MAKING a
difference
20 1 9
Scholarship Benefit Dinner
You made the difference! What a spectacular night!
More than 400 guests - a record number - filled the ballroom to honor Sister Suzanne Toolan, RSM and support our Mercy students who receive financial assistance. Sister Suzanne received the Catherine McAuley Award in recognition of her commitment to the vision of Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy, and the education of young women. Sister was truly humbled when a representative from Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s ‘68 office presented her with a Congressional Proclamation recognizing all of her accomplishments. We also surprised retiring Head of School Karen Hanrahan with the Catherine McAuley award for her years of service to Mercy and our students. Our guests were inspired by our Making A Difference video which shared the story of several amazing seniors. With the increased cost of a Catholic education, 36% of our families now receive financial assistance ranging from $2,500 - $16,000. Margaret “Maggie” Dugoni ’19, now a freshman at Villanova University studying Chemical Engineering, gave a heartfelt speech, along with her personal “thank you” to everyone who helped her attain her dream of being a Mercy Girl! Special thanks to the Making A Difference Honorary Committee and to the San Francisco Marriott Waterfront for their partnership and generosity. Thank you! These two simple words can’t begin to convey the depth of the impact your investment makes on the lives of our current and future Mercy girls. Dreams come true because of you. Together we raised over $325,000!
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To sum it all up in one sentence, I chose Mercy because of the small community. I liked the idea of having a supportive and nurturing environment for my time in high school. At Mercy I found a place with an unbelievable amount of space for me to grow. Mercy offered me the space to develop the Innovator’s Club, a combination of the Robotics Club, Engineering Club, and Girls Who Code. I was supported by numerous teachers and faculty members who invested their time and enabled me to explore new areas of the STEM fields. The generous donations from everyone here tonight, and everyone throughout Mercy High School’s existence has enabled thousands of girls just like me to become well educated women who will have better access to jobs and be prepared to take initiative in the future. So from myself, and the many Crusaders before me, and the many who will follow, thank you! —Margaret “Maggie” Dugoni ‘19
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Making A Difference Steering Committee: Cathy Dunleavy Rosaia ’72 – Chair, Kelli Benz, Carol Fraher, Mary Lund, Clare Pool Purpura ’75, and Caroline Romeo
16 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
