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Why Give?
Testimonials from Alums and Parents
Why I give to De Smet.
- In July of 1970, I had an appendectomy. Somehow, someway, Fr. Houlihan and Fr. Hoyer at De Smet found out and visited me in the hospital. Amazing.
- Between my freshman and sophomore years, my dad was out of work. My parents really could not afford De Smet. Fr. Houlihan was gracious to extend a payment plan for my family. This act of kindness will always be remembered.
- A fellow classmate's mother passed away from leukemia. She was a single mom, who struggled to get her son through De Smet. I called George Hasser, asking if he could get a priest from De Smet to come to the wake or funeral. He knew a lot of the priests were on vacation, so he took it upon himself and came to the funeral. My buddy has not forgotten.
- Nothing brings a school together like a winning team. In '72-'73 we beat Vianney for the mid-states hockey championship. Just a few weeks later De Smet won the state basketball championship over Kirkwood. We had recently lost 2-1state semifinals in soccer to SLUH, after one of our best players injured his knee. George Hasser 's baseball team had a successful season. That football season we beat SLUH for the first time. It was an amazing year, and I honestly believe our class set the standard for future classes in academics and athletics. We had pep rallies, and everyone went to the games. We had crappy fields, small gym, no air conditioning, and the wrestling team practiced on duct taped carpet foam!!!! Hasser had to pass the hat for new baseballs. The winning spirit brought us together!
If you want a first class school you have to maintain it. To draw the best and the brightest, the facilities, faculty and programs must be there. The above items are why I give to De Smet. I want to see De Smet thrive. I want to say proudly for many years--- I went to De Smet.
Tim Dolan '73
I give to De Smet for two reasons. There is a real and pressing need for young men to be exposed to the values offered by De Smet who cannot afford it and as such my contribution may provide that opportunity to be part of the Jesuit tradition at De Smet. Secondly, I believe De Smet can be an enduring institution in the St. Louis area, one that will provide a legacy that my kid and hopefully my grand and great grand kids will be a part of.
Chris McGraugh '79
I have benefited greatly from my De Smet experience, and I firmly believe that is why I have been able to realize a lot of the potential God blessed me with. Beyond that, the "Men for Others" motto is something that still lives strong in me (I hope), and is something I carry with me always.
To be able to give this gift back to another young man is just a small gift I can offer for all the blessings I have been bestowed.
Jim Ortbals '94
I give to De Smet because I know I wouldn't be who I am, where I am, or what I am without the education and guidance I received at De Smet and, most importantly, the friendships I built!
Justin Hennessey '01
Why do I give? I feel like sometimes I give because a lot of alumni my age DO NOT give. I think a lot of guys my age feel as though "it's not their time" to give yet; however, I know that ANY contribution helps. I give in thanks to every other alumnus who gave while I was at De Smet. I give in hopes that someone else will have the opportunity to have the time of their life for four years like I did. I give in thanks to the faculty and staff who make it possible for each student to leave De Smet as a well-rounded individual. I give to De Smet because I care about the future of our school, that maybe some day I will have a son fortunate enough to experience what I experienced within the walls of those classrooms, hallways, locker rooms, cafeteria, theatre, and music room. I give because I am proud to say I graduated from De Smet Jesuit High School. Why wouldn't I give?
Jim Bunten '06
Make Your Donation Here
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