The Summit has a long tradition based on connectivity and partnerships and none will be more apparent than the Doyle family’s Seedling Program which, to date, has been the springboard for 55 scholarships among Cincinnati area’s Catholic secondary schools. Dennis and Lois Doyle have an extremely strong bond with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and a passion for the family values and academic rigor that are hallmarks of founder St. Julie Billiart’s mission.
forward,” Doyle said. “This gives them a basis to begin a scholarship and then have it grow into an endowment.” The Summit’s seedling program has initiated scholarships to honor Mary Foss Brinkmeyer ‘67, Marc Bohlke, the Ragland family and most recently, Farrell Ackley, beloved teacher, mentor and coach who died this spring (see following page). The Doyles view their commitment as a method to give back to a community which has instilled such important values and they are anxious to share the experience. In 2002 they made a million dollar gift to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and solicited five additional family foundations to join them to create scholarship programs for graduates of the innercity’s eight grammar schools. Every year this group selects and provides partial scholarships to area Catholic high schools, including The Summit, for 40 students. Usually the balance is paid by the schools and other charitable donations, opening the door for many families who couldn’t afford the education.
Among the first scholarships created were two at Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading to honor Dennis’ mother and sister who attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Columbus, also founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. “My mother was a big fan of the sisters and stayed in touch throughout the years (before her death three years ago at age 92), with those who taught her and her classmates,” noted Mr. Doyle. The family’s involvement at Summit spans a few generations. His brother, Ed drove a Summit school bus while a student at Xavier University. The Doyle’s only daughter, Mary Beth, is a Summit 1994 alumnae and married to Griff Vollmer, who attended the Boy’s Middle School. Mrs. Doyle’s sister is Dr. Pat White, Director of the Upper School and a former Sister of Notre Dame. “Now that’s a lot of interconnectedness, which is not unusual for Summit,” he added. “In my view what Lois and I have done and would like to do at The Summit is really influenced by all of these relationships.”
“Many of these schools are in the old traditional neighborhoods that are now predominately minority residents,“ said Doyle. The Archdiocese keeps these schools afloat so that many Catholic and non-Catholic students can also benefit from classic value-centered teaching. “Public schools cannot be biblically based, which doesn’t help young people in today’s society which has so many negative influences,” he said. “The Catholic schools offer them a chance to be in schools with other students that share their same ideals.”
Direct links aside, The Summit is a perfect candidate for the Seedling Program because of its close relationships with students. Doyle pointed out the close bond between teachers and students, small class sizes, devotion to individual student needs and gifts, and perpetuating the values of the Sisters as key ingredients to inspiring sustainable endowment programs.
The Doyles lead incredibly active “retirement” lives, spending time visiting their children across the country and abroad, and working on the scholarship and other service programs. Mrs. Doyle has been active for nearly 20 years on the Board of Advisors for the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and has chaired the Annual Florence Nightingale dinner. She has also served on the boards of Mount Notre Dame High School and Pro Seniors.
The Seedling Program is a starter kit for area Catholic high school development professionals to identify people who have the interests and the means of endowing a scholarship fund. The family then donates to this newly created scholarship and invites prospective donors to join them in matching funds.
Dennis was a partner in the law firm of Keating, Muething and Klekamp prior to joining Chiquita Brands International where he held a number of senior executive positions and served as chief operating officer.
“There are many people who are deserving of a scholarship honor. There are also many people out there who would like to do something and need a basic jump start to move things
— Lisa Eccles
d
35