“We’re able to make a real difference for today’s students even though we are just five years removed from being on Carrollton & Banks ourselves.”—Effy Marks ’20

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As Blue Jays wrapped up the first quarter of the academic year with upperclassmen finding their stride as campus leaders and new students settling into their place on Banks Street, alumni returned home to Jesuit to kick off the annual Alumni Giving Drive. For over fifty years, Jesuit’s alumni have played this critical role in providing a world-class Jesuit education to students from every walk of life.

This year, a group of alumni leaders gathered to begin reimagining the next generation of the drive together with Jesuit’s advancement and IT offices. With leadership from class captains and hundreds of volunteer of all ages and backgrounds, these efforts have generated over $1,000,000 in commitments from almost 2,000 alumni within just 7 days of launching the drive—a record-breaking pace.

The Classes of 1976, 1970, and 1988 are leading the way in terms of dollars pledged with $61,684, $60,245, and $42,411, respectively.

In an outstanding showing from young alumni, the Classes of 2020 and 2019 currently top the participation leaderboards with 88 and 75 participants each; the Class of 1991 is in third place with 51 commitments and an outstanding $39,432 pledged. The Class of 2021, the youngest class to join AGD this year, is in 8th place for the most number of classmates committing a gift.

“We all came together as a group and found a meaningful way to contribute as young alumni,” said class captain Effy Marks ’20. “By achieving a great participation rate and getting involved at an early age, we’re able to make a real difference for today’s students even though we are just five years removed from being on Carrollton & Banks ourselves. Fortunately, we had a group of incredible guys that were willing to contribute and help with outreach throughout the process, establishing a great foundation for our time as Jesuit alumni and staying connected with the school.”

This year’s drive features new, collaborative tools built by Jordan Holmer ’12, Jesuit’s database administrator, working with a committee of alumni leaders. These interactive tools have enabled remote participation for volunteers across the country, better relationship management amongst classmates, and improved stewardship for benefactors.

“We have already seen an unbelievable outpouring of support from our current parents, but to see this enthusiasm echoed from our alumni calls to mind what makes Jesuit special,” said James Linn ’06, Jesuit’s alumni director. “The need is great, and there is much more work to be done, but the collaborative effort between our excellent advancement staff and our alumni leaders is paving the way for an even greater era for AGD and for our students.”

The Classes of 1969 and 1985 were the first to cross the $1,000,000 line for cumulative lifetime giving to AGD, and the Class of 1959 is less than $50,000 from this major achievement.

The drive will continue through the fiscal year, which ends in June 2026. Special thanks goes out to all class captains, volunteer leaders, early donors, and members of the committee that contributed to rethinking the mechanics and logistics of the drive for this year. Alumni who wish to join this ad hoc committee should contact Linn at linn@jesuitnola.org.

Alumni Giving Drive Committee 2025-26

Alex Failla ’09	Mat Grau ’68
Chuck Adams ’85	Nathan Alvarez ’18
Effy Marks ’20	René Alvarez ’83
James Yockey ’95	Taylor Billings ’12
Mark Beebe ’16	Zack Jaubert ’21