Heart of the Lion Campaign Update 

OVER GOAL!!!

The Heart of the Lion Campaign goal of $10.8 million was established in the spring of 2001.  The Viatorian community participated in a visioning process, which resulted in the identification of four specific priorities that required funding, and the Board of Trustees approved this allocation:

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As of August 2007, $11,241,382 has been pledged toward our Heart of the Lion goal of $10.8 million, from 787 gifts.  Of the dollars raised, over $10,430,953 in cash has been received to date.  This has resulted in significant progress being made in addressing each of the priority needs summarized below: 

Student Financial Aid – The Clerics of Saint Viator generously provided the lead gift for our Campaign - $2.5 million pledged and designated for the endowment of Tuition Assistance ($2 million) and Faculty Enhancement ($500,000).  This lead gift significantly and immediately impacted the funding available for Student Financial Aid and will enable Saint Viator to offer the financial aid needed to maintain an outstanding and diverse student body. The dollars now made available for tuition assistance will come largely from investment income from the endowment fund rather than from operations.

*While the number of students receiving awards decreased some years, the  
   monetary assistance awarded to individual students was significantly higher.

Faculty Endowment – Teachers are the backbone of a good school.  In an effort to maintain the level of excellence that has been established at Saint Viator, faculty enhancement programs have been established.  The faculty endowment will insure the vitality of these programs and expand the opportunities provided.  The program offers educational enhancement, which includes continuing education, workshops and conventions, technology training and teacher/staff in-services and retreats.  With establishment of this fund, we are able to nurture our faculty educationally and spiritually.

Multipurpose Athletic Facility – Our beautiful new Multipurpose Athletic Facility, The Boler Center, was dedicated on April 23, 2005.  Actual building costs amount to approximately $9 million, including architectural fees.  Over $4.5 million has been allocated from Heart of the Lion toward these construction costs.  The remaining funds will need to be raised through annual fundraising, special events and perhaps future capital campaigns.  Included in the new facility: 

• Practice Gymnasium - featuring Mahoney Court

• Hall of Fame Corridor - featuring the new Saint Viator/Sacred Heart of Mary Hall of Fame Display

• Murphy Wellness Center - featuring an indoor running track, weight training area, physical education offices and new locker rooms

• Two Multipurpose Rooms - featuring dance and cheerleading areas, wrestling mats and batting cages

• Two Classrooms

The Boler Center allows Saint Viator the much-needed space to better accommodate curriculum offerings in physical education and health as well as extracurricular offerings in competitive athletic programs. The facility also includes gathering space that encourage social activities and fosters a greater sense of community among students.

Science Labs/Technology Enhancements – Gifts designated to the renovation of our Science Labs (primarily from two generous benefactors) have resulted in the complete renovation of six of our eight science labs. The newly renovated labs are state-of-the-art “universal” labs, equipped for chemistry, biology and physics courses. Each lab room utilizes up-to-the minute technology in the student workstations, lecture areas and safety features. Each renovated classroom has 24 lab and lecture stations with hot and cold water, anti-scald devices, gas hook-ups, Internet portals, a teacher’s demonstration table and two adjustable lab stations for handicapped accessibility. The Physics labs also contain wireless computers to capture data during experiments. To date, two Physics labs, two Biology labs and two Chemistry labs have been renovated. The two Life Science labs need upgrading as soon as funding can be secured. 

Heart of the Lion Wrap-Up Efforts Draw to a Close– The Heart of the Lion Capital Campaign has been the most successful fund raising effort in the history of Saint Viator High School.  All donors have been recognized for their support in a formal and lasting way - through the Donor Recognition Display, which is prominently located in the Hall of Fame Corridor in the new facility.