ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE ACHIEVE MORE

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1 ADVANCEMENT ANNUAL REPORT #ACHIEVEMORE 1

2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Families and Friends of MND, We are so excited to bring this edition of our Advancement Annual Report to your homes! We have worked hard to share with you some information that we hope will be very informative and interesting. Mount Notre Dame has been educating young women since We are a Notre Dame Learning Community, owned and sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and we continue their strong tradition of excellence in education and care for the marginalized. Through strategic planning and good fiscal stewardship, we are a financially strong institution that plans to be around for a very long time. PRESIDENT MRS. JUDY BACK GERWE 78 As you will see as you read through this report, it takes a village to provide a premier Catholic education. I am a product of Catholic education and have been an educator in Catholic schools for almost 35 years. I believe that Catholic schools are the best option for families who want their children to grow academically, spiritually and socially. However, even though the commitment is there, many of our families struggle to afford the cost of tuition for their children. This is not a new problem. You will read about how a young woman, Françoise Blin de Bourdon, was the financial backer of the earliest schools of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Catholic schools continue to seek out those who are able to invest in future generations to help provide a quality education for those who truly desire it. We are fortunate to have the SNDdeN community as our largest benefactor, but much of our support comes from people like you who give what you can as an investment in our students and our school. The Annual Giving Fund and Grande Gala proceeds go directly into the operating budget to offset expenses, including tuition assistance. Every gift is important in continuing our mission and we want to thank each of you for your help. Another important investment is in our endowment, which is necessary for us to live out our mission and for our long-term sustainability. Typically in an endowment, the principal is invested and only the interest is spent. Endowment gifts can come in many forms, but they are often received as a planned gift or a named scholarship. One of our goals in the new Five Year Strategic Plan, titled Achieve More, is to grow our endowment to a level that will ensure the future of MND for generations to come. The goals of the Strategic Plan are included in this report. Please enjoy reading the information on the following pages, and let me know if you have any questions or comments. You can contact me at x126, or at jgerwe@mndhs.org. I would love to hear from you. I hope you take some time to peruse the names of our many benefactors and offer a prayer for all those who support MND in any way. It is a 9:00 am tradition each morning in the Advancement Office to pray for all of you. May God bless you and your families this upcoming year. We hope you continue to support the mission of our school. In Gratitude, Mrs. Judy Back Gerwe 78 President OUR MISSION Guided by the Catholic faith and Saint Julie Billiart s belief in the goodness of God, Mount Notre Dame educates and empowers young women torecognize and develop their unique capabilities to learn, live, lead andserve. 2

3 LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dear Families and Friends of MND, Blessings to each of you during these summer months. Mount Notre Dame President, Judy Back Gerwe 78, and her entire team are preparing for the upcoming school year. As importantly though, they are working diligently to ensure that MND has the capabilities to provide an exemplar Catholic girls education for many years into the future - empowering young women to recognize and develop their unique capabilities to learn, live, lead and serve. We have accomplished that for more than 150 years and with your help we can ensure that the legacy continues into the next century. CHAIR Deborah Fritz Hayes 80 IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Tony Reed MEMBERS AT LARGE Anita Blum Lisa M. Brown 01 Gerald B. Budde Ruthann Fox Carr 82 Mariza Cohen Jim Creeden Peg Auciello Halpin 79 Vince Hopkins Thomas Joseph George Keppler Marilyn Kerber, SNDdeN Robert Leshnak David Mattei Kathy Kissel McQueen 81 Lois Ann Meyer 55, SNDdeN Mary Gretchen Osner 61 Jo Ann Recker 60, SNDdeN Providing the best-in-class girls education is a formidable task that requires the commitment of many in time, talent and philanthropic support. Enclosed in our Advancement Annual Report you will find many examples of how the support of our Board of Trustees, friends, alumnae, parents, community members, faculty and staff make it possible for young women from all across Greater Cincinnati to be a part of the extraordinary academic, spiritual and student development activities that are offered at MND. All are crafted with the understanding that the young women who walk through the hallways of MND have an innate and unique potential within them. We know that when that potential is nurtured those young women are positioned to transform the world around them. I am a proud graduate of Mount Notre Dame s class of I know that were it not for the generosity of individuals who were not known to me at the time, my journey at MND would not have been possible. I owe a deep gratitude to those that were investing in a future generation and making it possible for my future to be a bright one. As you read, I would ask that you, too, think about how you might be able to assist our MND community. St. Julie Billiart devoted her life to educating children so that they would have the ability to teach others about the goodness of God through their actions and words. Your support and generosity will secure Mount Notre Dame s abilities to impact both current and future generations of young women to do the same. God bless you and your families. My deepest gratitude, Deborah Hayes 80 Chairman, Board of Trustees OUR VISION Mount Notre Dame an exceptional Catholic, college-preparatory highschool will berecognized for graduating young women who are empowered to transform the world. 3

