FISCAL YEAR 2023-24
DEAR FRIENDS OF SAINT FRANCIS,
I am immensely grateful for the collective effort and vision that made possible one of the most significant milestones in our school’s history — the inauguration of our new Welcome Center, just a year and a half after the opening of the Eggers Innovation Center.
The Welcome Center is the first place our families experience the warmth of our community. It symbolizes our shared commitment to hospitality, modeled by the Brothers of Holy Cross, transforming our school into a family of faith where every member feels at home, engaged and inspired.
As you read this report, you will see how we have turned your generosity into intentional programs and opportunities that form our students’ minds and hearts while fostering educator excellence.
But our story is more than just what we’ve accomplished; it’s about who we are as a Holy Cross family. As our order’s founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, said, “Holy Cross will grow like a mighty tree and constantly shoot forth new limbs whose branches will produce yet others, and all nourished from the same sap and endowed with the same life.”
I hope the following pages fill you with excitement about Saint Francis High School: our accomplishments as an innovative, inspiring high school community, the spirit of our students and educators, and a mission that is deeply rooted in an important formational tradition.
Thank you for supporting us in the spirit of Holy Cross!
Jason D. Curtis President
SAINT FRANCIS ANNUAL FUND
Creates extraordinary opportunities and enhances student experiences each year.
GIVING OVERVIEW 2023-24
The Light the Way campaign is enabling us to pursue ambitious, transformative projects beyond the scope of our annual fund and endowment. The Board is deeply grateful to every donor whose support is accelerating our impact. What could have taken decades is already creating meaningful experiences for our students and educators today.
$1.1 MILLION
FY23-24 Gifts
SAINT FRANCIS ANNUAL FUND
Ensures every Lancer can participate in 100+ clubs, academic programs, artistic performances, affinity groups, athletic teams and leadership opportunities.
$1.1 MILLION
SAINT FRANCIS ENDOWMENT
Provides funds for tuition assistance ensuring a Holy Cross education remains accessible in the long-term
-Mark Fernandez ’89
SAINT FRANCIS ENDOWMENT
$3.1 MILLION
Ensures our mission’s long-term sustainability by permanently investing gifts, with a portion of the earnings used to provide opportunities for students and educators.
LIGHT THE WAY CAMPAIGN
FY23-24 Gifts
FY23-24 Distribution
$3.1 MILLION
FY23-24 Distribution
We are excited to share that our historic campaign is making great progress, helping us provide upgraded facilities for our 1,700+ students and 200+ educators. This includes the new Eggers Innovation Center, Welcome Center, and Quad. The campaign also enables us to make significant investments that will rapidly advance programs for both students and educators.
Chair, Board of Directors
LIGHT THE WAY CAMPAIGN
We are excited to share that our historic campaign is making great progress, helping us provide upgraded facilities for our 1,700+ students and 200+ educators. This includes the new Eggers Innovation Center, Welcome Center and Quad. The campaign also enables us to make significant investments that will rapidly advance programs for both students and educators.
LANCER STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Every gift, regardless of size, contributes to the powerful collective impact we are making as a community. This year, we are thrilled to see a 6% increase in donor participation , reflecting the growing commitment of our Lancer family to support and strengthen our mission. Together, we ensure that a Holy Cross education continues to form compassionate and impactful leaders for the future.
Total Giving
$7.3M Gifts and Pledges
1,141 Donors
DONOR PROFILE
‘It Is a Privilege to Be a Lancer’ Laura Fay ‘86
Laura Fay ’86 attributes much of her professional success to her time at Saint Francis. As a Lancer, she acquired academic knowledge and life lessons that would shape her career and future. Laura traces her start in the business world directly to a computer class she took at Saint Francis. The only girl in a class of roughly a dozen students, Laura became proficient at using programs like Lotus 1-2-3, a precursor to Microsoft Excel.
Thanks to these skills, she became a highly sought-after employee. By her junior year, Laura had a high tech data entry job and handled other administrative tasks, which was a notable achievement in that computers were less in demand then. She continued expanding her computer skills as she finished college, which led to a position at another company later acquired by Cisco. After 25 successful years in marketing at Cisco, a worldwide technology leader, Laura joined Nvidia nine years ago, where she now runs enterprise marketing.
“At a very early age, Saint Francis gave me exposure to the business world that helped me in my career,” Laura says. “I learned to use a computer when most people didn’t have access to computers. I really wanted to give back to Saint Francis first
and foremost because I’ve been very fortunate thanks to my time at Saint Francis.”
To honor her experiences at Saint Francis and to give back to the school that played a significant role in her development, Laura, along with her husband Matt Abelson, and children Sydney ’21, Alexa ’21 and Luke ’28, made a generous gift to the Light the Way campaign that will benefit students and educators for years to come.
Laura chose to invest in the construction of the Welcome Center because she sees the importance of students and educators having suitable places to learn and work. For instance, she cites how the Lancer Robotics team has flourished in their dedicated lab space in the Eggers Innovation Center. She encourages current and future Lancers to take advantage of all the opportunities, whether in academics or extracurriculars, that come their way at Saint Francis.
