Giving

Ways to Give

Annual Fund

Featured Project | DC Day of Giving

DC Day of Giving is here! In correlation with the national Giving Tuesday movement, on Tuesday, Nov. 28 we set out to raise $50,000 for Divine Child Catholic Schools in just 24-hours. This year we are raising funds to support our "Souper" School Kitchen Renovation, which you'll be hearing more about in the days to come!

Special this year, if we reach our goal in 24-hours, all DC students will receive the day after the Super Bowl (Monday, Feb. 12, 2024) off of school! Plus, there will be added rewards for students and teachers.

Learn More & Donate

Current Project | School Kitchen Renovation

When alumni stop by for a visit, we watch their faces light up as nostalgia swirls and our facility and program enhancements impress. But, one place in the school that remains largely untouched is the High School Cafeteria & Kitchen. The speckled tile floor, the brown block walls, the stainless steel fixtures, the smell of french fries and warm cookies ... it’s just as our alum remember it when Mrs. Tellish, Mrs. Rodriguez and Mrs. Rees were behind the counter. While it has held up remarkably well for 65 years, our student population has grown tremendously and so have our needs for a reimagined school kitchen!

Through proceeds from the 2023 Auction, an architect specializing in commercial kitchen renovations has been engaged to develop plans for updating both kitchen workspaces. By expanding the footprint and functionality of the high school layout, Divine Child’s Executive Chef Pete Veach can manage both school kitchens and the athletic field concession stand from one central location. This will allow us to be more cost effective and efficient in how we manage our lunch programs and our after school options.

We need your help to turn up the heat and get this renovation cooking! Would you consider a gift to the Divine Child Annual Fund?

DONATE

When you give to the Divine Child Annual Fund, your donations are not deposited into a rainy day fund. From facility updates and technology enhancements to tuition assistance and new digital learning tools and resources, our current students and teachers directly benefit from your generosity. Your contributions today fund important projects over the next two years which are critical to the longevity and competitiveness of our schools. Pay it forward for generations of Falcons to come. Please consider making a donation to Divine Child Catholic Schools.

Click to Donate

Annual Divine Child Giving Societies
Bernardine Franciscan Society	$100,000 and above
Virtus Society	from $25,000 to $99,999
Benefactor's Society	from $10,000 to $24,999
Leadership Circle	from $5,000 to $9,999
Pastor's Circle	from $2,500 to $4,999
Principal's Club	from $1,000 to $2,499
Falcons Club	from $500 to $999
Red & Grey Club	from $250 to $499
Friends of Divine Child	from $100 to $249

Endowments & Designated Funds

There are multiple ways to provide ongoing funding as an individual or family - and in memory of a loved one - to support Divine Child Parish & Catholic Schools in perpetuity. Whether it be through an endowment or a designated fund, please prayerfully consider joining other parents, grandparents, alumni, friends and community supporters in ensuring the longterm viability of Divine Child Parish & Catholic Schools.

Endowed Fund contributions are invested in a diversified portfolio that protects the principal and generates interest which is used as an annual scholarship distribution creating a long-term impact.

A Designated Fund is an advised fund whose beneficiary organization has been specified by the donor(s) at the time of the gift. Income from the fund is distributed in accordance with the instructions provided at the time of the gift.

Endowed Funds
Designated Fund

Endowed Funds

Establishing an Endowed Fund with Divine Child Parish & Catholic Schools requires a minimum commitment of $10,000. These funds are then invested in a diversified portfolio that protects the principal and generates interest which is used as an annual distribution to a designated need on our campus, creating a longterm impact. Thus, an endowment fund can be held permanently, allowing you to provide stable, ongoing financial support to Divine Child Parish or Catholic schools – forever. Once in place, the endowment fund will grow and make annual distributions to support Divine Child for generations to come.

