ROSARY ACADEMY, ORANGE County’s only Catholic all-girls high school, has launched a landmark fundraising campaign.
The school hosted a kickoff event for the campaign on campus this past spring. The Empower Rosary campaign will grow the campus and strengthen the school’s financial future. It will fund a new two-story building, establish a new endowment in the new Rosary Royals Foundation and power the Rosary Fund to keep Rosary thriving. Pledges and donations of over $9.1 million have already been secured. The goal is to raise $15 million by 2029.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” said Dr. Shawna Pautsch, head of school. “It’s about strengthening who we are. We’ve been here for 60 years, and I want to make sure we are here for 60 more.”
One of the primary goals of Rosary’s strategic plan is to make campus improvements to give students the spaces they need for today’s collaborative learning. The Empower Rosary campaign is designed to fulfill that mission. The new 12,405-square-foot building will be built next to the Karcher Center and form a T with the existing main classroom building. The first floor will house an Innovation & Robotics center, varsity locker room and athletic support spaces and a dance room for performance, wellness
and team practices. The second floor will include four classrooms ringed by spaces for faith formation, campus ministry and student leadership. The classrooms will align with Rosary’s Pathways program and include space to launch the eighth pathway, Culinary Arts. With more dedicated permanent space, programs like robotics will have more flexibility for ongoing projects and dance and cheer teams will have rehearsal spaces.
With the construction of the new building, the modular classrooms currently on campus will be removed. The 14-month project began in June. The last major construction project on campus was the Karcher Center, which opened in 1991.
Although student Bella Ramirez ’26 graduated before the new building will open, she is excited about the project and lists details that will be enjoyed by future students. A lacrosse player, Bella points to the locker room as a much-needed upgrade from the outdoor racks where student athletes currently store their bags and gear during the school day. The new building will have an elevator, which will be helpful for students who are injured and currently have to navigate the stairs while on crutches.
“The fundraising campaign is an expansion of the opportunities available to help girls grow,” Ramirez said. “It’s a sign that we are supporting the next generation.”
Another goal of the 2020 strategic plan was to build a strong financial future for Rosary by establishing a new endowment. The Rosary Royals Foundation, approved by the Diocese of Orange, will be administered by a new board and held solely by Rosary. The endowment will grow over time and will fund tuition assistance and provide stability to protect Rosary during economic shifts. The goal in the Empower Rosary campaign is to secure $3 million in planned gifts.
According to Dr. Pautsch, “The endowment will allow Rosary to manage its future independently and represents a promise of a secure future to the students.” The Empower Rosary campaign will also support the Rosary Fund, annual giving, which supports current campus life including academic programs, student support services, tuition assistance and professional development for faculty.
“Rosary is the only all-girls Catholic school in Orange County right now,” said Tracey Irving, a campaign committee member and parent of 2012 and 2015 Rosary graduates. “Now’s a critical time — we’re meeting the needs of future Royals. I don’t think Rosary has asked a lot of the community over the years. I know so many people who are very happy with their daughters’ experiences at Rosary, and I want it to be available to more girls.”
Recent graduate Valerie Palomino said the campaign is meant to give girls more opportunities to grow different life skills at Rosary. She is thrilled that the endowment will expand tuition assistance for future Royals. Palomino was part of the Leadership Pathway and said she was continually pushed to try new things and practice leadership during her time at Rosary.
“I know Rosary has had a big impact on my confidence and leadership skills,” Palomino said. “The tuition assistance will allow more girls to experience sisterhood and growth at Rosary.”
Alumna and campaign committee member Annie Bertocchini Grand plans to send her three daughters to Rosary. She is excited about the increased opportunities to serve girls with a broader spectrum of interests after the new building is complete.
“It’s such a daunting task to know what you’re going to do when you’re 18,” said Grand. “The Pathways allow students to explore and see what they like. For me, Rosary is about developing the whole person. I want my girls to have the faith, the academic piece, all of it. For girls ages 14 to 18, confidence is a big deal, and Rosary gives them confidence going out in the world.”
The Empower Rosary campaign is the critical next step for the school and benefactors are hoping as many community members as possible join the effort.
“The girls need to know that they deserve to be in an environment that is transformative,” Dr. Pautsch said. “By investing in our campus, we’re investing in our students and the next 60 years.”