125th Anniversary/CSCOE Matching Grant

Dear Esteemed Supporter of St. Raphael,

As we commemorate a significant milestone in our history, we are thrilled to share that St. Raphael Catholic School was founded in 1900, so this year marks our 125th anniversary of delivering exceptional Catholic education to the Springfield community. This remarkable achievement reflects the unwavering dedication of our faculty, families, and especially our alumni and friends, whose generous support has been instrumental in shaping our school.

Today, we proudly serve 35 families and 62 students in our preschool through sixth grade and daycare, helping our parents in their vital roles as the primary educators of their children. Our commitment to nurturing and educating future generations remains as strong as ever, and we are deeply grateful for the crucial role you play in our community.

We are writing to let you know some great news: the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE), which is located in the Twin Cities and supports Catholic elementary schools throughout Minnesota, has offered St. Raphael’s a challenge grant of $25,000! The challenge to us is to raise $25,000 from individuals, companies and foundations that have never made a contribution to St. Raphael’s School, and/or from donors who have given to us before and increase their largest previous gift (the difference between the amount of the previous gift and the new gift counts toward our challenge total). 

We are so grateful for this opportunity, and the timing for this challenge grant is perfect for us! We have just three sources of funding for our school – tuition, our parish investment, and fundraising – and with our government funding from COVID having now run its course, and with the impact of inflation on our operating costs, we are in need of additional fundraising support. With a goal of raising $178,000 this school year, in addition to our school fundraising events, we are excited to have the chance to earn this $25,000 CSCOE grant! We hope you will consider helping us earn the challenge grant and reach our overall fundraising goal.

Thanks to your generous support in the past, we have made significant enhancements to our school environment. Our flagship fundraising event's Fund-A-Need raised $22,050 to replace 30 windows in our school, which were in urgent need of repair. Installation of these new windows will commence over the Thanksgiving break, improving the safety and energy efficiency of our beloved school.

Last year, your support helped us secure a $10,000 matching grant from CSCOE, which initiated phase 1 of our playground project—a new Daycare/Early Childhood addition. We are excited to announce that this project is on track for completion in the spring of 2025, providing our youngest students with a safe and engaging space to learn and grow.

Our priest, Father Jeremy, passionately believes in the mission of Catholic schools as a cornerstone of our church’s outreach and educational efforts. His guidance and vision inspire us to continue striving for excellence in all we do.

As we celebrate 125 years of service, we invite you to join us in recognizing this remarkable journey. Your continued support is vital to ensuring that St. Raphael Catholic School remains a place where faith and education go hand in hand. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the broader community. Thank you for being a valued member of the St. Raphael family. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!

In Christ,

Father Jeremy Kucera, Pastor                                                       

Paul Pieschel, Parish Administrative Council, President

Mrs. Beth Steffl, Principal                                           

Cody Milbrath, Education Committee, Chairperson