NewsletterIssue 9, Spring 2016

SAINT THOMAS AUCTION WITH A TWIST AND ALL-CLASS REUNIONOCTOBER 8, 2016JW MARRIOTT – GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

The Saint Thomas Education Foundation is partnering with auction for the first time ever and tickets for the Saint Thomas Auction with a Twist and All-Class Reunion are on

sale now! We are hoping for a strong alumni turnout so if you were a Saint Thomas student, call your fellow classmates and buy your tickets soon because this event will sell out.

Activities planned for Auction weekend include:

• A school open house on Friday evening; tour the halls for a trip down memory lane!

• Weekend Mass will be dedicated to Saint Thomas students, former and current.

• A brand new Mini Cooper will be raffled off at the main event on Saturday with all proceeds supporting the Saint Thomas Education Foundation.

The first 100 tickets purchased for the auction will be entered to win an overnight stay at JW Marriott the night of the auction. Hurry to enter at www.StThomasAuction.org/registration and make your purchase today.

Individual tickets are being sold at a discounted rate of $60 for two weeks only! After May 22, tickets will be $75 each. n

WHY BECOME A TABLE SPONSOR?

1. Your table comes with a hotel room! Continue the celebration in your JW Marriott accommodations and explore ArtPrize and all the excitement downtown Grand Rapids has to offer.

2. Sit with your friends! General admission tickets allow for open seating on a first come first serve basis. If you prefer to choose with whom you break bread, be sure to purchase your table while supplies last.

3. Your sponsorship helps underwrite event costs and provides tickets for volunteers, school staff members, and parish staff members

4. Promote your business. Many sponsorships come with the option to include your company logo.

5. Sponsorship tables are placed in prime locations! Get close to the action by reserving your table today.

For additional auction information contact Cecily Near at (616) 516-2224, cecilynear@yahoo.com

90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION COMMEMORATIVE BRICK PAVERS

A special thanks to alumni, parishioners, and friends of Saint Thomas School who have

purchased engraved brick pavers. It’s the perfect way to acclaim important events and milestones: graduations, weddings and anniversaries, baptisms and first communions.

CREATE YOUR OWN MEANINGFUL MARKER: specify a 4”x 8” brick for $100; 8”x 8” for $200.

Order online at www.stthomasgr.org (click on Education Foundation) or call the school office for more information: (616) 458-4228

For more information about giving options, contact Kerry Baldwin, Development Director,

at edfoundation@stthomasgr.org, or call (616) 481-3223

Saint Thomas Education Foundation works diligently to assure all our donors of a positive “return on

investment” or ROI.

Our commitment to a robust financial ROI has generated more than $900,000 in tuition and program assistance since 1998, providing generous support for families who desire a Catholic education at Saint Thomas the Apostle School.

Rigorous financial management would be pointless, however, without the extraordinary ROI of a Catholic education.

How can we calculate that? It’s measured in the growth and development of our children, in the way they live their lives. A solid Catholic education imparts faith-filled lives, pursuit of academic excellence, prayerful engagement and generosity with the world, long-lasting commitments, and perseverance in adversity.

In other words, the ROI of Catholic education is the development of able, caring, and fruitful human beings.

The Diocese of Grand Rapids is engaged in a strategic plan titled “Catholic Schools: Bridging Faith and Future*.” It emphasizes the ROI in the education of our students. Evidence clearly shows that Catholic education is effective; Catholic schools are agents of change; and positive effects can endure for generations.

Studies reveal that Catholic education results in better graduation rates, higher test scores, more college scholarship totals, and more.

Are you aware that of 41,000 school-age children who were baptized Catholic in our diocese, only 5,550 attend a Catholic school? Over 86% of baptized Catholic students do not attend Catholic school.

The parents of thousands of Catholic children would love to provide them a Catholic elementary education, but can’t because of affordability. So it is essential that Saint Thomas Education Foundation helps our students over that hurdle.

Please consider making regular donations to Saint Thomas Education Foundation. You’ll change lives through the spiritual and academic growth of our kids, and the financial ROI of your gift will compound itself for generations to come. n

*See “Catholic Schools: Bridging Faith and Future,” at catholicschools4u.org.

Legacy Gifts…

A Legacy Gift can take many forms and offers a unique way to continue your support in perpetuity. We are extremely grateful to parishioners Joe and

Martha Crawford for including Saint Thomas Education Foundation in their estate planning. Here is why a Legacy Gift was important to them:

“Please know that we are delighted to be able to support Saint Thomas the Apostle School. We’ve admired the work being done there for many years...our extended family includes six graduates of the school. Their Christian lives testify to the guidance received at Saint Thomas many years ago.

Like you, we have a deep conviction that Catholic education lays a foundation for a life in Christ and his church. We also are greatly impressed and inspired by the sacrifices made by parents, teachers and leaders such as yourselves in bringing this level of education to the children of Saint Thomas Parish.”

Thank you, Joe and Martha. Your commitment to our school is a true blessing and an extraordinary inspiration to all. n

What’s the ROI of a Catholic Education?

