QND Fund Drive tops 2023 goal by more than $90,000

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame Foundation announced Friday night this year’s QND Fund Drive raised $560,832 in gifts and pledges, exceeding its goal by more than $90,000.  

“The support from the community and alumni across the nation enables QND to continue our mission and make a positive impact in our community and beyond,” Kurt Stuckman, executive director of the QND Foundation, said in a press release. “We value the dedicated investments made to ensure that every dollar raised is put to good use benefitting our students.”

The QND Fund Drive keeps tuition affordable by paying a portion of the school’s operating expenses to close the gap between the cost to educate and student tuition. The campaign also provides financial assistance to students. The QND Fund Drive has raised more than $18 million during the past 46 years. This year’s drive was led by co-chairpersons Scott Smith and Brian Dreier, a 1989 graduate.

“The kindness within our community is truly overwhelming.  The QND Fund Drive is critical to the successful, faith-based education of our students,” Dreier said. “Our system is reliant on the volunteers who spend so much time at QND and the community members who are so generous with their financial donations.  By continuing with this generosity, we help to ensure that QND and its students will have a bright future ahead.”

Highlights of this year’s campaign:

• The foundation received more than $17,000 in new gifts and collected more than $61,000 from donors who increased their gift from the previous year.  
• This year’s drive saw 65 percent of all gifts come from alumni.
• The advanced phase was 29 percent over its goal, parish was 10 percent over and alumni 6 percent over its goal.
• There were 158 donors who were part of the Ray Heilmann Legacy Society (gifts of $1,000 and above). 

“I am truly grateful for the continued support and commitment from our alumni, community and dedicated volunteers,” Smith said. “The success of this year’s fund drive is vital to the success of our school and its students. I would like to thank everyone for their investment in the mission of QND.”

Division chairs for the 2023 Fund Drive, which kicked off in January, were LB Cornwell (2015 graduate), Brady Frericks (2007 graduate), Jill Kelly, Will Meckes (2006 graduate), Jeremy Mefford (2006 graduate), Morgan Miles (2008 graduate), Jacob Scholz (2000 graduate), Andy Tappe (2000 graduate) and Curt Wavering (1997 graduate).

Founded in 1867, Quincy Notre Dame High School is a comprehensive four-year high school enrolling 381 students in grades 9-12. More than 42 percent of QND students received financial assistance for the 2023-24 school year. The QND Class of 2023 was offered more than $11 million in academic, athletic, performing arts and trade scholarships.