Outstanding Students, Outstanding Schools Annette Z. Parsons Chief Education Administrator, Catholic Diocese of Richmond and President, McMahon Parater Foundation This has been another year of brought home the first place trophy for the eighth year in the blessings for Catholic schools of Virginia championship of the National Ocean Science Bowl, and Investing the Richmond Diocese! will compete at the nationals. Benedictine won its first Virginia While Catholic schools Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I State Football around the nation continue to Championship in over 10 years and Roanoke Catholic won the be challenged by mergers and VISAA Division IV State Basketball Championship this year. in Our closures, our student numbers In October, two SEES Alumni broke the Guinness Book of World are stable, and even up a bit over Records by simultaneously launching 4,100 model rockets. last year. Several of our teachers The Segura Educational Initiative continues to lead the and schools have achieved movement to increase the number of Latino children in Catholic Children national recognition, and our diocesan education staff and teachers schools. Bishop Di Lorenzo and Segura were highlighted at are beginning to be perceived as leaders in Catholic education. the Bishop’s conference, and our Chief Administrator was invited We are immensely proud of Mrs. Lynn Woods of St. Gregory by the USCCB to brief 70 US bishops on this successful, the Great Catholic School in Virginia Beach, who has been replicable program. selected at the Distinguished Teacher of the year by the National In addition, many of the Catholic schools of the Diocese are Catholic Education Association (NCEA) because of her many beginning much needed facility upgrades and improvements. classroom innovations in curriculum and Thanks to funds provided through parish instruction. support, schools are applying for $7M Christ the King Catholic School, in worth of matching grants to pay for Norfolk, VA, has been nominated by the deferred maintenance projects identified US Department of Education for a Blue by engineering studies conducted in all Ribbon. Principal Dr. Fran Gagne will 24 Diocesan schools last year. accept the award in October at ceremonies Our Catholic schools are indeed in Washington DC. This brings our thriving, but success cannot be measured diocesan schools’ Blue Ribbon tally to an in awards or recognition. It is truly impressive 14. Only 50 private schools measured in the number of children we in the nation are selected for this honor serve, and the faith and morality we share Lynn Woods, St. Gregory Catholic School from among hundreds of private schools. with these young people. NCEA Teacher of the Year In addition, Christ the King School Diocesan leaders understand that our has received the national Today’s Catholic Teacher Award for great blessings are the many partners in Catholic education from innovation in implementing Catholic identity. around the diocese, including parents who sacrifice to send their National recognition was also bestowed on Kay Bisaillon, children to Catholic schools as well as committed pastors, teachers, of St. Gregory Catholic School, who was chosen by NCEA to volunteers, and those who contribute scholarship dollars in support host national EdCamp and Google sessions for Catholic school the mission of Catholic schools. On behalf of the children, we leaders and teachers. Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School thank all who share in this important mission of the Church. Diocese of Richmond Catholic Schools: A Tradition of Excellence According to the Cato Institute in its February 2012 report on Higher Graduation Rates: Diocese of Richmond Catholic schools schools, “One of the first things you learn when you start to maintain a 99% graduation rate. The U.S. average according to the study the comparative performance of school systems is this: National Center for Higher Education is 75.5%. on average, Catholic schools are much more educationally More Graduates Attend Four-Year Colleges: In the Diocese of effective and vastly more efficient than state-run schools.” Richmond, over 95% of our graduates attend four-year colleges. Higher Test Scores: Within the Richmond Diocese, our schools More College Scholarships: In the Richmond Diocese alone, consistently rank in the top 10% on standardized test scores. more than 60% of graduating seniors received college scholarships in Higher SAT Scores: SAT scores for Catholic schools continue 2014–2015 totaling almost $23 million. to grow with an average score of 1657 last year in the Richmond Diocese compared with the national average of 1477. