FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST.MARY’S ACADEMY RAISES OVER $1,000,000 AT 36TH ANNUAL AUCTION “CHEERS TO 165 YEARS”
Portland, Ore — With more than 600 people gathered at the Oregon Convention Center on Saturday, April 13th, St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls, Catholic High School in the heart of the University District of Portland, raised over $1,000,000. This year, St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) is celebrating its 165th anniversary and the auction was an opportunity to share in the schools storied history and revolutionary future. The event also celebrated two beloved SMA leaders – Marilyn and Tom Fink. The Fink’s received the Mother Marie-Rose award, named after the Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and the highest honor bestowed by SMA to community members.
President Emily Becker shared with attendees “Our graduates change the trajectory of their families, their cities, our country, and the world. The impact of our 11,000 alumnae cannot be underestimated and as we are celebrating this momentous milestone — our 165th anniversary — we know that our work is not done.” With 40% of students receiving tuition assistance, the school is charged with educating every young woman, regardless of financial background or circumstances. Funds raised at the annual auction make this possible.
Dean of Mission and Charism, Patty Gorman, was this year’s Bids for Kids speaker, highlighting the importance of St. Mary’s Girls in our community. According to Patty, a 45-year veteran of St. Mary’s, “I believe deeply in the power of all-girls, Catholic education which is why I have devoted my life’s work to St. Mary’s.” Her deep commitment to SMA and the transformational educational environment that it provides is one of the major reasons why students continue to matriculate and become leaders in their communities.
This year’s auction was co-chaired by a group of SMA mothers, many of whom are also alumnae including: Jennifer Bianchini, Liane Brakke-Pound ’96, Brittney Clark ’94, Hedy Safranski Foley ’92, Alisa Todd Gaylord ’92, Jessica Hickox Meyer ’94, Andrea Maynard Molloy ’96, Alison Money and Maria Ochsner Nelson ’99.
The auction is St. Mary’s largest annual fundraising event with proceeds benefiting every student in a multitude of meaningful ways.
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At St. Mary's Academy, We Believe.
Located in the University District of Portland, OR, St. Mary's Academy is the state's oldest continuously operating school and only all-girls school. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's Academy serves over 600 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, leadership, STEM, the arts, athletics, community service and extra- and co-curricular activities. To learn more, please visit www.stmaryspdx.org