4 THE LEGACY OF FRANÇOISE BLIN DE BOURDON: FRIEND, EDUCATOR, PHILANTHROPIST Within the MND Community, we all know of the beloved Smiling Saint, St. Julie Billiart. We hope you enjoy learning about Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur s co-foundress, Françoise Blin de Bourdon. Less famous perhaps, but her impact on the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur is felt and lives on today. It was only through the financial support of Françoise that the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur were able to live out their calling and mission to educate the poor girls at the time. Françoise began the tradition of philanthropy that is critical, even today, for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to make such a powerful impact on the world. Today, this spirit of philanthropy continues with the friends of MND who give so generously toward educating and empowering young women. Rose Eckhoff, Director of Advancement 4

5 In October of 1794, during the height of the French Revolution, two women met: Julie Billiart, 43, of the merchant class, and Françoise Blin de Bourdon, 38, daughter of the highest echelon of French society, the elite of the aristocracy who were invited to frequent Louis XVI s court at Versailles. An unlikely friendship soon developed but one which exhibited all the hallmarks of a truly Christian bond in that it was formed in a mutual love of God and had as its purpose to do God s will as it was revealed to them. In 1804, urged by some priest counselors, Julie and Françoise began the religious congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame and found God s will to respond to one of the most crying needs of the time the Christian education of poor orphan girls and the formation of religious educators. During their 22 years spent together, Julie and Françoise nurtured the young recruits and future educators while caring for the needs of the children confided to their care. Invited by the Bishop of Namur, then under the rule of Napoleon I, to establish a foundation where religious women might move beyond monastery walls, the sisters organized themselves under a unifying Mother General and went where societal needs presented themselves. Françoise had renounced her aristocratic titles and inheritance but still received income from her former properties, income that she dedicated in its entirety to the fledging congregation. That permitted the purchase of early foundational buildings, such as the present motherhouse in Namur. Since the congregation was to be devoted to the education of the poor, these institutions permitted the establishment of an educational structure that endured for many years: boarding schools for the upper classes, day schools for the middle class, and free schools for the poor. Indeed, the earliest days of Mount Notre Dame bore testimony to this model. For the 22 years following Julie s death in 1816, Françoise, now known as Mother St. Joseph, researched the best educational pedagogies, established in-service workshops for her sister-teachers, and regularly adapted the curriculum to meet changing contemporary needs. Throughout the early years of her term of office ( ), she endured continual oppressive orders from King William of Orange, who, as part of his kingdom, ruled what today we know as Belgium. A foe of French nationals and suspicious of Catholic religious orders of teachers, this enlightened despot, in his desire to elevate educational standards throughout his kingdom, mandated a state examination for all teachers. It is to the credit of Françoise and her tireless preparation of her sister-teachers that no Sister of Notre Dame ever failed this exam! Françoise Blin de Bourdon s spirit lives today in the educational endeavors of Mount Notre Dame. Françoise was a faithful friend, outstanding trainer of teachers, and a philanthropist. Her spirit continues to live today in the educational endeavors practiced at Mount Notre Dame. Here students and their teachers alike strive to achieve their fullest potential. Here students demonstrate excellence in the areas of Spirituality, Academics and Student Development. Here the philanthropy, so admirably exhibited by Françoise Blin de Bourdon, is alive in the Community Service Program, the Senior Capstone Projects, and the Youth Philanthropy Council. Here the friendship of sisterhood is lived daily. This glimpse into the life of the co-foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur may inspire you to be a friend to Mount Notre Dame, to help with the Catholic educational needs of so many young women today, one that is available at MND but out of their financial reach. Please consider exercising your philanthropy by supporting our mission and keeping alive the spirit of Françoise Blin de Bourdon. Dr. Jo Ann Recker 60, SNDdeN 5