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 12 McMAHON PARATER FOUNDATION All Are Welcome Building for Our Future 2015 Board of Directors The Most Reverend Francis X. DiLorenzo Charles V. McPhillips, Esq. Most Reverend Bishop of Richmond Chairman, McMahon Parater Foundation Francis X. DiLorenzo BISHOP OF RICHMOND As Pope Francis tells us to “Go Forth” and evangelize, I can think of I am delighted to bring you good and hopeful news in the 2014 Annual Mr. Charles V. McPhillips “ A Catholic school CHAIRMAN no better starting place than our 29 Catholic schools. In my travels Report. Last year, over 1,500 Catholic school students received financial aid Ms. Annette Z. Parsons education is a across the Diocese of Richmond, nothing energizes me more than a awards from gifts to the Foundation’s endowment, yielding an average PRESIDENT visit to one of our Catholic schools. Although our schools are located award of approximately $500 per student. In addition, we have raised another Ms. Kathleen Burke Barrett blessing to our TREASURER all across the Diocese, in small towns and large, in inner-cities and $2.7 million under the new Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Mrs. Francine Conway children, our suburbs, the children seem to share a common joy and wonder. Credits Program, which has already benefitted hundreds of students over SECRETARY As a former teacher, I am impressed by the academic innovation, the past two school years, with an average award of $1,200 each. Awards for Mr. Barry J. Fitzpatrick families, our CHAIRMAN the artistic endeavors, and the athletic prowess at our schools. the upcoming school year are still being finalized, but we expect the total INVESTMENT COMMITTEE Church, and our From STEM programs to marine biology initiatives to athletic amount of aid to increase. Mr. Henry Berling championships, our schools provide a dynamic 21st-century education that we seek to make All of these students have documented financial need that would likely Dr. J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr. communities.“ available to as many children as possible. preclude them from attending our schools without this aid. When coupled with the additional Mr. Douglas Farley The mission of the McMahon Parater Foundation has always been to make a Catholic financial aid provided by the Diocesan Parish Sharing Program, we can confidently conclude that the Mr. Bruce C. Holbrook Mr. Thomas J. Laux school education available to all who desire it. Through your generosity, we are getting closer. overall Catholic school enrollment in this Diocese is 20–25% greater than it would have been without Dr. Robert E. Martínez A Catholic school education is a blessing to our children, our families, our Church, and our this tuition assistance, a source of help to our families that scarcely existed six years ago. Mr. Stephen G. Reardon communities. How wonderful it will be when we can go forth and say, “All are welcome,” and For all of the above, I extend my sincerest gratitude to my colleagues on the Board of Directors Mr. Thomas M. Strassburg provide the financial aid to make it a reality. and to all of the generous donors to the McMahon Parater Foundation. You have enabled us to The Honorable Geline B. Williams achieve these gratifying results. Moreover, all of us who care Mr. Richard Woestman about our Catholic schools are in the debt of Bishop DiLorenzo “ Last year, over for his leadership in initiating and propelling these programs. Honorary Campaign Elsewhere in these pages you are reading about the 1,500 Catholic Chairmen extraordinary value being provided by our Catholic schools for school students Dr. Robert L. A. Keeley, M.D.* the benefit of our church, our parishes and our communities. Dr. Eugene P. Trani General Anthony C. Zinni Please be justly proud of what your support has made possible. received financial May the good Lord bless each and every one of you who aid awards Investment Committee has contributed either your financial resources or your loving Mr. Barry J. Fitzpatrick prayers. Both types of contributions are working! For those who from gifts to the CHAIRMAN have not yet joined this great cause, please consider accepting Foundation’s Mr. J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr. this invitation to work with us in preserving and expanding the Dr. Robert Conroy Mr. Charles V. McPhillips opportunity for an exceptional Catholic education in this Diocese. endowment ...“ Mr. David D. Plageman Mr. Richard Woestman Mrs. Margaret I. Keightley EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Virginia Education Improvement Scholarships MCMAHON PARATER FOUNDATION Tax Credits (EISTC) * deceased Individuals and businesses making contributions to the McMahon Parater Foundation under Virginia’s new Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits program will receive a Virginia tax credit equal to 65% of the donation, in addition to the federal deduction for charitable gifts. These contributions provide scholarships for low-income new students to attend Diocese of Richmond Catholic schools. The minimum donation amount is $500; the maximum donation for individuals is $125,000, but there is no maximum limit for any business, including sole proprietorships. Donations may be monetary or marketable securities. Please consult your tax advisor to determine your specific tax savings. For more information, please contact Joyce Schreiber at 804-622-5190. 2 McMAHON PARATER FOUNDATION 2013/14 ANNAUL REPORT 3 All Are Welcome Building for Our Future 2015 Board of Directors The Most Reverend Francis X.