OLP THANKS
BERT & PATTI DEGHERI
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE
OLP IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE
the receipt of a $250,000 grant from the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Foundation for restoration and renovation projects in Carondelet Hall. The grant, presented by philanthropist Bert Degheri, the Co-Trustee of the Foundation, is one of the largest gifts ever received by OLP. Mr. and Mrs. Degheri are passionate about Catholic education and the preservation and restoration of historic buildings. They have provided funding to countless institutions across the country, including Santa Clara University and University of San Diego. Funds from the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Foundation are designated to renovate the crown jewel of our campus, Carondelet Hall. Carondelet Hall has had only minor, superficial improvements made over the years. Although the school has been able to paint and refinish the floors, we still have the original boilers, plumbing and electrical systems. Next summer, with the funds from this generous grant, OLP will repair and replace the damaged areas of the joists and roof, remove the boilers and add an energy-efficient HVAC system, replace antiquated lighting systems and retrofit the windows. We will also be able to make muchneeded upgrades to the electrical and plumbing systems. Carondelet Hall is truly the heart of the OLP campus and the oldest building on campus. Pictures above, courtesy of the San Diego History Center and OLP archives, show Carondelet Hall in construction, around 1916, as part of the original Vandruff Estate. It currently holds our administration, boardroom, student-run television studio, and computer lab. It is the building where we hold commencement ceremonies and all of our community engagement events.
The generosity of Bert and Patti Degheri and the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Foundation will make a profound and lasting impact on our campus for many generations! Thank you!
For those who haven’t been to campus in a few years, now is a great time to see all of the improvements we have made for our students, faculty and the community. Last year saw the addition of a much-needed parking structure that provides 104 spaces to help lessen the impact on our neighbors. We also completed internal renovations in St. Catherine’s Hall. They included second floor offices for counseling, registrar, campus ministry and our service learning and retreats team. A large gathering room was added for after school peer tutoring, learning lab, club meetings, college visits and Campus Ministry retreat planning. The administration and board of trustees plan to renovate other campus buildings as funds become available in the coming months and years. To find out how you can help with future renovations and restoration projects, please contact Director of Advancement Ingrid de Llamas at idellamas@aolp.org. Opposite Page: Photo of Carondelet building courtesy of Photography student Rebecca Pierce ’17. Photo of Bert Degheri courtesy of USD. Above: Historical photos of the OLP campus.
Winter 2016 | 11