The 2024 Day of Giving exceeded expectations. What began as a challenge to get 600 donors ended with 836 people stepping up and answering the call to support Belen Jesuit. Donations from all sectors of the school community, including parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty and staff and friends of the school, participated and led to over $230,000 raised.
“The generosity of the Belen community does not surprise me,” said Fr. Willie, S.J. ‘87. "It is a testament to the hard work of our Jesuit community, faculty and staff, the dedication of the administration and our shared vision for the betterment of the school we all love.”
During the peak of our campaign, we faced a significant hurdle when the vendor we use for the giving website encountered technical difficulties. For a few hours, donations were stalled, and the campaign was at a standstill. Once the technical issues were resolved, the campaign resumed, and the decision to extend was made. Despite the obstacle, the community rallied behind us, leading us to success.
“I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you who played a part in the Day of Giving,” expressed Director of Giving Jorge Perez-Alvarez, '76. “The funds raised during the campaign will be directed towards the Fund for Belen, which supports various initiatives. Your support ensures that no aspect of the school is left untouched. We look to the future with great optimism and excitement. Thank you for your unwavering support.”
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.