November 2025 - Mark Chiarucci, VP for Advancement

Dear De La Salle Community,

The start of the school year always brings a surge of energy and excitement to Winton Drive, and this year has been no exception. Between classroom learning, athletics, arts, and community events, our campus is alive with the spirit that makes De La Salle so special.

I am in awe of our community. Last week’s Giving Week was nothing short of historic. “Giving Day” started nearly ten years ago, and in that first effort, we were thrilled to raise $40,000. Fast forward nine years, and the progress is astounding. This year, for “Giving Week,” we set an audacious goal of $600,000 in just one week, and thanks to alumni, parents, and former parents, grandparents, and friends, we not only met it, we exceeded it!!! We believed that our community would rise to the challenge, and they did just that, exceeding our previous best effort by more than $100,000. It is just what Spartans do: we rise to any challenge. Gifts of every size, whether $100 to support wrestling, $1,000 for Company, or $10,000 for the Bishop Cummins Program, will make a real impact on every aspect of the school.

Your generosity and belief in De La Salle and our mission are what make these achievements possible. It shows, and it inspires us all.

I am also deeply appreciative of all of our campus partners who helped support this effort and, of course, our hardworking Advancement staff. They have gone above and beyond these past 40 days to make this historic week a reality.

We started with the sold-out Taste of De La Salle on September 18th, bringing together over 500 members of our community, and we finished October with our second signature event, the Golf Classic at Diablo Country Club, which was another sellout and a wonderful day on the course. The success of these events, together with Giving Week, plays a major role in supporting our Annual Fund, which provides critical resources for financial aid, co-curricular programs, and faculty development.

And there is still more to come! Be on the lookout for opportunities to join us at the Crab Feed in January and our Auction in May, our biggest event of the year.

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I want to leave you with my heartfelt thanks. Your time, talent, and treasure make a real difference in the lives of our young men. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of De La Salle, thank you for your trust, generosity, and belief in our mission. I am excited for what the coming months have in store.

If I can ever be of service, please don’t hesitate to contact me at chiaruccim@dlshs.org.

With gratitude,
Mark Chiarucci
Vice President for Advancement