QND announces fund drive goal of $475,000; Dreier, Knuffman named chairpersons

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame announced on Friday a goal of $475,000 for this year’s annual fund drive.

Since its inception in 1977, the fund drive has raised more than $18 million, playing a vital role in QND remaining a pillar of Catholic secondary education in Quincy. The fund drive kicked off Friday, Jan. 19, and runs through the calendar year.

The QND fund drive helps keep tuition affordable by paying a portion of the school’s operating costs and closing the gap between the cost to educate a student and tuition. The fund drive additionally supports QND’s financial aid program. This school year, 42 percent of QND students receive financial assistance.

In a press release, Kurt Stuckman, executive director of the QND Foundation, said, “The fund drive remains the most pivotal fundraising endeavor we have annually. QND is successful because of the generosity of our donors which allows us the ability to provide a high-quality education. The fund drive allows us to invest in growth and development to fulfill our mission. We remain humbled by such kindness locally and throughout the country.”

Brian Dreier, Class of 1989, and Jason Knuffman, Class of 1993, were named chairpersons of this year’s fund drive.

Dreier and his wife Dana are graduates of QND, and both received their bachelor’s degrees from Rockhurst University in 1993. They are members of St. Francis Solanus Church and have three daughters, Emily, Hannah and Grace, a current QND senior. Brian is the employee benefits director at Winters Insurance Group.

“QND is a tremendous faith based secondary education. The experience produces a lifelong community of people who believe in a shared mission,” Dreier said. “This community and its ability to raise money through initiatives like the QND fund drive helps curb the cost of education for future generations. Fortunately, QND has been growing this community for over 155 years. Our goal, with your support, is to expand this tradition of giving for generations to come.”

Knuffman is a 1997 graduate of Saint Louis University and a 2001 graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.  He is an allergist at Quincy Medical Group and currently serves as the QND girls golf head coach. He and his wife, Rebecca, are members of St. Peter Church and have four daughters — Hana, Heidi, Caroline and Catherine.

“QND has played an instrumental role in the academic and spiritual formation of not only myself and my daughters, but also countless friends and alumni,” Knuffman said. “The mission of QND involves educating lifelong learners in the setting of the Catholic tradition of service to others. The current QND leadership, faculty and staff exemplify these qualities on a very high level. Along with Brian Dreier, I am simultaneously humbled and proud to receive the opportunity to co-chair this year’s fund drive. Together we will thrive into the future.”

QND’s Fund Drive will be supported by many volunteers throughout the drive. The fund drive leaders are:

• LB Cornwell, Class of 2015, financial advisor, Stifel Financial
• Brady Frericks, Class of 2007, vice-president commercial relationship manager, Homebank
• Will Meckes, Class of 2006, partner, Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu and Mitchell LLP
• Jeremy Mefford, Class of 2006, financial advisor, First Investment Services, a division of First Bankers Trust
• Hannah Cramsey, Class of 2012, senior wellness coordinator, Wellworks For You
• Jake Scholz, Class of 2000, attorney, Scholz and Scholz LLP
• Lucas Frageman, Class of 2003, insurance broker, McGinnis Insurance
• Laura Rheinecker, Class of 2003, Laura Rheinecker Photography
• Curt Wavering, Class of 1997, civil/site senior engineer, Klingner and Associates

The QND fund drive is managed by the QND Foundation, which was founded in 1968. The QND fund drive was established in 1977. Gifts to the QND fund drive may be donated throughout the entire calendar year. Gifts may be mailed to QND, completed online at QuincyNotreDame.org, or paid through PayPal or Venmo (@QND-Foundation).