November 2024 - Mark Chiarucci, VP for Advancement

Dear De La Salle Community: 

As is the case every year, the first few months of school always seem to be a blur here on Winton Drive with all the many activities happening inside and outside the classroom. The same holds true for all of us in the Advancement Office.  

We started the year with a sold-out Taste of De La Salle, with more than 500 people in attendance. This signature event is one that so many love because it is all about building community. Year after year, parents, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and coaches all convey how much they enjoy the opportunity to celebrate our family that is De La Salle High School. 

As we moved into October, Giving Week took center stage. Once again, our community went over and above to support our young men. It is inspiring for all of us in the Advancement Office to see that the trust and belief in what we are doing on campus shines through, as evidenced by the generosity of our parents, alumni, and friends. As was the case in the past, we not only achieved our goal of raising $350,000, we crushed it, with gifts totaling more than $418,000. Whether it was a gift of $20 to support the wrestling program or $2,500 to support financial aid, every single gift makes a difference in the lives of our students. 

We finished October with our second signature event – the Golf Classic, at Diablo Country Club, which once again was a complete sellout and a wonderful day on the course. Each year, we raise more than $2.1 million for the Annual Fund to support financial aid, co-curriculars, and faculty development, and the success of our Giving Week, Golf Classic, and Taste of De La Salle makes up a large portion of that. But there is more to come! Be on the lookout for opportunities to get involved and support the De La Salle Crab Feed in January, as well as the fun-filled Auction in April - our biggest event of the year. We can’t wait to share more details with you in the coming weeks and months.

As we move into the season of Thanksgiving, I want to leave you all with just that – my sincere and heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who supports our mission by giving of your time, talent, and treasure.   

If I can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to contact me at chiaruccim@dlshs.org. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of De La Salle, I cannot thank you enough for all you do, and I am excited for what the coming months have in store for us all.

With gratitude,

Mark Chiarucci
Vice President for Advancement