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Capital Campaign

Called to Lead: The Campaign for Bishop Guilfoyle Academy

The first Capital Campaign in the history of our school


With your help, we are exceeding our goal of $7 million to invest in the next generation of our school. Enrollment at BG is growing and so are our needs.


The Called to Lead Campaign focuses on four strategic areas:

  • The Threshold Experience (upgraded presence)
  • The Student Experience (investing in education and spaces)
  • Hollidaysburg Campus (adding a 3rd elementary school)
  • Scholarships and Tuition Assistance (affordability)

 

Visionary Investors $500,000 +

Jack and Julia Corrado

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fiore

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Misitano

Dr. Matthew J. Reilly

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Stuckey

Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglas Wolf

Mr. and Mrs. John Wolf

Leadership Investors $100,000– 499,999

Dr. James Adams

Agnes Eckenrode

Guy & Marianne Landolfi

Vernon & Maryanne Litzinger

Bob & Joan Lozinak

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

Mark & Allison Ritchey

Tim & Carol Rubritz

Jay & Gina Ruggery

Don & Kate Ruggery

Travis & Erica Sheetz

Rob & Karen Tribeck

Dr. Stewart Van Horn and Dr. Sarah Schroeder

Greg & Connie Wharton

STRATEGIC INVESTORS $25,000 - $99,999

Joe and Liz Adams

Bedford Regional Urology (Dr. Steve and Claire Yanoshak)

Barry and Jennifer D’Andrea

George and Sarah Delbaggio

FundEDU (Jeff and Mamie Wilson)

John and Ginny Gates

Joe and Joan Keller

Dr. Ziad and Nada Khoury

Janet McGough-Csarny

Robert Montler

Dr. Fred and Linda Petrunak

David J. Porta

Dr. John G. Sheedy Family

Joseph & Ingrid Stevens

Adam Ward

Bill and Judy Ward

Ward Trucking

Ward Foundation

Matt and Emily Yerty

Leo and Barabara Wachter

COMMUNITY INVESTORS $1,000 - $24,999

Jeff Adams

Greg and Lonni Conrad

Joe and Christine DeLeo

Brian and Karen Durbin

Scott and Lisa Durbin

Brian and Kellie Ianuzzi

Patrick and Kim Irwin

Marty and Barbara Kooman

Dr. Frank and Leigh Montecalvo

F. Timothy Muri

Susan M. Pallone

Dr. David and Anna Marie Rassmussen

Terry and Susan Rubritz

Very Rev. Fr. Frank Scornaienchi, T.O.R.

Patrick and Andrea Schurr

Tim and Vicki Sullivan

Dr. Jonathan and Amy Van Kleunen

Floris Van Horn

Daniel and Jane Verner

 

2025-26 ANNUAL FUND DONORS

2025-26 ANNUAL FUND DONORS

(counted toward Capital Campaign goal)

Ronan T. and Marilyn Adams
Thomas Bartley
Mary Cannon

David and Patricia Ciesinski
Class of 1975
Dr. Mary Beth Corace, Ph.D.
Ronald Dale
Dr. and Mrs. Lance DeFrancisco
David DelBiondo
Agnes Eckenrode
Thomas and Patricia Forr
Tommy Forr

Joseph Georgiana
Stanley and Linda Glod
Dr. Haleh Haerian and Dr. Mehrdad Ghaffari
Jacque and Ginny Hauser
Michael and Gail Irwin

Dan Kurth
Christopher Laughlin
Joseph and Betsy Lehman, Jr.
Dick and Becky Moran
Mary Ann Myhre
John Nagle
John and Pamela Sepp
Dr. Hany and Soha Shanoudy

Steve and Nancy Sheetz

Harrison C. and Margaret A. Snyder Charitable Trust
Joseph J. and Bonnie Stevens

Jeff and Mamie Wilson
Jocelyn Wolf
Dr. Irini Youssef

Richard Carroll

Dr. Nicholas Corbo

David DelBiondo

Kristine Etter

Stephen and Michele Giacomucci

Dr. Robert Hartsock

Dave Hogan

Inco Beverage, Inc.

Marty Marasco

Ron and Paula Perretta

Mark Reffner

Lawrence and Janice Shank III

Alan and Elaine Temofonte

Christopher Toomey

Campaign Leadership

CAMPAIGN CHAIRS


“Our family recently joined the Bishop Guilfoyle community and we love it!  We appreciate the strong academic focus paired with a nurturing, warm environment. We love how the values of goodness, discipline and knowledge are woven through the interactions between the staff, students, and parents.  Both parents and staff were welcoming and helpful as we entered this new school environment.  Looking ahead, we are excited for our sons to experience all the amazing opportunities that Bishop Guilfoyle has to offer in the coming years.  Deciding to attend BG has been an enormous blessing for us.  Our family is so thrilled and thankful that this amazing school is available to all students right here in our community.”

Matt and Tiffany Stuckey

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE


Chairs:  Matt and Tiffany Stuckey

Honorary Chairs:  Anthony and Cathy Misitano

MEMBERS:

George and Sarah Delbaggio

Patrick and Kim Irwin

Mark and Allison Ritchey

Rob and Karen Tribeck

Doug and Lisa Wolf

Dr. Stewart VanHorn and Dr. Sarah Schroeder

ADMINISTRATION:

Joe Adams, President

Lisa (Lightner) Georgiana, Director of Advancement

HONORARY CHAIRS


 

 

 

“We have been truly blessed and feel a true sense of obligation to make things better - happier and healthier - for the next generation of BG students.  It’s an honor!”

