Major Gift Announcement: Richard Marquez '98

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, celebrating 170 years of continuous education, is thrilled to announce a significant stride toward fulfilling the goals in the Strategic Plan. Richard Marquez ‘98 has pledged a major gift towards advancing the school's vision and direction.

"It has always been a dream of mine to build something that my sons, their friends, and all future Belen students can use,” said Marquez ‘98. “My seven years at Belen were crucial in shaping me as a man, a brother to my friends, eventually a father, and most importantly, in strengthening my faith. My wife Laura and I hope this inspires other alumni to return to campus and give back in any way they can."

Richard is the second-generation leader of the family-owned turnkey shell contracting company, L&R Structural Corp. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Richard has been instrumental in various projects across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, including multifamily residential, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and mixed-use developments. As the Executive Vice President of L&R, he is involved in all aspects of the business, oversees current projects and plays a key role in the bidding and pre-construction processes for future developments. Richard earned a BS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami before joining L&R. He lives in Miami with his wife, Laura, and their three children: Isabella, Mason, and Logan.

“Richard was one of my first students when he was in Middle School. He always took great pride in being a part of the Belen family,” said Belen President Fr. Guillermo M. García-Tuñón, S.J. ‘87. “His generosity extends beyond this gift. Richard has steadfastly supported the school’s upward trajectory of campus improvements and fostered an environment to spread the Catholic faith. We are grateful to receive this transformative gift.” 

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to my alma mater, Belen Jesuit,” said Marquez ‘98. “By supporting Belen’s fundraising efforts and playing a role in the future development of the campus, particularly with the construction of Maury Park, I know I’ve contributed towards an excellent program.”

Every gift received helps us fulfill the challenges outlined in the Strategic Plan (Strengthening our Catholic-Jesuit Identity, Academic Excellence, Forming Well-Rounded Men and Enhancing our Brotherhood), and we plan to announce many more leadership-level gifts in the coming months.