“I hope students get out of their comfort zones, try different classes and give back to the community,” she says. “I also invite each of us as alumni to reflect on our time at Saint Francis — consider where we are today and pay it forward in any way we can. Saint Francis is a gem of a school. I hope today’s generation shares my pride that it’s a privilege to be a Lancer.”
We Are Building the Foundation for College Success
Building a foundation for college success requires access to an excellent education for every Lancer. Our rigorous curriculum challenges students at all levels while providing personalized support to reach their full potential. We empower all students to excel, regardless of background or academic need.
-Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97, Vice Principal of Curriculum & Instruction
Our Impact
We added three new courses — AP Pre-Calculus, Personal Finance and Creative Apps for Mobile Design. We also doubled the capacity to teach American Sign Language and added a section of Mandarin.
Our robust first-generation student programming supported 65 students in their journey to college.
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23% of students, including first-generation college students, received tuition assistance to help cover costs and ensure full participation in all aspects of the Saint Francis experience (extracurricular activities, travel opportunities, program fees, etc.) without financial barriers.
Students interested in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) can now take five years of science within four years of high school, made possible by new, cutting-edge science classrooms in our Eggers Innovation Center.
We completed a rigorous accreditation process that spanned 1.5 years to maintain the highest standards of excellence as a Catholic school and ensure an exceptional education for our students.
We Are Inspiring Impactful Leaders
We have the chance to take charge and lead, whether organizing events, running clubs or starting new initiatives. We’re not just told what to do. We’re trusted to make decisions and learn from our experiences, even when things don’t go perfectly. This freedom has shown me what it truly means to lead with purpose and compassion.
-Aaron Wong ‘25, Lancer Ambassador
Our Impact
Our students created the Youth Philanthropy Club to inspire giving among their peers and our community, earning first place in a friendly food drive competition against other high schools benefiting Martha’s Kitchen and raising $40,000 for our school during Giving Tuesday.
Our Hospitality Interns, one of the fastest-growing programs on campus, led the collaborative, sustainable design process for the new Dining Commons and selected furniture, décor and reusable dinnerware to eliminate single-use items.
We expanded the Lancer Ambassadors program to over 350 students, empowering them to take an active role in envisioning, designing and executing major events, giving them a comprehensive view of the leadership process.
We restructured the Associated Student Body election process so there are 24 students, up from just eight previously, involved in campus leadership, empowering a more diverse group to shape student life and initiatives.
We Are Transforming Education Through Innovation and Empowerment
I’m passionate about giving students the freedom to dream, explore and push boundaries with new ideas and technologies. But innovation alone isn’t enough. Ideas are just ideas until students are empowered to bring them to life. Our students experiment, take risks and even fail without fear of judgment to build confidence. They gain resilience and critical thinking skills they need to turn their ideas into reality becoming tomorrow’s innovators.
-Addison Raak ’17, Robotics Teacher and Club Moderator
Our Impact
We expanded our Robotics program to include academic classes and a club of 200+ members, the highest number to date, thanks to resources to hire a full-time robotics teacher and build the state-of-theart robotics lab in our Eggers Innovation Center.
Our team took fifth place at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Silicon Valley Regional Tournament, with 40% of the team being female.
285 students planned and led the third annual Design Showcase, the culmination of a yearlong learning process that highlighted innovative student projects in Biotechnology, Computer Science, Robotics and Design Thinking, with 30 volunteers managing essential event functions.
We held two investment workshops where students applied macroeconomic principles to develop and defend their investment theses to a panel of experts, strengthening their financial literacy, critical thinking and communication skills.
We Are Shaping Hearts and Minds to Serve the World
Campus Ministry has nurtured personal spirituality while fostering a deep commitment to service for generations. It’s the core of every opportunity we provide to help students grow into strong leaders and compassionate individuals dedicated to the greater good. That’s exactly what the world needs today.
-Chris Mardesich ‘07, Associate Campus Minister
Our Impact
An impressive 245 seniors and 176 juniors, guided by 65 educators, participated in eight retreats focused on spiritual growth, reflection and community. This strong response has led us to expand our retreat offerings for the 2024-25 year.
95 students and 23 educators participated in 11 immersion trips in the U.S. and abroad, deepening their understanding of different cultures, social justice and community engagement.
Almost 900 sophomores and juniors and 40 educators took part in at least one of the 29 local service trips to help our neighbors in need.
Through the involvement of 13 affinity groups, 120 students and 20 educators, we expanded our Interfaith Prayer Service to include a multicultural aspect, embracing the diverse expressions of our Catholic faith in addition to celebrating other faith traditions.
We Are Designing Spaces for Community and Purposeful Collaboration
Our new Welcome Center is a modern, vibrant hub of Holy Cross hospitality, engagement and collaboration. Intentionally designed to bring students, educators and families together, it fosters a welcoming environment where relationships are built, ideas are shared and everyone feels at home, embodying the values that have long defined our school. Here are a few of the spaces we love in the Welcome Center, made possible by the Light the Way campaign.
Welcome Lobby: An inviting space where the spirit of Holy Cross hospitality greets everyone with warmth and welcome.
Dining Commons: A gathering place for students and Lancer families to socialize, collaborate and share meals.
