Donna G. Bokamper Casalone RN - Celebrating Generosity

Celebrating Generosity

Donna G. Bokamper Casalone RN | Ursuline Class of 1974

In the spring of 2022, Gregory and Donna Casalone decided to share their passion for their healthcare careers with Ursuline Students. Established through a planned gift to Ursuline, the Casalones created a scholarship for Ursuline students who plan to pursue a career in nursing. Such a gift allows Greg and Donna to not only share their passion with Ursuline, but also leave an impact on the next generation of Ursuline women in a big way. We asked Donna to share a bit more about the impact Ursuline had on her life, and how she came to the decision to establish this generous gift for our Ursuline students.

How would you describe Ursuline Academy in a few words?

Ursuline Academy offers a Catholic Secondary Education to all girls and promotes an environment for girls to nurture their abilities to grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Ursuline Academy provides a quality education that will help the girls to succeed in higher education opportunities and future careers.

What is unique about Ursuline to you?

Ursuline Academy was my high school. I loved that it was an all-girl high school offering lifelong friendships and nurtured my love for the sciences and my faith. Ursuline helped to give me a foundation so I was able to further my education to attain my RN Degree and fulfill my dream of helping others as a Nurse. “I Will Serve”.

Can you explain how this idea sparked between you and Greg?

Gregory and I have always had a passion and a love for our occupations. He always knew that he wanted to be a Dentist and I knew that I wanted to be a Nurse from the age of 7. We have always wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. I have loved my nursing career. As we grow older, we realized that my husband, Gregory Casalone D.D.S. and I will not be here forever. Recently, I have had some health challenges. We felt like we wanted to revise our estate plan and make sure it was handled with our desired wishes leaving our inheritance to our 2 Sons and 3 Grandchildren. But we also wanted our family to know how important it was to “Give Back” and continue to make a difference in the world long after we are gone.

How did you hope this planned gift could help future Ursuline students?

We thought long and hard about how we could set an example for others and decided to establish a Nursing Scholarship Fund to help a deserving Senior financially each year at Ursuline Academy who would like to further her education by attaining a BSN in Nursing. My love for Nursing would be passed on to Generations of Nurses to come who will go on to help others and live out the Ursuline motto “I will Serve”. It is truly an honor and a privilege for me and my husband to make this contribution to Ursuline Academy. We hope others will consider making a financial contribution to Ursuline in a way that will help carry on the Ursuline traditions helping future generations too. We all want to help make this world a better place.

Planned Giving helps secure the Ursuline Legacy for the next generation of young women.

If you’re interested in including Ursuline in your estate plan, please contact Kim Vogt, Director of Advancement 314.984.2814 or kvogt@ursulinestl.org