Some important factor to consider regarding endowed funds, include:

Principal Balance – The principal balance can never be spent, so the endowment earning power is protected against inflation. Excess income or appreciation is added to the principal to protect its value over time.
Distributable – The distributable balance consists of net income and appreciation (realized and unrealized) of the principal. This is the portion of the fund from which grants may be made.
Advantages – The principal amount of money gifted will never be depleted. In this way, the fund will continue to give for good, forever.
Limitations – As the amount of money available for distribution is based on the principal amount in the fund, each year’s grants will be directly affected by the fund’s overall success in the market.
Liquidity – The principal balance invested is never liquidated, allowing for a continuous, perpetual gift.

Would you like to set up an Endowment?

Contact Colleen Johnson, Director of Advancement, at 313-216-0893 or cjohnson@divinechild.org to learn more and establish an endowment.

Designated Fund

Designated Funds are a useful charitable tool to provide for the vital programs or ongoing capital needs of our Parish and schools. As an advised fund, Divine Child can be specified by the donor(s) at the time of the gift. Income from the fund, and in some cases principal, is distributed in accordance with the instructions provided at the time of the gift. Designated funds can also be named in honor and in memory of a loved one. Endowing a designated fund can allow it to be a longterm funding source for Divine Child, where gifts can be made annually.

Would you like to set up a Designated Fund?

Contact Colleen Johnson, Director of Advancement, at 313-216-0893 or cjohnson@divinechild.org to learn more and establish a designated fund.

Scholarships

One of the most meaningful ways your contributions to Divine Child can make an impact is by providing tuition assistance to deserving students in need through a four-year scholarship. Every year, at least 100 of our school families apply for some form of financial assistance. We do our best to share the financial aid scholarships and tuition assistance we have available with all our families in need. We never want a student to decide against pursuing a Divine Child education because of financial reasons, and your support secures a world of possibility for students whose families would otherwise be unable to afford a Catholic education at Divine Child High School.

Scholarships are directly expendable funds that make an immediate impact in the full amount of the gift. Four-year scholarships compliment endowed funds by allowing Divine Child Catholic Schools leadership to be nimble and responsive to the current need of the moment, ensuring accessibility to as many students as possible at Divine Child. A contribution to our high school or elementary school scholarship funds provide immediate tuition assistance for families in need.

A Four-Year Scholarship is a commitment to support the financial need of a student during his or her time at Divine Child High School. Through your annual giving each year, your full gift makes an immediate impact.

You can establish a four-year scholarship by making an annual donation that contributes to the cost of a student’s tuition and fees for his or her four years at Divine Child High School.

You can sponsor a student to the level of:

Full Tuition
Half Tuition
$5,000 per year ($20,000 total commitment)
$2,500 per year ($10,000 total commitment)

Contact Colleen Johnson, Director of Advancement, at 313-216-0893 or cjohnson@divinechild.org to learn more and establish a scholarship.

Click here to review our current Tuition & Fees.

Support Divine Child Scholarships!

If you are not ready to establish a new fund or scholarship, you can contribute to an existing scholarship by making a gift to the Divine Child Annual Fund high school and elementary scholarship funds.

Existing Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen
Falcon Scholar
Falcon Legacy Scholarship
Alumni Merit Scholarship
Divine Child Alumni Association Scholarship
Wayne A. Doran Scholarship Fund
Henry & Irene Schmenk Scholarships
Bob Schnieders Memorial Scholarship
Marie R. & Ervin "Bud" Seaser Memorial Scholarship
Kenneth Patrick Schuesler Scholarship
Dora & Ernest Rehberg Scholarship
Irene Scollard Scholarship
Sr. Mary Gerald Scholarship
Chad Todd Scholarship

Existing Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
Monsignor Weier & Kucyk Scholarship
Sara L. Nieman Scholarship
Divine Child Alumni Association Scholarship
Matthew H. Wadowski Scholarship
Brother's Bond: Scholarship in Memory of Brian Zemba & Michael Grysko
Fine Arts Farewell Scholarship

Planned Giving

Leave a Legacy of Catholic Stewardship

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Your charitable legacy can live on for generations through planned giving and Catholic estate planning. By naming our parish and schools as a beneficiary of your estate, you can continue to support its mission in death as you did in life. And, with a gift to a permanent endowment, you can provide stable, ongoing financial support to our parish or school – forever. Most importantly, by including our parish and schools in your estate plans, your values will be manifest in your legacy of Catholic stewardship for Divine Child.

