So Close!
Last week, we had $110,000 left to go to reach our core campus capital campaign goal of $20.5M. Two donors stepped up, leaving us just $70,000 short of reaching our goal for beginning construction and renovations.
At the Ambassador Board meeting last week, VP of Advancement Ashleigh de Villiers said with a chuckle, "We're so close to meeting our goal—If anyone knows someone with $70,000 to give, let me know." Ashleigh didn't expect the response she got.
It Felt Like Destiny
Lech Kaiel, a member of the first graduating class of DLSNC in 2005, and the first alum on the Ambassador Board, asked to speak to Ashleigh after the meeting and shared that he would like to donate $70,000 to the campaign in honor of his parents. ZoomInfo, where he works, had recently gone public and he had been thinking about making a meaningful gift to DLSNC but hadn't decided on an amount until then.
The number held special significance for Lech, who says, "$70,000 is the most my parents ever made (combined) in a year, and that was a goalpost of success when I started my career. So when Ashleigh said the number $70,000 it felt like destiny. I feel so fortunate to be able to give back in a way I never could have imagined."
Giving Back
He went on to say, "I can think of no better way to celebrate this moment than to give back to the school that gave so much to me and gives so much to all of its students. My education has given me incredible opportunities and I want every kid who grows up in Portland to have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their background.
Everything that De La Salle is and stands for, especially the Corporate Work Study Program, makes it the best vessel for promoting diversity academically, professionally, and culturally, and Portland needs to see how making space for and supporting diversity can make the whole city richer. This city has been on the wrong side of history too many times before, but it is never too late to start making things right."
Shovel in the Ground Next Month!
Lech's gift will enable us to literally put the shovel in the ground and begin construction and renovations of the St. Charles campus next month. He hopes his actions inspire others.
With your help, we can make the second phase of the capital campaign possible: building our very own gym. Lech, a former DLSNC athlete, knows how much that would mean to the students, recalling how DLSNC was described as "the poor school without a gym."
Lech hopes to send a message of support and strength with his generous contribution, especially during such challenging times our nation is facing. "I want to do more than post messages of solidarity on social media," Lech said. "This is my statement. The lives of the people I grew up with matter. The next generation of students at DLSNC matter."
Onwards and upwards, Knight Nation! Let's build that gym!