Conversation With... Conversation With Chris Czarnik, Director of Advancement
Chris Czarnik has been the De La Salle Director of Advancement since 2006. Under Chris’s leadership, the school successfully completed the 2004 Capital Campaign: Preserving the Legacy. Prior to joining the DLS Family, Chris was the Director of Athletic Development and Head Baseball Coach at his Alma Mater, the University of Detroit Mercy.
10
How does the school’s mission impact your role in fundraising? It is especially satisfying to be at a school where our priorities are a direct reflection of our founder. We are fulfilling a mission, not just running a business. St. John Baptist de La Salle was an innovator. He found practical, human ways to help educate children and bring them closer to God. He did this by training the Brothers to provide for the children’s needs. Today, our faculty and staff, both the Brothers and lay people, serve that same role. The quality of people at De La Salle is extraordinary. They make a difference for students in small moments and in those that are more profound. Our parents are engaged. They make real sacrifices to send their sons to De La Salle, and we form a
true partnership in educating the boys. “Builders of Boys, Makers of Men” is the motto, not “They’re already men, and we just make them even bigger men.” Parents and DLS partner during a very important transition into maturity. I can’t tell you how many times a parent gives us the feedback that a young man is “all of a sudden doing homework on his own, and that he’s proud of it.” It’s really humbling to witness that transformation. What role does philanthropy play in Catholic education? Philanthropy is essential to the future of Catholic education. As the number of Brothers, Priests and Nuns in Catholic schools decline, they are replaced by lay people. This fundamental shift in budget structure has led to the demise of many schools. As tuition prices react to this trend, Catholic schools are in danger of becoming only a place for the wealthy. However, philanthropy can, and I believe will, prevent that at De La Salle. It’s an essential part of the school’s ethos to represent hard-working people from every economic class and to provide help for deserving families that want a Catholic, Lasallian education for their sons. Without that
Brother George Synan Society Dinner The Annual Brother George Synan Planned Giving Society Dinner was held on March 24. Varsity Football Coach Paul Verska, Deacon Brian Meldrum (‘02) and Senior Zach Giannetti were the featured speakers at this year’s event, reflecting on the different aspects of a Lasallian education.
