Financial Overview

Thanks to the generosity of the individuals, families and corporations listed on the following pages, Cor Jesu continues its mission to prepare the next generation of women to build a brighter future. Your gifts allowed Cor Jesu to adapt and thrive in uncertain times, as well as provide innovative tools and equipment to foster a top-notch learning environment. Additionally, your support has given Cor Jesu the means to award financial assistance to nearly half of our families. Thank you for Sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ with us –we are forever grateful!

2021-2022 Financial Assistance Numbers $2.16 Million TOTAL

AID AWARD

WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE THAT WE INCREASED OUR ENDOWMENT FUND BALANCE BY $2.4 MILLION OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, FINISHING OUR 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR WITH AN ENDOWMENT FUND BALANCE OF $11.11 million!

ANNUAL FUND GIFTS AND ENDOWMENT PLEDGES: $980,000

EVENTS: $305,000

NEW CAPITAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES: $32,000

10-YEAR FORECAST

Growth is forecast at 6% per year on invested funds. This chart also assumes fundraising goals for Endowment are met.

The Strategic Plan calls Cor Jesu to continue to fund significantly more scholarships and to increase accessibility for families of need. To achieve this, our 2028 Endowment Fund goal is $18 million.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF Advancement

Dear Cor Jesu Community,

The last year was marked by more than a few “I don’t think I’ll ever forget” moments. But one that I know I’ll never forget is the evening of February 6, 2021. The night of Cor Jesu’s annual auction. We had no idea what would happen with the all-virtual format. To be honest, we spoke of our goals only in whispers, because we didn’t think we could expect to achieve them. But then February 6 came. About a halfdozen of us were gathered in a small studio in Brentwood – double-masked and holding our breath. Fund-a-Need started. Donations came in. We breathed a small sigh of relief. The minutes ticked past, and the donations kept coming in. Pouring in. By the hundreds of dollars. By the thousands! I think my mask was the only thing keeping my jaw off the floor. We started the night with an ambitious goal of raising $150,000 for financial aid. We ended the night with nearly $250,000 in donations and pledges.

Now that we've managed through so many of the hardships, the challenges and the frustrations, it’s easier to see the last year in a different light. It really was inspirational.

This community came together, even though we couldn’t be together. Over 1200 people watched the Auction on YouTube (480 attended in 2020); 880 people purchased an item, bought a raffle ticket or donated to Fund-a-Need (compared to 258 in 2020), including alumnae from states as distant as New York and Arizona. Auction grossed roughly $500,000 – and that's just one example. Over the course of the year, we brought in nearly $1 million in Annual Fund gifts and Endowment pledges (including $250,000 from our Auction Fund-a-Need).

You have shown us what’s possible. Now it’s up to us to use the lessons of 20202021 to make 2021-2022 even better.

Inspired by your commitment to financial aid, we will once again dedicate Giving Tuesday to the Annual Fund, our primary source of financial aid. The annual day of giving takes place the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving – mark your calendars for November 30! This community raised $240,000 on Giving Tuesday in 2020. We hope to increase that to $275,000 in 2021. Meanwhile, we are working to reimagine various events to meet the needs of this extraordinary community. The virtual auction pulled support from coast-to-coast and generated greater participation than ever before. We look to replicate that level of participation and enthusiasm as we plan for 2022!

A year ago, I didn’t know how we would make it to this point. Today, I am not only amazed by what we accomplished, but so very optimistic for the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Abby Samel Director of Advancement

Blessed Clelia

Legacy Society

Blessed Clelia Merloni, foundress of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, did not set out on a mission to create a new religious congregation. She set out to serve God, be that by comforting an orphan or educating an immigrant. Those bricks of service, kindness and love built her legacy.

Inspired by her words, “Love your work … fulfill it with joy … your mission is to love God and to help others love him also.”

Cor Jesu Academy introduced the Blessed Clelia Legacy Society, through which patrons can perpetuate the momentum of Clelia’s mission, inspiring young women to Share the Love of the Heart of Christ – one at a time – for generations to come.

The Blessed Clelia Legacy Society recognizes those generous individuals who have chosen to provide future support for Cor Jesu Academy in their estate plans, through wills, trusts, life income gifts, retirement plans, life insurance policies or other means.

Bequests to Cor Jesu can be for a specific amount, for the percentage of an estate, or for all or a portion of what is left after other bequests have been distributed.

Cor Jesu also invites the benefactor to determine how the funds are used. An unrestricted gift gives Cor Jesu the flexibility to assign the gift based on areas of greatest need. A restricted gift assures the dollars will be distributed according to the benefactor's wishes, be that to financial aid, the endowment, capital projects or specific programs.

An estate gift of $20,000 or more can carry the name of the donor or that of a loved one. What a lasting legacy to both you and Cor Jesu!

Blessed Clelia Legacy Society Members

James W. and Mary Mallon Armistead

Eric and Anne Bottini Beste ‘85

Kirsten Antonacci Dempsey ‘10

Thom and Jo-Ann Klebusch Digman ‘74

Robert A. Gau

Harry and Patricia Lenzen*

Frank and Gale Merz

Christine Duff Muldoon ‘69

McLeod and Laura

Faller Patton ‘86

Edward and Theresa Grill Schermann ‘69

Robert and Karen Homelson Sczepanski ‘68

Dr. Christine Simcik ‘79*

George Simcik*

*Deceased

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNED GIVING OPPORTUNITIES AT corjesu.org/PlannedGiving

If you have already included Cor Jesu in your estate plan, please contact Katie Magee Thiemann ‘81, Director of Leadership Giving, at kthiemann@corjesu.org or at 314.300.6330. We would like to thank you for your generosity and ensure we honor the intention of your estate gift.