6 It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. You and your family are part of this great community that prepares young women to develop into mature, superbly educated and faith-filled adults. It is through the sharing of time, talent and treasures that makes this all possible. Certainly, one of the the most important investments parents make is when they choose to send their daughter to MND. An even more selfless gift is when an additional financial investment is made to help students who might otherwise not be able to attend Mount Notre Dame. Filling the Gap Your investment matters! It s been over 150 years since Mount Notre Dame Academy opened on the hill. An incredible amount of growth has happened since then, both in terms of educating young women and in the cost of education. To give you some perspective, our curriculum has evolved from teaching classes such as needlepoint, to offering college level engineering classes. Also, tuition has gone from free in1860, when students were taught only by the Sisters, to about $500 in 1970 to $12,500 in What hasn t changed over these generations is MND s mission of educating girls from different social and economic backgrounds. So, how is it possible that MND Tuition & Tablet $12,520 remains financially strong when over 42% of our families now require financial support to attend MND? The answer lies in the example set by our Foundress, St. Julie Billiart s closest friend Françoise Blin de Bourdon. Françoise, (who is featured on pages 4-5) was a woman gifted with financial wealth, who shared it with others so they could obtain the same educational privileges that she enjoyed as a young girl. TOTAL COST OF EDUCATION $15,967 Her example inspired others to do the same. Those who have, give to help those who need. In reality it is one of the most basic teachings of our faith. In today s world, where many families have to make tough financial decisions to make ends meet, the decision to provide a Catholic education for their children can be just out of their grasp. These financial times are putting the future of providing a Catholic education for our children in jeopardy. Helping to reduce the cost of tuition provides the opportunity for families to make GAP OF the decision to attend MND a $3,447 reality. To the core, it comes down to two things: sacrifice and generosity which again are basic teachings of our faith. Mount Notre Dame s Annual Giving Fund was established back in the late 80 s to provide an opportunity for selfless giving and to provide financial relief for the ever-growing cost of education. The purpose of the Annual Fund is to Fill The Gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating students. The MND Annual Giving Fund is critical to living out our mission, and also to keeping MND fiscally strong. 6

7 1. Creating opportunity for as many young women as possible. deserving 01 students. Thanks to selfless support of the Annual Giving Fund, and due to the priority of excellent financial stewardship, Mount Notre Dame has a strong history of successfully balancing its budget. President Judy Back Gerwe 78 asserts I am confident the future is bright for Mount Notre Dame because our community understands and values the mission of MND, and the importance of investing in our school. You can be confident that gifts to MND s Annual Giving Fund, which fills the gap, are used to support the most critical needs of the school and our students including: Need-based scholarships Building operations and improvements Competitive faculty salaries Cutting-edge technology Innovative academic programs Pastoral Ministry and Community Service Programs Athletic Department support Performing and Visual Arts program support and more TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 263 Young Women Received Tuition Assistance THREE STEPS TO living our Mission and supporting $1.1 Million Dollars Gifted $4,555 Average Assistance Awarded 2. Investing in the students and their future. 3. Helping families afford an MND education. Every generation of MND students has benefitted from the generations that came before from the traditions they created, their intellectual contributions and their generous support. Thanks to all who support MND s Annual Giving Fund and other giving opportunities, ensuring that this legacy of giving is kept alive. 7

