Helias begins annual fundraiser

Helias Catholic High School kicked off its annual fundraiser Thursday with a $350,000 goal to support the operation of the school and the endowment.

Guest speakers, including state Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, addressed a crowd of current students and potential donors during the school’s kick-off breakfast, encouraging them to support the school.

Kehoe has two children who currently attend Helias and said it’s an exciting time to be part of the school, with the capital improvement projects to build an athletic complex, a fine arts center and chapel as well as the reduced tuition next year.

“In the many years that I’ve been involved with this school, I cannot tell you the last time that I’ve seen such momentum behind Helias High School,” Kehoe said during the breakfast. “We have what it takes to produce good products. … These young ladies and men someday will be like some of you who work here; they’re going to want their kids to go here.”

Last year, the fundraiser reeled in roughly $286,000. The Rev. Stephen Jones, Helias president, attributes the lower figure to having two fundraisers going at the same time — one for the foundation to plump the endowment and one for the capital campaign projects.

Jones said the importance of the endowment is to keep the school accessible and high-performing, not just for current students but for future students.

Helias announced in January it will reduce its tuition for five years starting next fall after receiving an anonymous donation. School officials hope to keep tuition costs down past the five-year mark, but that will depend on how much funding they can drum up.

The foundation fund drive will be an ongoing effort through Aug. 31, but the school continues to campaign for its expansion.

Its goal is $15 million for capital improvements, but with the recent donation for the reduced tuition, Jones said he doesn’t mind if it takes the school longer to raise funds for the expansion. They’ve received $9.2 million in donations so far and expect to reach the $10 million mark this summer, Jones said.

Jones said the school is going through a lot of changes, a process he’s “thrilled” to be part of.

“I’m thankful to our staff and faculty and administration who seem to be realizing we are at a turning point in the history of our institution,” he said to the crowd. “Every institution goes through cyclical times in its life, and we’re going through a time in our life where we’re recommitting ourselves to what it means to be a Catholic high school in Mid-Missouri. We like our students to go off and do really well in college and in their careers but also be faithful people who turn around and be the next generation of parents and supporters of this school. That’s really our goal. The purpose of this fund drive is really to remind us that we really are here to support the gift that keeps on giving.”

Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to Helias Foundation, 1106 Swifts Highway, Jefferson City, MO 65109 or made online at www.HeliasFoundation.org.

For additional information, contact the Helias Foundation at [email protected] or 635-3808.