Brothers of Holy Cross Educators Dining Room: A space where educators come together to enjoy meals, engage in meaningful conversations and build connections.
Collaboration Spaces: Intentional spaces for educators to collaborate, share ideas and work together to deliver the best possible education for our students.
Lancer Locker: The hub of Lancer spirit, where everyone can find school gear and showcase their pride in being a part of the Lancer community.
Commercial Kitchen and Servery: Behind the scenes, our hospitality team works tirelessly to prepare meals that nourish both body and spirit, making everyone feel at home.
We Are Investing in Educators’ Growth, Success and Well-Being
We invest in our students by investing in our educators who drive the formation of our students’ hearts and minds. When we develop spaces for our educators to thrive, whether that is physical space or professional development, we’re fostering an environment where everyone can reach their highest potential, both personally and professionally.
-Rachel Sabol, Instructional Coach
Our Impact
We engaged in a customized analysis of employee benefits with an incredible 93% survey response rate from educators, demonstrating their engagement in helping to design the best offerings to enhance their professional and personal lives now and in the future.
Educators led our first artificial intelligence (AI) summer workshop for their peers that delivered hands-on experience with tools and resources to enhance teaching and learning in a rapidly changing technological world.
46 educators are currently enrolled in our three-year Holy Cross Educator Formation Program, which immerses new educators in the Holy Cross tradition, deepening their understanding of our school’s values and equipping them to integrate these principles into their teaching; to date, 53 educators have completed the program since its inception in 2018.
We designed new educator spaces thoughtfully to meet their needs with a dining room, collaboration areas, meeting rooms and a study to encourage open communication, team-building, relaxation and community.
We Are Strengthening Family Connections for Student Success
As a Lancer parent and elementary school teacher, I know holistic education goes far beyond the classroom, and students thrive when families and educators work together as partners. That’s why I value extraordinary efforts of Saint Francis in making families feel welcomed and engaged. Ultimately, the bonds we build as a supportive community — rooted in care and hospitality — help students succeed academically and become the best versions of themselves.
-Hollie Chang, Lancer Family Connection Leadership
Our Impact
Our Welcome Mentor program organized 25+ family groups by neighborhood to connect incoming freshmen families with experienced Lancer parents for personalized, parent-to-parent guidance and support.
We created opportunities for authentic sharing of the parent experience with volunteers playing key roles at Open House, Future Lancers Visits, Application Support Night, Interview Nights and Admitted Students Welcome Night.
We created a new parent engagement initiative to cultivate a parent network and enhance their engagement with fellow parents at affinity group gatherings, performing arts productions and student council meetings.
Lancer families hosted 15 French students and two teachers from Saint-Michel de Picpus, a Holy Cross school in Paris, for a mutually enriching cultural exchange and deepened Holy Cross connections.
We Are Finding Pathways to Passions Beyond the Classroom
I love the variety of Saint Francis extracurricular activities, which give us a chance to discover and explore our passions while developing new skills that we might not gain inside the classroom. I’ve found countless opportunities for leadership, teamwork and creativity that have truly helped me grow, build character and form meaningful connections I know will last long after graduation.
-Higor Lopes de Avila ‘25, Hospitality Intern
Our Impact
We created a new director of auxiliary programs full-time position to extend our Holy Cross charism beyond current students and families and engage the broader community through summer learning, athletic camps and year-round partner programs.
The Poverello student team worked diligently to deliver a high-quality yearbook that captures the stories of Saint Francis, placing first in the Parish and Parochial High School category from the American Scholastic Press Association.
1,263 student-athletes across 27 teams continued our strong athletic tradition and competed at a high level, culminating in four Central Coast Section championships.
Our Saint Francis Lancer Band and Choir competed at the Forum Music Festivals in Los Angeles, where both groups earned the prestigious Gold Rating, the highest honor, recognizing their exceptional talent and performance.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Saint Francis High School supports our students in becoming Holy Cross men and women through an operating budget of $48.9 million, with an additional $5.4M dedicated for tuition assistance.
We maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility, managed by the school administration and governed through policies approved by the Board of Directors. Our annual budget is approved by the Board of Directors and the Brothers of Holy Cross, which oversees and sponsors Saint Francis. The school is audited annually by an independent accounting firm.
Sources of Operating Funds Operating Expenses
OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS SUPPORTED BY TUITION AND FEES, WITH THE REMAINING PORTION PROVIDED THROUGH INVESTMENT INCOME, PHILANTHROPY AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM ENDOWMENTS.
THE JOURNEY FORWARD
As we look to the future, our journey continues with bold aspirations and a deep commitment to our Holy Cross mission. Scan the QR code to hear from our President Jason Curtis, who shares his vision for the exciting path ahead.
Engage with Us
Your participation helps build a thriving community rooted in faith, education and mutual support. Explore ways to get involved and find the events and programs that inspire you.
Support Our Mission
Together, we are shaping a new generation of compassionate leaders committed to a life of service. Explore how you can continue to contribute to a transformational Holy Cross education.
Saint Francis High School
Institutional Advancement
1885 Miramonte Ave
Mountain View CA 94040-4098