St. Mary’s Academy is Casting Fire, Raising Over $1,000,000 at Annual Auction
St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls, Catholic school founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, hosted its annual auction event on April 15 with a theme of Casting Fire, rooted in its Catholic heritage, and from a favorite line of scripture of the order’s foundress, Blessed Mother Marie Rose Durocher, raising over $1,000,000.
On Saturday, April 15, 2023, over 600 guests gathered to support the young women of St. Mary’s Academy at the school’s 35th annual auction. Guests were treated to a spectacular event decorated in colorful glam with exciting entertainment, touching testimonials, and bidding on fabulous auction packages. Packages included tickets to the Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin, Ireland, a four-night stay in Tuscany, concert experiences like Ed Sheeran in Seattle, Eric Church in Ridgefield, and Depeche Mode at Moda Center and a private dinner for 20 at Portland-favorite Papa Haydn. Afterward guests hit the dance floor at the after party with music and dancing.
Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86, President, opened the evening, her first auction as president, celebrating the school’s strong programs with the Science Olympiad team on their way to the National Championships in Kansas, our successful Beta Blues Robotics team, and our renowned Marian Singers who are once again League Champions. “On a daily basis, 600 young women fill our halls with joy and laughter. They are flourishing in the classroom, in our co-curriculars, athletics, and spiritual life. Tonight, we are casting fire on a generation of young women…truly there is no greater calling than investing in the young women we serve.” President Becker also shared the launch of the school’s Athletics Campaign which already has two leadership gifts secured, resulting in one million dollars. This campaign will upgrade and renovate the school’s current athletics facilities and programming. Board members Greg Meyer, who is also a current parent, and Karis Stoudamire-Phillips ’94 have agreed to co-chair the campaign with renovations kicking off this summer.
This year’s five auction co-chairs were all St. Mary’s Academy moms, including Liane Brakke-Pound ’96 mom of Gracen and Rowen ’26, Wendy Chan, mom of Mia ’24, Michelle Dinsmoor, mom of Abigail ’24, Ruthann Lentz, mom of Ophelia ’25, and Laura Lorenz, mom of Ava ’24. During the live event, alumna and mistress of ceremonies, Claudia Marshall ’86 shared with the crowd how St. Mary’s changed her life. “My St. Mary’s education not only allowed me to dream big, to do incredible things like become the Queen of Rosaria in 1986, but it gave me my most cherished friendships – to this day, my very best friends are my SMA classmates.” Claudia’s passion for her alma mater, coupled with fifty St. Mary’s Academy students on stage helped raise nearly $450,000 in the Bids for Kids paddle raise, including 50 donors who collectively gave more than $100,000 in honor of Emily Niedermeyer Becker ’86 and her first year as president, the proceeds of which go directly to support tuition assistance.
The live event was preceded by a week-long silent auction with over 200 packages available for bidding. Additionally, St. Mary’s again held its much anticipated raffles for a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, a $5,000 travel gift certificate, the always popular Apple Suite, and a of 3ctw+ Malka diamond tennis bracelet. Participants could also purchase tickets for a “Golden Ticket,” allowing the winner to select their choice of any of the live auction packages.