Donor Highlight

Judy Carney Keyes, DS ’58, is an enthusiastic supporter of the school she once called home, financially giving back for decades, serving on its board in the past, and always being willing to help. A prominent female leader in the Milwaukee community and playing a role in numerous organizations over the years, she continues to pursue her life’s work, volunteering to teach mathematics to those who need help or need a challenge. It is her firm belief that if one enjoys something, she or he should feel an obligation to support it at some level; she especially feels this way when it comes to DSHA.

A: The school building was rather new at the time, and we had these young Salvatorian Sisters who were our teachers.

They were dynamic. I remember in my English class, we were reading and writing and forming opinions about topics. It was exciting because we were being taught to actually think critically. It was such a joy. Sister M. Rosaria, SDS, helped me develop a love for math. Math is still a huge part of my life.

There were so many girls to meet from all over the city. Pizza was just starting to become a thing back then, and when we gathered on a Friday night at a pizza parlor, it was such fun.

A: The all-girls, Catholic environment had a tremendous impact on me. We were encouraged to have ideas. Our principal, Sister M. Charlene, SDS, HA ’32, was supportive of these creative ideas in many different areas and allowed us to try them out, organize, and manage those ideas.

I was raised in a strong Catholic family, and my faith formation experience at Divine Savior led me to be involved in helping others after college. I worked at the Newman Center, a Catholic ministry center often found at secular universities, at the University of Oklahoma before starting my degree.

Q: What impact did Divine Savior have on your role in the community, and giving of yourself in service to various organizations?

A: Once my kids were older, I decided to get more active in the community at large. I love music, and so I became a docent at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, preparing youth for concerts. I met different people through that organization — people of different religions and backgrounds. I then got

involved in inner city tutoring. I learned that I needed to get out of my bubble of where I lived and went to church to make an impact.

Perhaps because ideas were so welcome in high school, I often had suggestions on how things in the volunteer world could be improved. But if you have an idea, you better be ready to pick it up and organize it yourself.

A: I believe that all-girls, single sex education is a vital option. It’s not for everybody, but without DSHA we wouldn’t have a high-quality option and a high volume of girls taking advantage of it. To not have DSHA as a choice for girls would be a shame.

A: Every student who leads a group or is a captain on a sports team is a girl. Girls have leadership opportunities and experiences they wouldn’t have in a co-ed environment. There is never a thought that a boy should be running this or planning that.

Q: You give to DSHA in two ways, through the Cornerstone Society (through your estate plan) and through the Judy Carney Keyes, DS ’58, Scholarship Fund. Why is it important to you to give in both ways?

A: The school depends on financial support, both in the endowment and on a year-after-year basis. It’s important to me that DSHA has finances to count on year after year to give it a solid background. I also want to make sure that needs are met going forward, especially when it comes to scholarships.

Q: Your scholarship fund supports Latina students. What is your hope in designating a scholarship to Latina students?

A: DSHA makes an impact on students of many cultures and backgrounds. I volunteer at Notre Dame School of Milwaukee, which primarily serves Latina students, and we see girls who went to DSHA have terrific growth and go out into the community to make a difference. The girls become nurses, accountants, and teachers who come back to teach at Notre Dame. The Latina students come from strong families who support their daughter’s education and know the value of a DSHA education.

A: I want to see the school succeed. Part of supporting the school is showing up. It’s one thing to write a check, but the motivation to see the students and the school is an important part. I used to serve on the Board of Directors, and when my granddaughter, Madeline Keyes, DSHA ’14, was at DSHA, I never missed a Grandparent Liturgy or orchestra concert. I continue to read about the school and stay in touch with those on the board and committees and ask questions about the school.

Having a physical presence is important — showing up is often as important as what you do when you get there.

A: Going to school at DSHA is just the beginning of the giving back process. For the school to have your support going forward is important, especially your financial support. It doesn’t matter what dollar amount you give, but the fact that you’re supporting DSHA is what matters.

A: I hope that DSHA continues to form girls who are thinkers, think on all sides of an issue, and aren’t afraid to act on what they believe. I hope that there continues to be an acceptance of different cultures and other’s ideas and an interaction between those of different backgrounds. n