8 GIVING & TODAY S BENEFACTORS PARENT SUPPORT ANGELA GUYE My family has been blessed to be able to send three daughters to Mount Notre Dame. Each daughter has her own unique gifts and interests and MND was able to help our girls cultivate and develop in these areas. It was quite special as a parent to watch as my daughters thrived and grew increasingly dedicated to Mount Notre Dame. I have always been impressed by the way that MND has shown pride in its students and been steadfast in maintaining its identity as a Catholic school continuing in the mission of St. Julie Billiart. The students in turn are proud of their school and confident in all that it instills in them. My girls each grew and developed in ways that we would have been less able to provide. The faculty and staff of MND saw aspects of their personalities and interests and encouraged growth and development in these areas. While Mount Notre Dame is known for the excellent assistance it provides and the process it takes the girls through as they prepare to choose a college, I can attest that my two oldest girls, Theresa (class of 2012) and Elizabeth (class of 2013) were well prepared for the rigors of college with a sense of confidence and ability to maintain balance. I am certain that my daughter Mary Angela (class of 2018) will be equally prepared both academically and spiritually. It would be my hope that every student has the fortunate ability to develop under the guidance of such a caring environment as that of Mount Notre Dame. What a blessing this school and its community has been for our family. ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP EILEEN DUERMIT LAKIN 62 When my dear friend Julie Bien Niehoff 62 passed away I knew something special had to be done to honor her memory. After searching for an answer for several weeks, I had an epiphany which clearly solved the dilemma of what to do for Julie. She LOVED the Lord and she was passionate in her belief of the importance of Catholic education. The answer, of course, would be an Endowed Named Scholarship at her alma mater, Mount Notre Dame, which would honor this beautiful person. Julie lived her life in a joyful, kind, compassionate, non-judgmental, unassuming, and faith-filled manner. She was a glowing example of the qualities that all who knew her strived to imitate and also a wonderful role model for the young women of MND. By establishing an Endowed Named Scholarship in a loved one s name, you are ensuring their legacy lives forever at Mount Notre Dame and, at the same time, you are helping a deserving young woman experience MND for her education. The Julie Bien Niehoff 62 Memorial Endowed Scholarship is a four-year, renewable scholarship which will benefit a young lady who qualifies for financial assistance and who possesses a positive attitude toward life and has a joyful spirit. To learn more about establishing an endowed scholarship or making a gift to the many already established that benefit MND, please go to 8

9 GIVING & TODAY S BENEFACTORS PLANNED GIVING RAYMOND EVERS My Grandpa was never a man to mince words. For better or worse, he was a tell it like it is kind of person. When I was younger I looked up to him with both appreciation and a sense of bewilderment to me he was larger than life. Go to school, get good grades, and work hard, he always said. As I grew older my sense of bewilderment morphed into respect when I saw how much he valued education, particularly the education of young women like my sisters (Kat 09 and Andrea 12) and myself. But it doesn t end with me, nor my sisters. My Grandpa understood a fundamental truth that only became apparent to me when I entered the workforce: it is lifechanging for women to have access to quality education. MND has provided my sisters, and me with boundless opportunities, but those opportunities come at a price not all families can afford. After seeing how his granddaughters were transformed, it was my Grandpa s wish to grant access to all young women an MND education, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances. Without the feeling of self-worth that was instilled in me during my time at MND, I would never have had the courage to believe in myself. As an MND student your opinion means something. YOU mean something. It doesn t matter that you are female; you have immutable value to society. As a woman, you are empowered to change the world. These lessons are vital for girls to learn when they are young. My Grandpa s legacy is part of the community of legacies that has propelled women s education at Mount Notre Dame into the 21st century. With his philanthropic efforts, he continues to play an invaluable role in removing the roadblocks women face in achieving a great education. Women are the future, and his desire to contribute to that strong future is being realized. By remembering MND in his estate plans, my Grandpa s legacy will live forever through The Raymond Evers Memorial Scholarship Fund. - Laura Evers 07 ANNUAL GIVING FUND ROBERT AND ARLENE NIEHAUS We believe strongly in a Catholic Mount Notre Dame education, established by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In today s secular society, the MND experience and educational excellence based in Catholic values is critical for young women. As a former Board member, and as past parents, we have seen first-hand the value of a Mount Notre Dame education. Our daughter, Stephanie graduated from Mount Notre Dame in 1990 and was well prepared for life and college, graduating from Miami University. The experience that we have had over the years with Mount Notre Dame is why we continue to invest in empowering young women. The school is well managed, controlling expenses, while offering accelerated programs and improving its facilities. Mount Notre Dame accomplishes this through supportive parents, and a large group of donor s that believe in the mission and value of a Mount Notre Dame education. The cost of Catholic education can be a challenge, yet the need is compelling. Providing a strong education grounded in Catholic values is a key to improving our society. Specifically, educating and empowering students to lead is a sound investment. We are honored to join the graduates, parents, past parents and community of donors in supporting this great school through the Annual Giving Fund each year. We believe the Annual Fund is critical to the continued success of MND. We encourage all to join us in this opportunity to invest in our young women. 9