Thank You to Our Foundation Donors June 2015 through April 2016

MEMORIAL GIFTSIn Memory of Robert BensonAnonymousAlbert Engel David and Catherine Hathaway Geri Knight Stephen and Micki Markee Mary Beth Walen Martha Markey and Christopher Conwill

In Memory of Camille CebelakAnonymousNeil and Liz Aschwege Ralph and Ellen Becker Miller Tool and Die Arline Dzwonkowski Mike and Kiki Lown Annette McCormack Scott and Terri Spence Jim and Tanya Noordyke Miles Schmidt Robert and Hazel Paul Employees of Kent Manufacturing

In Memory of Mary Stepanovich Nancy Evenson Rich and Carla Grant Brenda Hatfield Mike and Kiki Lown Mary Beth Walen Kenneth and Mary Ann Kelly Stephen and Kathleen Kozak Rosemary Campbell John and Helen Salan Thomas and Patricia Sommerdyke Jack and Claire Soderberg

In Memory of Bill Sefton Thomas and Linda Karas Jacqueline Greene Suzanne Kozloski Timothy and Pamela Pietryga Sharon Shepherd Jeffrey and Leslie Spurrier Marlene Vitasinski Alan Niemeyer and Percor Manufacturing Dianna Baker and Kent County Health Department Community Wellness

In Memory of Terri Bostic Andrew Gigliotti James and Jacqueline Domin Peter and Lynn Kuhl

In Memory of Rosalie Underwood Patrick and Susan Maioho Christopher and Cynthia Goeckel Johann and Lina Spross Ralph and Susan Garlick

In Memory of Bernadette HagertyDonald and Dorothy Schulte John and Laura Ashmore

In MemoriamLarry and Kitty Girard: in memory of Larry and Ginger Allen

Harold and Jean Koorndyk: in memory of Linda Thiel

Jody Mead: in memory of Dan Mead

Nancy Evenson: in memory of Shari Boisvenue, Mary Louise Conway

Don and Judi Serba: in memory of Jerome Bockheim, Mike Dooley, Gerri Mullenix

HONORARIUM GIFTSIn honor of Cheryl Coderre2014-15 Kindergarten Class

In honor of Brenda Tietema 2014-15 Second Grade Class

In honor of the marriage of Amy and Steve Van AndelTodd and Julie Arney

STAR AWARDSGenerous gifts honoring “stars” among our teachers and staff.

Arney family: honoring Kathy Proulx, Kelly Donohue, Betsy Edgerton, Abby VanDyke, Marnie White, Sue Ysasi

Dann family: honoring Ed Carr

Hans and Heather Waldraff: honoring Betsy Edgerton

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONSEd Carr Scholarship Joe and Mary Davis James and Barbara Long

Serba Scholarship Don and Judi Serba

BRICK PAVERSJeremy and Kim Bolker James RothwellTom and Jeanne Walch

ANNIVERSARY TUMBLERSAnonymous Neil and Elizabeth AschwegePaul and Tina Berkemeier Dominic and Julie GreeneJacob and Jessica Liesemeyer Ronel and Lourdes NatividadJohn and Shawn Schuring

GENEROUS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORTAnonymous Amazon Smile Todd and Julie Arney Mitchell and Kerry BaldwinNeil and Liz Aschwege Paul and Tina BerkemeierThomas and Elaine Bertram Mary Ann BlumMatthew and Jennifer Borgula Eric and Sandra BroggerEric and Catherine Buehler Anthony and Katherine BylakNagib and Stacey Chalfoun Mary CooleyJoe and Martha Crawford Michael and Sherry DespresStephen and Rosalind Ebrom Jim and Lois EnsWilliam and Mary Fallon Tony and Jackie FornettiDominic and Julie Greene Kathleen GreinerJohn Hallacy Gerald HausserTheda Huyge Colin and Kristin IrwinMichael and Linda Jaracz Scot and Dolly Kellogg Sarah and Rolf Krachenberg Craig and Kathy McCarthyJoan Mead John MeighanRosemary Milanowski Julia MorrisonMichael and Maureen Muraski Ronel and Lourdes NatividadDaniel Pupel Douglas RichardsKenneth Robach Ruperto and Barbara RodriguezJames and Emanel Rothwell Charles and Martha RushmoreSaint Thomas Home and School Saint Thomas StudentsJohn and Shawn Schuring George and Melissa SharpeRobert and Theresa Sorensen Janet SprengerBurton Stacey John StepanovichRobert and Nancy Thorndill William TomacPaul Troutwine Maureen Valliere/MaloneCarl and Suzanne VanderZee John and Mari-jo WalshVirginia Wesorick Geoffrey and LeeAnne WidlakDennis and Suzanne Haas Williams James and Mary Jo Wood

Give a S.T.A.R. Award

Show your appreciation for the STAR (Staff, Teacher Appreciation & Recognition) in your child’s life by making a tax-deductible donation of $20 or more

to the Foundation in honor of a special person. Your STAR will be acknowledged in the STAR section of the next Foundation newsletter and we will provide you with a certificate to present to your honoree. This is a great end-of-year gift for your favorite teacher or staff member or a special way to honor someone at Saint Thomas when your child graduates.

Board MembersJulie Greene, President Bill Coderre, Vice President/Treasurer Liz Aschwege, Secretary Julie ArneyStacey ChalfounSusanne Haas Williams Craig McCarthy Judi Serba Shawn SchuringSue VanderVeen Carl VanderZee Kerry Baldwin, Development Director

1449 Wilcox Park Drive, S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49506

For giving options, contact Kerry at edfoundation@stthomasgr.org, or call (616) 481-3223

FACEBOOK FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDSFor a nostalgic trip down memory lane, visit the Saint Thomas School Alumni and Friends Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/saint thomas school alumni and friends (grand rapids, mi). It’s a fun forum for alumni, parents and friends.

Share photos and memories with former classmates; reconnect and revive old friendships. Post favorite memories of Saint Thomas School… and see what happens!

Ed Carr The Dann family

Kelly Donohue Elizabeth Arney

Betsy Edgerton The Arney family Hans and Heather Waldraff

Kathy Proulx The Arney family

Abby VanDyke Adam Arney

Marnie White The Arney family

Sue Ysasi The Arney family

1449 Wilcox Park Drive, S.E.

Grand Rapids, MI 49506

This list includes gifts made so far this school year. Thank you to the contributors and to all of our staff for providing an exceptional Catholic education for our students and making such a difference in their lives.