Kristin Vivian P ’14 ’17, Director of Institutional Advancement
Catholic Schools Week reminds us of the importance and value of our wonderful community and second family here at Holy Names.
As parents, it was important to my husband and I to provide a foundation for our children where they could be immersed in and given opportunities to live out their Christian faith. We trusted that God was at work in their lives on a day-to-day basis. Here at AHN, not only are the students “Created with Purpose, Called to Belong”, but so too are our parents, alumnae, and greater community members.
In a faith-based school community, a part of belonging is philanthropy. At Holy Names giving back is never just about funding programs or maintaining buildings. At its heart, it is about expressing the love we have for the experience of being a member of this community—sharing to make love visible.
Our faith teaches us everything we have is a gift from God—our talents, our resources, our time, and even the opportunities placed before us. Giving is an act of gratitude, a recognition that what we have received was never meant to end with us, but to be shared for the good of others.
When we give, we participate in something larger than ourselves. A partnership is formed with the whole community. Every gift, regardless of size, is a statement that says, “I belong, and I care about what happens here.” It binds together families past and present in a shared mission. We help to advance the school. We foster a place where curiosity is nurtured, where every girl is known by name, where faith and learning grow together, and where friendships are formed.
Stewardship ensures education here is not shaped only by what families can afford, but by what our community believes is possible and important. With no State or Federal funding, and where tuition does not cover the full cost of educating each girl, a spirit of cooperation and willingness to give back must exist for the school to thrive.
Just as importantly, generosity forms us spiritually. In giving, we learn humility, compassion, and responsibility for one another. For our students, when they see adults investing sacrificially in their education, they learn success is not measured only by personal achievement, but by how we tend to the things and people we care about. They learn faith is not confined to words or worship alone but is lived out through action.
I continue to be grateful for the ongoing generosity of this community. Thank you for being an example of the call to service and philanthropy. Your support gives us the encouragement and momentum to look ahead with confidence and ensure Holy Names remains a shining star guiding students to a bright and hopeful future.