10 ACHIEVING MORE! 157 YEARS OF TRADITION & SISTERHOOD EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN QUALIFIED AND COMMITTED FACULTY AND STAFF DIVERSE STUDENT BODY 10 IMPACTFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

11 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 25 HONORS & 20 ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES STRONG ATHLETIC PROGRAM CATHOLIC VALUES HISTORY OF RESPONSIBLE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP FAITH FILLED COMMUNITY 11

12 OUR STRATEGIC PLAN Guided by the Catholic faith and Saint Julie Billiart s belief in the goodness of God, Mount Notre Dame educates and empowers young women to recognize and develop their unique capabilities to learn, live, lead and serve. TO BE THE EXEMPLAR FOR CATHOLIC GIRLS EDUCATION GOAL 1 Strengthen the academic identity of MND TO BE FINANCIALLY POSITIONED TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF MND GOAL 1 Operate MND at optimal enrollment capacity. GOAL 2 Expand programs that support school, staff and student growth. GOAL 3 Cultivate a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. TO ESTABLISH IDEAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS CHARACTERIZED BY SUPERIOR FACILITIES GOAL 1 Assess the current and future facilities needs of the school. GOAL 2 Craft an environment that will encourage student learning. TO FULLY ENGAGE THE MOUNT NOTRE DAME COMMUNITY GOAL 1 Strengthen and cultivate relationships with our current and future constituents. GOAL 2: Encourage alumnae to share their time, talent, and treasure. TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP STRONG CONNECTIONS TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH, THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR AND THE TRADITIONS OF ST. JULIE BILLIART GOAL 1 Maintain an environment in which the Catholic faith and identity will be evident and pervasive in all areas of the school. GOAL 2 Ensure long term financial sustainability. GOAL 3 Grow the endowment to exceed two times the operating budget. GOAL 2 Ensure that the charism and mission of St. Julie and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are integrated into the culture of the school and shared with the broader community. 30

13 FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP Tuition & Fees $8,552,891 Investments Income $154,500 Misc (Release from Restricted Funds/ Summer Camps/School) $419,764 Unrestricted Giving $814,873 1% 8% 4% 79% 8% INCOME $10,796,955 OPERATING BUDGET % Instructional Services & Support $7,461,832 State Funded Income (State and Aux) $854,927 69% 16% Financial Aid $1,748,745 EXPENSES $10,796,955 1% 14% Plant/Facility $1,500,492 Contingency $85,886 BENEFACTOR SUPPORT $1,081,778 Campaign Payments $43,650 Annual Giving Fund $534,292 Spare Change Student Challenge $7,000 Endowment/Scholarship Gifts $143,885 Misc. Restricted Gifts $31,648 Athletics $21,102 Misc. Unrestricted Gifts $7,773 3% 4% 1% 13% 2% 1% 2% BENEFACTOR SUPPORT $1,081,778 25% 49% Fashion Show $26,873 Grande Gala $265,555 31