November 2023 - Mark Chiarucci, VP for Advancement

Dear De La Salle Community: 

As we enter the month of November and the season of “Giving Thanks,” it is only appropriate that I begin this letter with these two words. Thank you.

The first few months of fall came fast and furious for everyone on campus, including the Advancement staff here at De La Salle. 

Starting the year with A Taste of De La Salle, more than 550 parents, alumni, and friends shared great food, great libations, and, most importantly, great community. Affinity alumni events, Athletic Hall of Fame activities, and other gatherings followed, and we moved quickly onto the Golf Classic, which took center stage. The sold-out event once again provided a chance for our community to come together. And, somewhere in the middle of all of that, our Communications team launched a new website, which we hope has been more user-friendly for all of our parents.  

The signature moment of the fall, however, and our best example of our community coming together, was highlighted this past week with De La Salle Giving Week. This five-day campaign totaled just short of $500,000 in gifts for the school. Co-curriculars, the Learning Center, the Bishop Cummins Program, athletic teams, financial aid… these designations, plus so many others, received a tremendous amount of support, thanks to you. We not only beat our goal of $400,000, we smashed it. So much of that success is attributed to our parent community, which stepped up once again. 

The faith and belief in what occurs here on Winton Drive every day is evident in the support that we have received. Whether it was a $20 gift for the Band program or a $2,000 gift for Financial Aid, each and every gift will directly impact our young men here at De La Salle. 

This past year, more than $4.4 million in financial aid was awarded to one in three students, which makes up approximately 20% of the school’s budget. The commitment to serving students and families with varied economic backgrounds is only made possible through the philanthropic support of our community, and the success of our Giving Week shows how much our community supports our Mission. 

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