Tony and Cathy Misitano, BG class of 1972

 

Because of You, We’re Almost There

We are on target to exceed our goal of $7 million dollars for our first-ever Capital Campaign. There is still time to be a part of this historic moment! Donations of any amount are appreciated.

The best way to donate is the old-fashion way (by checks payable to BG Academy, 2400 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona PA 16602) to avoid transaction fees. 

Online donations are welcome, however there is a surcharge of 2-3% of your donation.

Campaign Priorities - Immediate Needs

  • Our school experience is engaging, modern and advanced.  We prepare children for an exciting future. However, new parents who first see our school buildings would not get that impression. We wish to provide a much needed facelift for our facilities which would include:

    • New signage that reflects our new Bishop Guilfoyle Academy brand identity
    • Updated cladding and designs to modernize the 1970’s era brick exterior
    • Updating the high-traffic portico area where most students, parents, and visitors enter the high school building.  Fixing the cracked concrete, pillars, and adding enhanced design elements.
    • Other items to make a positive, fresh first impression.
  • Creating an invigorating, personal experience for our students is the heart of what we do.  The majority of funds from this capital campaign will be invested in areas that make a difference for our students. These include:

    1. Faculty salaries.  Attracting and retaining the best, most engaging, expert instructional staff is the most important thing to ensure a high quality student experience. While our faculty are dedicated to the mission, the gap between BG salaries and other schools is too significant. 
    2. Technology. Since we were the first area school to launch 1-1 iPads and an advanced, college level online learning management system, technology has continued to advance. We need to upgrade wifi, introduce a single, unified phone system (voice over IP) that covers all four campuses, and update computers in the tech lab.
    3. Infrastructure. HVAC is original to the buildings since the 1960’s and 1980’s. Parts of the high school do not have air conditioning. 
    4. Classrooms. Refreshing and updating some classrooms to create an even more collaborative learning environment
    5. Athletics. Updates to the gymnasium and locker rooms as well as other areas and programming.

    The exact list of priorities to receive funding will depend on the total amount raised from the campaign.  The total investment required by the above items exceed the $2.3mm allocated out of the $7mm campaing target but each of the above areas will receive some investments from the campaign funds and will be prioritized based on greatest needs. 

  • In 2024-25, we added a third Preschool-Elementary school in Hollidaysburg. This campus is critically important for enrollment growth capacity so we do not need to turn away students who wish to enroll. Growing enrollment (up12% from 2024-25 to 2025-26)  is proof that our Preschool through Grade 12 school under the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy brand s desired by families and is great news for our future. 

    In 2024/25, the Hollidasyburg site offered Preschool through Grade 1 and welcomed 7 students. In 2025-26, we are offering Preschool through Grade 2 and have 38 students enrolled! We will add a grade each year, and by 2028-29 school year, this BG campus will be Preschool through Grade 5.  

    Until we are at full capacity at this campus, investments are necessary to hire faculty, pay rent and maintenance, and incur other start up and fixed costs. Like any new venture, it requires investment until the growing enrollment covers the fixed costs. This Capital Campaign will provide those investment funds. 

  • The full cost of attending BG is prohibitive for most families in our area. While every family who attends makes a significant financial commitment to tution and fees, we are committed to helping when needed.  When a family cannot cover the full cost we make a commitment to fill the gap. This way, every family who wants to benefit from a BG education can afford to do so.  

    Donations in this Campaign will go toward building our funds available for scholarships and tuition assistance for families in need.

     

     

Planned Giving

Successful schools have a tradition of planned giving. Benefactors include BG as a beneficiary in their 401(k)/IRA or will/trust/estate plan. It is simple to update beneficiaries and make a major impact for BG. In future years, these planned gifts will be a source of sustained funding that can provide a solid foundation for the school to continue to build upon. 

Please consider adding BG as a beneficiary for some percent of your retirement fund, insurance policy or estate. A commitment now can be changed in the future should you or loved ones need the funds for other purposes. The current value of these gifts will be counted in the capital campaign total, but funds will not be committed or spent until received. 

Contact advancement@bguilfoyle.org for more information.

CASE FOR SUPPORT

Read the Capital Campaign Case For Support
 

Read the Case For Support

🎥 As featured on Proclaim!

BG alum Tony DeGol from the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese produced a special 5-minute Proclaim! segment on our "Called to Lead" Capital Campaign. Both Tony and Bishop Mark Bartchak attended the kickoff presentation, and the feature captures the energy of the event and the vision driving our campaign forward.

We’re grateful for the continued support of the Diocese as we work to strengthen the future of our school community. Watch the video below to see the full story!

 

Participate Today

Participate now by contacting the Advancement Office at

advancement@bguilfoyle.org or calling (814) 900-4460.

Donations of appreciated stock, cash, and planned gifts are accepted.

Rather than making your donation on-line (extra fees can be incurred), please call Advancement Office for giving options.