Moeller Launches Largest Fundraiser in School History

Moeller launches largest fundraiser in school history bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/11/23/moeller-launches-largest-fundraiser-in-school.html

By Tom Demeropolis – Senior Staff Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Nov 23, 2020, 11:45am EST Updated Nov 23, 2020, 11:47am EST Archbishop Moeller High School has launched the largest fundraiser in the school’s 60-year history.

Moeller’s “Raise the Shield” campaign will increase the school’s endowment, expand the academic footprint of its current campus and improve its athletic facilities at a new location. The campaign has a goal of raising $14 million.

Marshall Hyzdu, president of Moeller and a 1996 graduate, said when fully funded, the campaign will boost the school’s endowment and help with the development of a number of new school facilities, including a student commons, innovation hub, performing arts center, locker rooms, band and choir rooms and a baseball stadium.

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The campaign came together as a result of a 2017 strategic plan for school, where more than 300 people from within the Moeller community and outside came together to identify top priorities. Those priorities were improving facilities across the board and increasing the school’s endowment, so it could help families afford tuition, which is about $15,000.

“There are two goals that we have here,” Hyzdu told me. “We want to be financially affordable to anyone that wants to go to school here and we want to be the best high school in the country.”

To date, Moeller has raised $11.5 million, including two $1 million donations. Hyzdu said even during the pandemic, the school has seen a lot of support from people giving more to the school than ever before.

“It’s a testament to the work our teachers do every single day,” he said.

When fully funded, the campaign will have provided money for:

Classroom 2.0, a $3 million renovation project that was completed in the summer of 2019 Student commons, innovation hub and band/choir/locker rooms, projects that total $7 million. The new student commons, a September 2021 project, will improve the lunchtime experience and serve as a place students can gather before, during and after school. The innovation hub is designed to promote experiential learning and critical thinking, as well as enhance teacher-student relationships. This September 2022 project will include information technology, art, engineering and business classes. Finally, the state-of-the-art locker room will have space for team meetings and coaches’ offices. The band and choir rooms will provide an environment for students interested in music.

Performing arts center/theater, a 2022 project that will be a $1 million investment.

This project will renovate the school’s auditorium and create a performing arts center with 500 seats. The center will be used as a gathering space to watch performances and participate in presentations, spiritual gatherings and special events.

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A baseball stadium sports complex, a $2 million project targeted for fall 2021. A parent of an alumnus donated about 30 acres of land off Second Street in Clermont County’s Miami Township. A new baseball stadium will be built on the sports complex.

The campaign also will provide $1 million to the school’s endowment, so more young men who wish to go to Moeller, but don’t have the financial means to do so, will be able to attend.

Moeller has been working with MSA Design and Elevar Design Group on the different projects. The school also had about 50 design students from University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning walk around the campus and put together a vision for the future of different educational spaces on the campus. Moeller used a lot of those ideas in these projects.

Moeller, located at 9001 Montgomery Road in Sycamore Township, has 860 students. The campaign will run through the end of June 2021.

“There’s a ton of momentum behind the campaign, but also at the school,” Hyzdu said.

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