Largest Gift in School History

$3 Million Given to Honoring Our Legacy Major Gifts Initiative

Dear Sacred Heart Family,

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School has received a lead-gift commitment of $3 million to the School's Honoring Our Legacy Major Gifts Initiative. This pledge is the single largest gift commitment in the 90-year history of the School.

Our anonymous donors are lifelong supporters of Sacred Heart education. Their gift is earmarked for a new Student Life Center and enhancements to student gathering spaces on campus, including a renovation of the existing auditorium into a theater. I am privileged to share with you some conceptual renderings, and the timeline for this exciting project will be announced in the spring.

"We invest in Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School because we have witnessed the transformative impact of Sacred Heart education upon our own children. We are committed because we believe in the power of a gift to inspire an entire community. Love is at the center of everything Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill does, and we aspire to further the work of the dedicated donors who have gone before us. We asked what we could do to help, and this was the answer. We hope others will do the same.

"The Student Life Center is a place to build community. It is not only a place to showcase talent through a true theater, it is a place where the student body gathers for prayer, friendship, and learning—it is the heart of the school. We believe an upgrade to this critical space within the school will inspire families to choose Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School for their children. Join with us in supporting the Honoring Our Legacy Initiative, and strengthen the Sacred Heart legacy for years to come," said the donors.

The gift comes at a time of great momentum for Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, on the heels of the $1 million challenge gift we announced in September to endow the English and Math Departments and the same weekend as our sold-out Auction. This generous gift reflects the sense of unbounded hope and deep commitment present throughout our entire school community. We are grateful and humbled by the generosity of our donors, and we thank them for their investment in the legacy of Sacred Heart education. All of our students at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill, current and future, will benefit from this remarkable gift.

It is with awe and gratitude that I ask you, what is possible? Given the generosity of our community, what can we accomplish? This is a powerful moment in our School's story as we look to the future. Share in this excitement with us. Join with Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School as we continue on the path of excellence and provide for every student here the life-changing gift of a Sacred Heart education. Help us build on this momentum and excitement by participating in the Honoring our Legacy Major Gifts Initiative!

Cor Unum,

Michael F. Baber
Head of School

 

Images by Fox Architects