their lives wouldn't be the same if they had not encountered the Augustinians! This is the Mission--past, present and future!
I'd like to point out one particular donor, who happens to be my nephew, Trevor. He and his Fiancé Michela are the youngest donors to this campaign. When I asked them to consider a contribution to the Scianna Family gift, they did not hesitate, they said yes!
They already realize at a young age how much they have received from the Augustinians both at St. Rita and Villanova and were ready and willing to give back and support this campaign. I am very proud of them and their generous attitude of gratitude.
And so, we wrap up this campaign, claiming success because of you, our friends and benefactors for your generosity, love and support. But the Mission continues! The friars of the Midwest Augustinians are eternally grateful for You and look forward to continuing to minister to you and your families and continuing to build our Legacy together!
We pray that God bless you all for your generosity and support! And we ask God to continue to grant success to the work of our hands and hearts and to bring to completion the good work He has begun in each one of us!
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from our Holy Father, St. Augustine: "Always be dissatisfied with where you are if you are to become what you are not yet. Evaluate yourself constantly, without guile or flattery. Say 'it is enough' and you are lost . . . Keep on moving forward, walk onward, make progress!"