Charitable Bequests in Wills/Trusts

Direct part of your estate to Divine Child in your will or trust, while retaining full use of your property during your life.

Gifts of Life Insurance

Transfer ownership of your policy to Divine Child, or make Divine Child the beneficiary of your policy’s death benefit.

Gifts of Retirement Account Assets

Leave retirement assets to the Divine Child (and leave different assets to family beneficiaries) to reduce taxes imposed on those assets.

Gifts of Marketable Securities

Give outright property gifts to Divine Child in form of individual stocks, bonds or shares of mutual funds.

Gifts with a Retained Income

Use a charitable remainder trust or charitable gift annuity to increase your spendable income, reduce taxes and give to Divine Child.

Gifts of Cash

Make a cash donation to the Divine Child at any time, and your donation will be put to work immediately!

Pledge your support today!

Questions?

Determining which plan is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. The information listed above should not be considered as legal, tax or financial advice. Your legal, tax and financial advisors should be consulted in the decision-making process. Of course, we are willing and able to work with you and your advisors to help ensure the intended result of your planned gift. Contact Colleen Johnson, Director of Advancement, at 313-216-0893 or cjohnson@divinechild.org. Divine Child is a tax-exempt organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Auction

Your contribution to the auction translates into real financial support for our schools, as 100% of the proceeds are divided between the high school and the elementary school. That means every sponsorship, every item donation, every admission purchased is helping us exceed our net profit goal of $160,000! We rely on the auction to support the important academic and building upgrades that keep our schools top of the line, and help our students reach their full spiritual and academic potential!

Auction 2023 Event Recap

It was down the rabbit hole for over 450 guests that attended the 32nd Annual Divine Child Auction - Falcons in Wonderland, Mad for Education - on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. This year’s celebration brought in nearly $160,000 in support of renovations to the elementary and high school kitchens, improving the functionality of both workspaces and increasing the culinary team’s capacity to serve more students. Many thanks to the Advancement team and Auction Committee for planning and producing such a beautiful evening and successful fundraiser for our school community.

Advancement Team | Colleen (Beard) Johnson ‘00 • Marie (Stawasz) Boyle ‘07 • Aubri (Marchetti) McNamara ‘97 • Olivia Nelson

Auction Committee | Peter Cogswell • Sandra DiDomenico • Patty (O’Donnell) Griffin ‘87 • Sarah LeBlanc ‘00 • Colleen Niemara • Jennifer Popeney • Sharon (Ciochon) Schultz ‘94 • Meghan (Sarb) Simonie ‘04 • Michelle Stanton • Kara Torres

A huge part of the auction’s success is thanks to our generous sponsors. Our heartfelt gratitude is extended to:

Auction 2023 Sponsors

Save the Date:

The 33rd Annual Divine Child Auction will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Divine Child High School.

Legacy Gifts

LEGACY GIFTS | Become a part of Divine Child history!

Divine Child offers a unique opportunity for Falcons to make their mark on DC. Now is your chance to have a brick paver engraved and placed in the Divine Child Alumni Athletic Complex or the Divine Child Legacy Garden, memorialize your legacy in the newly refurbished auditorium or honor the memory of your loved ones on the Wayne Doran Memorial Wall. Click the order forms below to purchase yours today. Proceeds benefit Divine Child Catholic Schools.

Legacy Bricks (opens in new window/tab)

Auditorium Legacy Seats

Memorial Wall Plaque

Featured Fund | Grandparent's Fund

By contributing to the Divine Child Catholic Schools Grandparent's Fund, you can give the gift of a Catholic education to children who would otherwise be unable to attend Divine Child. Make a contribution in honor of your grandchildren, and you'll be providing other families with the possibility of a Falcon "family" legacy.

LEARN MORE & DONATE

Your Donations at Work | Past Projects

Advancement Team

The Divine Child Advancement Office is the center of an organization-wide effort to strengthen and promote the mission, programs and services of Church of the Divine Child, Divine Child High School and Divine Child Elementary School. Divine Child has been blessed with the generosity of our parishioners, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends.