St. Joseph’s Preparatory School recently received a massive $74 million gift, an amount that points to being the largest donation ever gifted to a Catholic high school in the United States, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The gift was given by the Howley Foundation, led by St. Joe’s Prep alumnus and billionaire Nick Howley and his wife, Lorie.
Since its founding, the foundation has been very active in donating to Philadelphia-area schools and universities.
With its latest $74 million gift, St. Joe’s Prep will launch its new campus transformation plan and continue its broader fundraising campaign aimed at raising $130 million for capital projects and scholarships.
This isn’t the first time that Howley has donated to his alma mater.
In 2024, he gave St. Joe’s Prep $12 million to expand his Howley Scholars Program, which was started in 2021 with a $5 million donation.
He has spoken about why he has made these donations, saying that he’s “developed tremendous confidence in the school leadership’s vision for the future and know it is worthy of our investment in the mission.”
The most recent gift will allow the school to expand the scholarship program from 60 students annually to 80, and capital projects, namely a new athletic complex.
Read more about St. Joe’s Prep’s record-breaking donation and what will come of it in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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