MATTERS MARIAN - Marian Catholic High School

MARIAN CATHOLIC ADVANCEMENT PROFESSIONAL
Caps a 20 Year Career
Marian Catholic High School
says goodbye this month to
an alumni parent, longtime
Advancement professional and
all-around champion for the
school. Mary Moffatt, Vice
President, Advancement, has
resigned her position effective
the end of May.
Mary Moffatt’s ties to the school are both personal and professional.
She and her husband, Bill, are the parents of three grown children
who are Marian Catholic alumni. She has served Marian Catholic
in various leadership capacities since 1993, both volunteer and
professional.
Reflecting on a career spanning more than 20 years (including a
three-year hiatus), Moffatt describes her tenure as an Advancement
professional at MCHS as “A great run! Twice.”
A great run indeed. Under her watch, Marian Catholic High School
launched two capital campaigns, expanded annual giving programs and
revitalized alumni relations and the Alumni Association. In addition
to developing and maintaining hundreds of constituent relationships
on behalf of the school – a role she describes as “a privilege” – Moffatt
facilitated board leadership and partnered with school leaders to
spearhead two long-range plans.
In doing so, Moffatt helped generate more than $20 million in
major gift revenue to ensure a strong and vibrant school well into
the future. Many members of the Marian Catholic family credit
the school’s financial stability, beyond the tuition driven operating
income, in large part to Moffatt and the board’s stewardship and
governance. Her accomplishments include fundraising initiatives
that made possible major facility improvements, scholarships and
academic program enhancements.
Alumni parent and member of the MCHS Board of Directors,
Nancy Rita Kaz, recalls the days before such campus improvements.
Her children attended MCHS in the 1980’s. “You better believe I’ve
seen changes,” Kaz remarked. She attributes much of her involvement
in recent years to Moffatt’s ability to engage alumni families like hers
whose children have moved beyond Marian.
“Mary is very good at that,” Kaz commented. She followed quickly
with the statement “Although no one ever really leaves Marian!”
Moffatt is quick to acknowledge the contributions of parent and
alumni organizations, the faculty and staff and the Dominican Sisters
of Springfield in fulfilling the living mission of Marian Catholic:
Teaching Scholars with a Soul. While she helped create and maintain
a comprehensive fund development and public relations operation
for MCHS Advancement, the staff is an obvious point of pride. In a
letter to the board and administration, she expressed confidence in
the ability of the advancement team to “continue to serve the school’s
Advancement mission without skipping a beat.”
Sister Kathleen Anne Tait, Principal, describes Moffatt as “a gracious
and energetic presence and an insightful leader at Marian Catholic
who has been the backbone of capital campaigns and the advancement
office at Marian Catholic.”
“We will always be indebted to her for all she has done for Marian
Catholic,” Sister Kathleen Anne said.
Patrick Dolan ’72 General Chair of The Courage to Lead capital
campaign, agrees, saying that Moffatt’s “energy and optimism are
infectious.”
Sister M. Paul McCaughey ’67, Superintendent of Catholic Schools,
Archdiocese of Chicago and former Principal and President at Marian
Catholic calls Moffatt “the consummate advancement professional.”
“She is expert in relationship building, steeped in the vision of the
institution, tireless in bringing people together to accomplish the goal
of taking the community to the next level,” McCaughey said. “She
has a solid grasp of all aspects of the office operation but her value in
engaging the support of major donors is priceless.”
Moffatt looks forward to transitioning her role at Marian Catholic to
a successor who will share her passion and continue the Advancement
Mission to secure the resources, both human and capital, to help the
school realize its mission and vision.
Moffatt’s plans include independent work as a strategist of major gift
and capital programs for Catholic education.
By Maryellen Hoffman
On behalf of the entire Marian Catholic High School
Community and with deep appreciation, we recognize
Mary Moffatt for her years of dedicated service and
commitment to enhancing Marian Catholic's pursuit
of excellence. Mary's tireless efforts and numerous
accomplishments will have a lasting impact on the
vitality of our school and its environment. We are
thankful for her outstanding contributions to the
Marian Catholic Mission.
Sister Judine Hilbing, O.P.
President
Strategic partnerships formed under Moffatt’s watch:
The West Gym and Casey Court
Band Room
Benish College Center
New Science Master Lab and classrooms
Football FieldTurf TM and athletic field expansion
Okleshen Tennis Courts
Student Chapel
Council for Leadership training program
Facilitating 36 of 51 endowments for scholarship and programs
Student Union/Leadership Center
Media Center
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