With two consecutive launch nights for the Parents’ Annual Giving Drive, parent leaders and volunteers gathered to begin one of Jesuit’s most important annual initiatives. Each year, parent chairs and captains across each grade level reach out to their peers on behalf of Jesuit’s president. The resulting outpouring of generosity enables the school to keep its tuition as accessible as possible to students from every walk of life and from every ZIP code in the New Orleans area.

“I am filled with gratitude for the impressive leadership shown by our parents,” said Fr. John Brown, S.J., Jesuit’s president. “It is heartening to know that so many families understand Jesuit’s mission at this level. Our parents see the value in a student body that reflects the larger world, and that makes me hopeful that this year’s drive will help us continue to keep a Jesuit education in a class of its own.”

PAG directly supports each of Jesuit’s 104 athletics and clubs ranging from the Blue Jay Band to golf to the school’s various honor societies. It also drives the recruitment and retention of Jesuit’s world class 164 faculty and staff members.

“Having become a Jesuit parent some 14 years ago, I know that PAG is a perfect example of Jesuit’s mission at work,” said Missy Martin, this year’s PAG chair and the mother of a senior and two alumni Blue Jays. “I firmly believe that my participation in PAG has been a irreplaceable part of my three sons’ education: it helps keep tuition accessible for all families and provides more young men the lifelong gift of a Jesuit formation.”

This year, the full cost to educate each student is $17,454 despite tuition being set at $12,600. Some parents choose to cover the “gap,” $4,854 per Blue Jay, or more, while some choose to make a gift that covers the full cost of a day or week for their son to attend Jesuit.

Jesuit recently unveiled a special gift to celebrate “loyalty giving” from families who contribute to PAG five years in a row. This exclusive pin and brooch set is not for sale, and is only available to 5-year loyal donors.