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B&P staff and students with FIF board members in the refurbished auditorium
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When describing the needs of our schools, often forgotten are the physical facilities for our students. Funding for upgrades can be hard to find and are much appreciated when they come as a donor's gift.
"The physical environment is very important," says Bonner & Prendie President Dr. John Cooke. "Not only does having a space we are proud of have a huge impact on our current students, but it also impacts our potential students and alumni."
Dominic Frederico, Monsignor Bonner Class of 1970 and a Faith in the Future board member, lead the alumni charge with a donation to refurbish the gymnasium, which was completed in 2014. Starting with the major overhaul to the gym, improvements to the buildings have continued. The new guidance center funding was provided by Mike MacDonald, '71, and named the MacDonald/Melton Guidance Center, dedicated to Bradley T. MacDonald, '65, and Rev. John Melton, O.S.A.
The main lobby was overhauled thanks to the support of Mrs. Kathleen Murphy '70, and renamed after Sr. Helena Mary, IHM, an influential figure at Prendie for many years.
Smaller-scale but impactful facelifts to conference rooms, offices, banners in the halls, and renovation of the main entrance have been made throughout the school due to the generosity of alumni and friends.
"The gym renovation was a great way to re-engage our community and help get people in to see the building," says Scott Fremont '98, B&P Director of Institutional Advancement. "The Bonner & Prendie community is seeing these improvements and getting more involved with the school because of it."
"I choose to financially support both Bonner & Prendie and Faith in the Future because I appreciate the many pressing needs that exist both at the local school level and in our school system overall. If you've attended one of our schools, and have experienced some success, then you have to attribute some of that success to your formative years in our schools, like I do with Bonner. The more financial support that we can create in Catholic education, the more students we can bring into the system, and the more well-educated and well-guided graduates we will send into our larger community and greater society," says Dominic J. Frederico, President & CEO Assured Guaranty Ltd.
The newest piece of the B&P update is the Anthony F. Frederico, Class of 1969 Auditorium. The lead gift for the space came again from Dominic Frederico, who named the auditorium for his late brother. Several other Bonner & Prendie alumni joined the efforts with major donations to make the project a reality and provide a fantastic space for the students and school.
Alumni are engaged in more ways than donating. With the creation of boards of limited jurisdiction, Bonner & Prendie's alumni are more engaged than ever. The Facilities committee, led by George Wilson, '75, worked with Dr. Cooke to create a strategic plan for renovating and refurbishing the existing facilities.
"Having an engaged team like our facilities committee has been an enormous help," Dr. Cooke added. "George, along with Kathy Sweeney-Pogwist, '86, Rick Hartman, '75, and Paul Ruane, '74, really bring their expertise and knowledge to the table, and help us plan out these upgra
des."
"What's really great is to be around the kids, to see the boys and girls who are interested and engaged in the process," said George Wilson, '75, Managing Principal, Meyer Architects, Inc
. "It helped us remember that it's not just a project, that we have a personal connection with the school. And connecting back to the kids and the teachers is really refreshing and fulfilling."
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| B&P Staff and Students with FIF Board Members outside the Anthony F. Frederico Class of '69 Auditorium |
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Bonner & Prendie looks to continue updating the facilities, new generations of prospective students are visiting, from CYO teams playing in the new gym, to visitors checking out the spring musical. They continue to be supported by the strong network of alumni from Monsignor Bonner and alumnae from Archbishop Prendergast, dedicated to the continued excellence of Catholic education at Bonner & Prendie.
