Holy Cross Community Gives Total of $39 Million During College's 175th Anniversary Year

This year, the support shown for the College of the Holy Cross was remarkable.

The College's alumni, parents, students, community and friends gave a total of $39 million to Holy Cross throughout the fiscal year and, for the third year in a row, surpassed the $10 million mark for the Holy Cross Fund. Additionally, the College is entering the final year of the Become More campaign having raised $385 million of the $400 million goal.

"For 175 years, we have been educating the leaders of tomorrow — individuals who think both critically and ethically," shares Tracy Barlok, vice president for advancement. "We are able to continue this important work only through the steadfast dedication of the Holy Cross family. Their passion, belief and devotion sustain the College and allow us to provide a unique and life-changing educational experience for our students. They are truly difference makers."

Continuing Holy Cross' legacy of placing in the top ten colleges in the country for alumni participation, 16,225 alumni made gifts to the College this year. Reunion classes contributed $9.9 million to the 2019 fundraising totals and the classes of 1964, 1974 and 1984 broke reunion fundraising records.

The Crusader Athletics Fund also broke records with $2.1 million coming from 4,670 donors. Also, for the third straight year in a row, 100 percent of graduating student-athletes made gifts to the College. Finally, Holy Cross parents showed their generosity by donating more than $6.5 million this year.

Barlok notes how particularly proud the College is of the recently-graduated class of 2019.

"They are the first senior class in College history to surpass 500 donors in a single year — a 74.5 percent participation rate," says Barlok. "Through their gift, classmates honored two deceased members of the class with a scholarship established in their memory. Additionally, 74 members of the class of 2019 gave at the President’s Council-level."

Fifty new alumni and friends joined the College’s 1843 Legacy Society by confirming a place for Holy Cross in their estate plans, and the College was gifted several interesting works of art this year, including a sculpture in front of the Integrated Science Complex.

"We look forward to welcoming the class of 2023 next month," Barlok shares. "As they begin their Holy Cross journey, we will tell them that the College is in a position of strength because of the community's support. This generosity and involvement power our mission and for that, we are incredibly grateful."