Fifty dedicated and hard-working alums from 22 classes participated in phonathon sessions during the weeks of October 26th-29th and November 9th-12th to solicit their classmates for the 2009-2010 Annual Fund. This annual event is an integral fundraising endeavor for Christian Brothers Academy, as the money earned is earmarked for operating costs such as financial aid, teachers’ salaries, and facilities maintenance. The Annual Fund serves to bridge the gap between tuition and the actual costs of educating students, keeping tuition increases at a minimum and thus, easing the economic burden for CBA families.

Clockwise from left: Mike O’Connor ’66, Ted Florczyck ’62, Tom Grooms ’62, and Bill Byrne’66 get busy on the phones.

Agents representing 25 classes signed close to 2100 letters to their classmates, in advance of the phonathon, to ask for support for the Annual Fund. These individuals then arranged for volunteers from their class to join them at CBA during a 2-3 hour evening session to call their classmates for donations. Over 870 phone calls were made during the 7 nights, garnering nearly $20,000 in gifts and pledges for the Annual Fund. Follow-up letters were sent to all alums, whether contact was made or not. It is our hope that as many individuals as possible will contribute, at all levels, as alumni participation in the Annual Fund is crucial to the sustainability and success of CBA.

Class of 1963 volunteers take a break for a photo op Clockwise from left: Mike Loftus, John O’Gavaghan , John Sindoni, and John Baichi.

All volunteers agreed their participation in the phonathon engendered a deep satisfaction as a result of ‘giving back’ to their alma mater – but it is the reminiscing and reconnecting with fellow ‘Brothers’ that is the true gift of the time spent during these sessions. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the following alums who assisted with this year’s phonathon by signing letters and/or making calls to their classmates: