Impact Report Autumn 2020 A Message From Our Board Chair When we started our 2019-2020 academic year, no one could have imagined the changes that would come in the months ahead; some were extraordinarily positive and others very challenging but all changed the face of Cristo Rey San José. In October of 2019, George and Judy Marcus made a donation of $10 million to Cristo Rey San José. This transformational gift created a new funding model for our school by establishing an endowment which will provide financial support in perpetuity and create permanency to our mission. In celebrating one of our most historic moments, another loomed ahead. By March of 2020, we had no choice but to close our doors and move to a virtual teaching and learning BRYAN POLSTER environment. Our Corporate Work Study Program also had to pivot with students working CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, remotely. Services needed for our students and their families were provided. Many of you CRISTO REY SAN JOSÉ walked along side and supported our Covid relief fund. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD By June, it came time to graduate our third senior class in a very unique graduation ceremony OF PARTNERS, at the San Jose Giants Excite Ballpark. We were so proud to honor 99 seniors who join our FRANK, RIMERMAN + CO. LLP alumni ranks now totaling more than 300. We don’t know what lies ahead, except that we are committed to the explicit belief that every student has the potential in life to accomplish extraordinary things and Cristo Rey just gives them a unique platform to tap into their skill and potential to find their path and excel. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the students and staff of Cristo Rey, I personally thank you for your generosity in helping us through these challenging times. I also ask for your continued support to insure all of our students can have this high school platform to succeed and prepare for college. Sincerely, Bryan Polster, Chairman CRSJ Board of Directors A Message from Willie Hernandez With your generosity and the support of so many others in our business community, we reached a milestone during the 2019-2020 school and work year with over 400 revenue generating Corporate Work Study Program placements. Through these placements, and many more from our nonprofit CWSP Partners, students gained confidence, grew their professional networks, explored new career pathways and enhanced their skills in a way that is unique WELCOME to our ‘classroom to boardroom’ model. Covid-19 struck months ago and changed almost everything. Our Corporate Work Study Program Partners closed their offices and sent their employees, including their Cristo Rey students, home to work for an undetermined period of time. Our Cristo Rey families have also been disproportionately impacted by the public health and economic crises making our promise to our students and commitment from our Partners that much more important. I am grateful to our many Partners who helped our students close last school year in remote work arrangements. Their corporate work experience is transformational to their development as young professionals. Now, with sheltering orders still in effect, many of our students do not have traditional jobs to go to. We are inspired by the Partners working with students under remote circumstances and we are honored by the work of Partners seeking to reconnect with our students when we reach a more stable time. In the meantime, I applaud the Cristo Rey team for developing a program that connects students with professional mentors and teaches professional skills. This program maintains our commitment to the students, as much as we can under our circumstances, to prepare them for the professional world. WILLIE HERNANDEZ One thing is not different: the talent, skills and potential of our students. We applaud CHAIR, CRISTO REY WORK STUDY them for their adaptability and resilience under extraordinary circumstances. Every day BOARD OF DIRECTORS they demonstrate they belong in the professional pipeline. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to them and we welcome every company to join us! DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE Willie Hernandez, Chair GENERAL COUNSEL, Cristo Rey Work Study Board PRODUCT AT FACEBOOK ENDOWMENT A Transformational Gift for the Future of Cristo Rey San José Inspired by the philanthropy of Cristo Rey San José founder and Co-Chair Emeritus, John A. Sobrato, last October, Judy and George Marcus made a $10 million gift and a commitment to establish an endowment benefitting Cristo Rey. Known for their philanthropy and Judy Marcus’s community service, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus have been steady patrons of education and youth and have supported numerous organizations around the Bay Area for many years. They have supported Cristo Rey since 2014, a year after the school opened. The Cristo Rey endowment will link past, current, and future generations by providing stability and allowing the school to look far into the future, knowing that resources to meet student needs will continue to be available. JUDY AND GEORGE MARCUS The Marcuses truly believe in the power of education and hope their gift inspires others. George Marcus, co-founder of the Marcus & Millichap real estate investment firm, shared: “As an immigrant myself and coming from a background of modest means, Cristo Rey is providing a unique educational model and we are delighted to invest in the school’s future.” Judy and George Marcus receive Cristo Rey’s inaugural Chairman’s Award. