JUNE 2021
PAgE 11
G.R.A.C.E. groundbreaking Our Lady of the Valley Regional School (OLV), alma mater of fallen Holy Cross rower Grace Rett, broke ground last month on the Grace Rett Athletic Complex and Education (G.R.A.C.E.) Center in Uxbridge. The project posthumously fulfills Rett’s longtime dream for her elementary and middle school to have their own indoor athletic space. An accomplished and avid athlete, Rett died when her rowing team’s van was in a tragic accident while on a training trip in 2020 with the Holy Cross Women’s rowing team one day after celebrating her 20th birthday. “Grace was a loving, selfless, and hardworking young woman with contagious personality that brought out the best in others,” said Grace’s parents, Mary Jo and Chris Rett. “She was so proud of her years at OLV and we have no doubt that she is looking down from Heaven with pride that OLV students will benefit from the type of facility she so often yearned for. We are honored that her legacy will inspire future generations of OLV students and grateful beyond words for all the support our family has received over these past 16 months.” The 7,500 square foot G.R.A.C.E. Center will feature a high school sized basketball court; 75 bleacher seats; two indoor classrooms; green space for outdoor classes; a welcoming foyer; bathrooms; storage space; and concession area. It will be used for OLV physical education and classroom learning, chorus and band instruction, extracurricular activities and athletics, science fairs, St. Mary’s Parish events, and more. The groundbreaking comes less than six months after “G.R.A.C.E. to the Finish,” a marathon fundraising effort that lasted last 62 hours, zero minutes, and three seconds (62:00:03) from
December 19th at 8 a.m. through December 21st at 10:03 p.m. The successful event paid tribute to the one-year anniversary of Grace’s world record setting consecutive indoor row and was matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous $1 million donor. The $3.8 million project is 80% funded, but donations are still being accepted here to close the final gaps. “We anticipated that our school and faith community would support this important project when we set out on this campaign, but we could never have imagined the generosity that Grace has inspired from not only her local school and faith communities but also from donors all over the country,” said Ed Reynolds, Principal of OLV. “The loss of Grace has left an immeasurable void in the lives of those she touched, but the overwhelming response that we’ve seen in support of this project is proof that her memory will live on forever in the hearts and minds of our OLV families as her name shines proudly from our school.” The project is being designed by Rubicon Builders & Austin Architects and is scheduled to open in January 2022. About Our Lady of the Valley Regional School Located in the peaceful residential community of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, OLV is a Catholic school serving students from Pre-K through grade 8 since 1964. At OLV we create an atmosphere of 21st Century academic excellence, firmly rooted in Catholic tradition and aspiring to peace, love and justice. We foster a safe, structured learning environment anchored in faith, where students are encouraged to develop their God-given talents. Together, we forge a learning community that embraces the Kingdom of God through service to others in imitation of Christ.
the rett’s were joined by officials and religious dignitaries for the groundbreaking.
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