Believe. Belong. Be Bold Together
Dear Hill-Murray Community,
As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I want to pause and acknowledge that we are in an extraordinary chapter in the history of Hill-Murray. We are in the 2nd year of Believe. Belong. Be Bold. A Comprehensive Campaign for Hill-Murray. This initiative aims to secure $40M, vital for continuing to fund tuition assistance, growing our annual fund which supports the teaching and learning going on each day, honoring legacy gifts, and investing in essential capital improvements. Thus far, we’ve raised $12,354,967 for the campaign for the future of Hill-Murray!
As we embark on Catholic Schools Week (CSW), I still remember the excitement of attending Holy Childhood School in Saint Paul during CSW. Free dress days were a favorite. Everyone loved Bingo, especially running to Sr. Monica’s office for prizes. What’s not to love as a kid? Some 30 years later, leading a Catholic School, it’s still a whirlwind of a week celebrating our students, teachers, and school community. This Friday we celebrate Mass, which grounds us in the fact that Jesus and our Catholic teachings are indeed the heart of our school.
As many of you know, the construction of the New Student Union will start soon. At the forefront of our campaign is to create spaces to support today’s students and foster a sense of curiosity and community. In recent years, the challenge of adequate space for student gatherings, especially during lunch hours, has become increasingly apparent. Our vision for this campaign is to prioritize the well-being and safety of our students in all dimensions – intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical.
But we need all of your help to make this a reality. We still need to raise the capital funds for much-needed improvements to our Athletic Facilities and the Pioneer Institute for Health and Wellness. From a more secure and welcoming entrance for all athletes and parents who enter Hill-Murray at the Field House, updated student equipment, and much-needed improvements to the current “weight room” to additional workout space for our ever-growing student body. We need more spaces for the Pioneer Institute for Health and Wellness electives. We need designated areas for our coaches to meet with athletes and space to accommodate our ever-growing student population.
Let me tell you that to have students busting at the Hill-Murray seams is such a fantastic problem to have during this Catholic Schools Week, but we genuinely need your passion for our school now more than ever. If you cannot donate, we’d love for you to inspire others to help with your time and volunteerism to help make our dreams for our students come true. From attending the Auction, which supports our tuition assistance and annual fund, to the many parents involved in our Fathers Club and Mothers Club who support our work at school, to the Campaign. We need every family’s support to make this campaign a success! We must raise at least $2.5 Million for the minimum improvements needed by June 2025. If we cannot reach our goal this summer, we cannot start construction on the PIWH/Athletics improvements. In addition, naming opportunities are still available for the Student Union and the Athletics Facilities Improvements. We are accepting multiple-year commitments to make our students’ dreams come true.
Naming Opportunities for Hill-Murray’s Campaign: You might be interested in learning more about a unique opportunity to engage in a significant and long lasting way by naming one or more of the following areas: New HM Student Union, New HM Union Landscape Installation/Outdoor Garden, New Athletic Weight Room/Strength and Conditioning Center, New Athletics Entrance/Lobby, New PIHW Student Athlete Performance Space, Name Head Coaches Offices/Meeting Room(2), Name Team Locker Rooms (2), Name Sports Medicine/Training Room. Please reach out directly to Hill-Murray’s Foundation Executive Director Chris Zupfer if you would like to discuss naming opportunities.
It’s an exciting time to be a PIONEER. Together, let us embark on this journey with enthusiasm, dedication, and a shared commitment to the flourishing future of Hill-Murray – our favorite Catholic School. Chris Zupfer will eagerly welcome you to our campus for the campaign tour and the Pioneer Premier Auction coming in April. Your support and involvement are invaluable as we strive to advance our journey as the preeminent destination for students and faculty in the Twin Cities. Our aim for Capital Improvements is clear: to raise a minimum of $7.5 million by June 2025. We urgently need your help with $2,533,000 to go! This will fund the opening of a new Student Union Center and the expansion of our Pioneer Institute for Health and Wellness before the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. Achieving this goal will enhance the Hill-Murray experience for every student, providing ample room for collaborative learning, innovative educational experiences, and space for students to gather and socialize.
Here is how you can personally make a difference:
The first step is to schedule an in-person “campus campaign tour” with Hill-Murray Foundation Executive Director Chris Zupfer. Email him at czupfer@hill-murray.org – Everyone is welcome! During this tour, you will witness the exciting developments we have in store firsthand. Rest assured, this will be an informational session; no donation requests will be made now. We aim to ensure that everyone in our community is educated about what lies ahead for the Pioneers of today and tomorrow.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Melissa Dan, Ed.S.
Hill-Murray School President