Second and Third Nights of LEF Calling Produce Fantastic Results
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LEF callers Bob Ebberman ’63, John Combes ’73, and Tom Blum ’61
The chairman of the 2014-15 Living Endowment Fund (LEF) drive, Mike Varisco ’83, is smiling these days. And for good reason.
One day after 75 alumni volunteers garnered 566 pledges, 80 alumni returned to Carrollton and Banks to haul in another 569 commitments from Blue Jay alumni across the country and the world. And to cap it off, the final evening of calling produced a record final-night haul.
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, volunteers surpassed $216,000 in pledges. On Wednesday, Oct. 15, pledges totaled $160,000. On Thursday, 60 callers gathered another $113,000 in promises from 373 Blue Jays.
“I am so grateful for the work our graduates are doing to remain connected to each other and to Jesuit,” said president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66, who thanked his fellow Blue Jays for helping keep their alma mater accessible to as many families as possible.
On Tuesday, volunteers were treated to a delicious spaghetti and meatballs dinner. Wednesday’s menu included Chicken Lombardi. On Thursday, alumni enjoyed New Orleans po-boys and a sampling of Louisiana-brewed beers. The po-boys were provided by 2006 alumnus Max Gruenig, who stuck around for calling with seven of his classmates.
Annual support from alumni, parents, and parents of alumni allow Jesuit to charge about 75 percent of what it actually costs to educate a Blue Jay.
The fall LEF calling event was preceded by an alumni captains meeting, in which representatives from 50 classes returned to campus to hear from Fr. McGinn and alumni director Mat Grau ’68 about school and alumni activities.
Most of the callers live in the New Orleans area, although one Blue Jay — Mike Waldo ’70 — drove in from his home in Pensacola to connect with his classmates. Waldo is helping lead the newly-formed Emerald Coast (Pensacola-Mobile-Destin) alumni chapter.
Tom Blum, who lives in New Orleans, caught up with a 1961 classmate of his who’s living in Germany.
Thanks to the work of these generous Blue Jays who got together to connect with their classmates, the Class of 2010 is off to an outstanding start.
As of Friday, Oct. 17, 1,749 alumni had pledged a total of of $620,000. The Class of 2003 has the most pledges so far with 80. The Class of 1991 has produced the largest financial commitment — $38,352.
“Our goal is 4,000 participants,” said an appreciative Varisco, “and we’re off to an outstanding start.”
Galleries
LEF 2015 Fall Phone Drive, Oct. 14-16, 2014
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Seven members of the Class of 1991 connected with their classmates during LEF calling on Tuesday, Oct. 14. From left are Mark Marino, Ryan LeBlanc, Beau LeBlanc, Vinnie Varisco, Mario Munoz, Ryan Gootee, and Charles Haddad. -
Steve Queyrouze finds a comfy office to contact classmates from 1980. -
Arthur Dupre' represented the Class of 2004 on all three nights of the fall LEF phone event. -
Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. '66 thanks David Baril, Bob Angelle, and Chick Foret from the Class of 1971. -
Bob Ebberman and Roland Wiltz work the phones for the Class of 1963, which endowed a scholarship for Jesuit in 2014. -
Claiborne Perrilliat, George Papale, and Tommy Perrien reach out to Jays in the Class of 1962. -
The 2014-15 LEF leadership team: 2013-14 chairman Lyon "Snapper" Garrison '81, current chairman Mike Varisco '83, and next year's chairman Marc Bonifacic '92 -
Pat Huete and Mike Buisson are pleasantly surprised when 1984 classmate Ken Boe (middle) shows up to fill out his LEF pledge card in person. -
Bob Angelico '59; Ryan Martiny, Aubrey Spreen, and Kevin Truxillo from the Class of 1999; and Jim Tebbe '76 connect with their classmates. -
C.W. Lartigue and Chuck Staub contact Jays in the Class of 1960. -
Pinky Vidacovich, Dooty Patron, and friends reach out to Blue Jays in the 40s and 50s. -
Bill Eastin and Mark Rodi teamed up to make calls for the Class of 1959. -
Special assistant to the president Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. '76 watches as Bro. William Dardis, S.J. '58, Jesuit's director of special projects, tallies the numbers. -
At the end of each night of calling, alumni director Mat Grau '68 hands out Jesuit-themed goodies as tokens of appreciation. -
Representing the Class of 2007 are D.J. Galiano, Ian Gunn, and first-time caller Andrew Simoneaux. -
Edgar Saunders, Hank Ecuyer, and John Paisant from the supportive Class of 1951. -
LEF callers Bob Ebberman '63, John Combes '73, and Tom Blum '61 -
Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. '66 offers his thanks to Chris Webre '87, Pat Huete '84, Michael Cahill '76, and Jimmy Treigle '87. -
Ray Forrester and Jason Dussel from the Class of 2000 -
Jim Murphy and Bob Armbruster of the Class of 1952 -
Ben Oertling, Casey Moll, Vincent Scelfo, Max Gruenig, Jonathan Rowan, Mike Modica, and Jeff Ganucheau put up big numbers for the Class of 2006 in a second-floor math classroom. -
Mr. Charles Bourg, Brian Carr, Taylor Bologna, Mr. Matt Firmin, Ethan Oddo, Austin Hight, and Mr. Spencer Harris from the Class of 2010, worked their magic in Mr. Firmin's third-floor science lab. Mr. Bourg, Mr. Firmin, and Mr. Harris, all part-time teachers, are participating in Jesuit's Alumni Service Corps program. -
Greg Gillen and John Hess from the Class of 1979 -
Bryan Wolff, Miguel Soler, and Tommy Scamardo from the Class of 1982 -
From the Class of 2007 are Mark Johnson, D.J. Galiano, John Faciane, and Andy Hamilton -
Dooty Patron '51, Pat Huete '84, and Adam Laurie '08 -
Julio Torres '69 and Steve Morgan '68, with George Moisant and Glenn Schmitt from the Class of 1966 -
Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. '76 enjoys the company of 1996 callers Hudson Higgins, Ryan Plummer, and Steven Serio. -
Pepe Lafourcade '90 and Jeff Serpas '00 work through their stack of cards.
