Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Large Host of Blue Jays Dial In for the Alumni Giving Drive

Posted October 20, 2017 / Last updated October 25, 2017

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Smiling and dialing! Callers Mark Marino, Vinnie Varisco, Ryan Gootee, and Ryan LeBlanc represent the class of 1991.

More than 200 alumni representing eight decades returned to Carrollton and Banks on the evenings of Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 19 to kick off the 2017-18 Alumni Giving Drive. The AGD, formerly known as the LEF drive, is the alumni component of Jesuit’s annual giving effort.

View the Photo Gallery for the Alumni Giving Phone Drive (Fall Calling)

Proceeds from the alumni drive are combined with dollars raised in the Parents’ Giving Drive and Parents of Alumni Drive to offset operational expenses of the school, allowing Jesuit to remain an affordable school of excellence. Jesuit remains one of the least expensive parochial schools in the New Orleans area and is, by far, the most affordable Jesuit high school in the nation.

During the three nights of connecting with classmates, alumni volunteers secured pledges from approximately 1,300 of their classmates totaling $430,000.

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Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., president, with John Zollinger ’85, this year’s Alumni Giving Drive chairman

The evenings began with a delicious dinner and a short presentation in the Student Commons, which included an overview of Jesuit today from president Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J. The night concluded with calling in St. Ignatius Hall and third floor tributaries. Callers who remained until the end received Jesuit goodies from the office of institutional advancement and a tour of the new Jesuit basketball arena.

The chairman of the 2017-18 drive is John Zollinger, who is a member of the Class of 1985. He is being assisted by Arthur “Dooty” Patron ’51, next year’s chairman, and Ian Blanchard ’03, last year’s leader. The drive is organized by Mrs. Logan Diano, Jesuit’s Alumni Giving Drive coordinator.

“One of the big reasons I decided to come to Jesuit is the support of the school’s alumni,” said Fr. Fronk. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and I am so grateful that so many Blue Jays choose to remain connected to and supportive of their alma mater.”

Pledges and donations to the 2017-18 Alumni Giving Drive may be made using the links below.

DONATE to ALUMNI GIVING DRIVE |  PLEDGE to ALUMNI GIVING DRIVE

 

Galleries

Alumni Giving Fall Phone Drive, Oct. 17-19, 2017

  • Alumni_Giving_Drive_0017_20171019
    Jesuit's director of advancement, Tom Bagwill, gives an overview of the newly-named Alumni Giving Drive.
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    Alumni director Mat Grau '68 welcomes callers back to Jesuit and thanks them for their support.
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    Jim Moore '60, Paul Daigle '64, Larry Ecuyer '61, René Viosca '61, Tommy Perrien '62, and Lloyd Huck '87
  • Alumni_Giving_Drive_9332_20171019
    John Zollinger '85 and Rocky Daigle '85
  • Alumni_Giving_Drive_9348_20171019
    Earl Johnson '13
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    Sheva DeMatteo '83
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    Mark Marino, Vinnie Varisco, and Ryan Gootee from the Class of '91
  • Alumni_Giving_Drive_9371_20171019
    Tommy Barnett '10
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    Fr. Chris Fronk, S.J. thanks John Zollinger '85 for his support as chair of the Alumni Giving Drive.