Honoring Our Legacy OLD

Head of School Michael F. Baber and Board Chair J. Spencer Finney are pleased to announce that Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School has received a lead-gift commitment of $1 million to the school's Honoring Our Legacy Initiative. This pledge is one of the single largest gift commitments in the school's 90-year history. "Through our twelve-year association with the school, we've never been so impressed with nor had as much faith in the leadership team in place, guided by Michael Baber. We are thrilled to give back and help propel the gift of a Sacred Heart education into the forefront of conversations," said the donor, a parent of children who graduated from Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School

"We've watched firsthand as our children have grown and developed into strong academics, leaders, and most importantly, conscientious members of their communities. We believe so strongly in the Sacred Heart mission to educate the whole child. At the core of everything academic is a strong foundation in English and math. We want to endow these departments to continue their legacy of excellence for generations to come."

"This gift is right in line with our hopes for the Initiative—that families will leave behind their legacy and propel the school forward. This gift is an inspiration to all to give their best gift—their biggest gift ever to our school, because it has the power to change the world," said Baber.

This $1 million lead-gift commitment has been given to challenge the community to join the Honoring Our Legacy Initiative and to help endow the English and Mathematics Departments as part of the school's ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Gifts received in response to the Challenge will go to this portion of the Initiative. "The Board of Trustees is grateful to this generous family for their commitment to the future of Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School. We look forward to more families joining this Challenge," said Finney.

Please join the Challenge, inspired by this generous gift. Thank you for joining together with us to strengthen our school for years to come!

"We link the strength of all thy past to glorious future days."

Our strategic vision is the collective response to the question, “What is your dream for the school?” It calls us to build long-term sustainability for an educational vision that has transformed the world for more than 200 years. We are committed to:

• Grow endowment to sustain cutting-edge academics, arts, technology, and athletics
• Support excellence through management of financial, personnel, and capital resources
• Seek to earn transformative gifts by broadening philanthropic initiatives
• Encourage environmental sustainability across our campus and within the community

A thriving endowment is the best gift we give our students and is essential to our future. While our endowment is healthy, it is still not adequate to meet the annual needs of our students. It is imperative that we nurture the endowment to ensure that our potential for educating the whole child is never limited by lack of resources. Your gift ensures that our Sacred Heart education is here for generations.

Gifts of any size may be invested in the unrestricted endowment and allow the most flexibility to meet current needs. To establish a named endowed fund, a minimum gift of $25,000 is required.

Naming Opportunities

1929 Main Building | $5,000,000 

Kenefick Natatorium | $1,000,000

Pods A, B, or  C (3) | $1,000,000

Upper School Library | $500,000

Lower School Library | $500,000

Lenke Global Education Center | $500,000 | Named

Rull Family Innovation Center | $250,000 | Named

Schmidt Family (Junior) Commons | $100,000 | Named

Jones Family (Freshman & Sophomore) Commons | $100,000 | Named

Duchesne Building Maker Space | $100,000

Additional naming opportunities are available upon request. 

"May this effort further the building of this House of the Lord."

Support the creation of the Student Life Center and Theater Project as well as construction of the Concessions Building at Condie Field. Help us to transform the existing auditorium into a space commensurate with award-winning performances, guest speakers, and student gatherings.

Naming Opportunities 

Student Life Center | $3,000,000 | Named

Atrium | $500,000 | Named

Terrace | $500,000

Scene Shop | $250,000

Green Room | $100,000 | Named

Control Room | $100,000 

Cafe | $100,000

Seating | $1,500-$5,000

*All facility projects are in planning stage and subject to change. 

Additional naming opportunities are available upon request. 

The Sister Mary Gray McNally Alumnae Scholarship is available annually to a student entering the ninth grade who demonstrates financial need and whose mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother is an alumna of either Villa Duchesne or City House. Recipients receive $5,000 in tuition aid each year to follow the student through graduation as needed.