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALONG WITH COMEDIAN JAY LENO HONOR JUDY AND GEORGE MARCUS: FROM L–R: BRYAN POLSTER, GEORGE MARCUS, JUDY MARCUS, JAY LENO, JOHN A. SOBRATO, BJ CASSIN, STEVE FINN The Cristo Rey Financial Model 7% 5% 479students ● Family Contribution Endowment Proceeds ● 45% Philanthropy ● 43% Corporate Work Study Program ● 318alumni ADVANCEMENT Impact of Events Fundraising and recognition events not only help raise needed dollars for Cristo Rey, but they also give us the opportunity to meet our supporters and introduce our students, in person. Events are a way in which we can build community and personally share our story while having fun. Thank you for joining us! COOKING WITH CHARACTER Last October, Cristo Rey held the first Annual Cooking with Character Fundraiser at Los Altos Golf and Country Club. Guests enjoyed the delicious food and wine tasting, and a charcuterie tray arranging contest with Rev. Peter Pabst, S.J., Rev. Tony Mancuso, and our students. Guests also participated in contests and a drawing with dozens of wonderful donated items. REY OF HOPE RAISED A RECORD AMOUNT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! Although the in-person March event had to be cancelled because of COVID 19, our tried and true still made Rey of Hope a huge success, raising more than $900,000 for student scholarships! Over 200 participants and 50 sponsors participated in our Virtual REY OF HOPE on June 11th! Events included Coffee with the Chancellor, A Live Thermometer Ask and a virtual wine tasting. We are grateful to our board members for their participation and support, and all our donors who helped us ‘Break the An Hour’s Journey… A LIFETIME OF HOPE Thermometer’! AN EVENING WITH JAY LENO On January 18th, comedian and longtime host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, joined students and guests at an intimate gathering at The Candy Store, a classic car club on the Peninsula. This event was generously hosted by Cristo Rey board member Steve Finn. Students had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Leno about his career and his experience attending college, and he shared some great (and funny!) career advice with them. Guests were treated to a comedic monologue by Mr. Leno, and later in the evening George and Judy Marcus were honored with the inaugural Chairman’s Award. CWSP Program Overview We could not be more grateful to our young professionals, their families and our $3.5mThe Corporate Work Study Program Corporate Work Study Program Partners for their resilience during what became raised approximately $3.5m in a very unusual school and work year. Supporting the relationships between revenue over the course of the young professionals and their supervisors and mentors was a top priority during 19-20 school/work year. 2019-2020 and with the added challenges of the spring, we were thrilled that CWSP Partners found ways to continue their commitment and to maintain those relationships. It’s been reassuring that many of our CWSP Partners have embraced remote work and are teaching valuable lessons around working from home, balancing new responsibilities and that a support network is always just a direct message away. Bridging the opportunity gap and deepening our understanding of and developing solutions to address systemic inequalities has never been more important. Regardless of when the CWSP vans hit the freeways again, we have learned some valuable lessons that will make us stronger. 2019-2020 has given us a whole new appreciation for a Partner saying, “We are still with you no matter what” and a young professional saying, “I love my job.” Interested in learning more about making an impact? Email [email protected] or call 408-293-0425 x139. Juniper Networks is proud to partner with the CWSP at Cristo Rey in San José for four years and counting! When the global Covid-19 pandemic arrived, we were able to successfully pivot both our employees and students to remote work. The Cristo Rey students’ patience, flexibility and professionalism has helped us all adapt more quickly of Corporate Work Study97% Program supervisors were to change, demonstrating the power of diversity during satisfied or very satisfied with their CWSP experience at “ challenging times. At Juniper, student workers contribute the end of the 19-20 school/work year.