Wednesday, April 19, 2023 |
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Get Ready for One Week for GMA! Next week is One Week for GMA, the annual week of giving when alumnae, parents, guardians, faculty, staff, students, and friends unite to support the Mercy Fund. The Mercy Fund provides immediate support for every area of the School and enhances the educational experience for all students.
As alumnae, your gifts not only benefit current and future students, your participation speaks volumes to the lasting impact of mercy and helps to boost the school's case when applying for grants and support from other organizations. So whether you give $5 or $5,000, we are counting on YOU to help ensure the success of our alma mater.
This year, we have secured five challenges that can help earn Gwynedd an additional $50,000 during One Week for GMA. If you fit into more than one category, for example: if you are an alumna who has given in the past, but missed out last year, your gift will count toward both the Alumnae Participation Challenge and the R.E.D. Challenge. So make a gift of any amount to help us unlock that extra $50K!
You can give online, via Venmo at @GwyneddMercyAcademyHSGiving, by check, or even in the form of stock. If you have any questions, please reach out to Director of Annual Giving Colleen Corace Connor '86, P'25 at ccoraceconnor@jinken-fukuoka.com or (267) 946-0992.
Gifts made this week will count toward One Week for GMA. Thank you for your support! |
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Unlock $50,000 in Challenges
$10,000 Alumnae Participation Challenge 441 alumnae gifts of any amount to honor GMA's 441 students, our largest student body in GMAHS history $10,000 G.O.L.D. (Graduates of the Last Decade) Challenge
Alumnae from the Classes of 2012-2022 to give any amount to boost young alumnae participation by 15%
$10,000 R.E.D. (Returning Empowered Donors) Challenge 100 donors who did not give last year, but have given in the past, to renew their support with a gift of any amount $10,000 1861 Society Challenge
Leadership gifts of $1,000 or more to grow membership by 10% $10,000 Current Parent/Guardian Participation Challenge Gifts of any amount to surpass 75% participation Challenge sponsored by Blue Bell Private Wealth Management |
| Alumnae Prizes
The higher your class's participation rate, the better chance you have to win! Check out these fun prizes for the classes with the highest percentage of donors—remember, a gift of any amount counts! Reunion Classes (class years ending with 3 & 8) The class with the highest participation for the 2022-2023 giving year will receive 50% off their October 21, 2023 reunion registration. All Alumnae, by Decade
One donor from the class with the highest participation from each decade will be selected at random to receive a special Gwynedd gift box filled with surprises. |
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April 24-28, 2023 One Week for GMA
Help support your alma mater and the Mercy Fund during our annual week of giving. Give now April 25, 2023 Arts Festival
All are invited to celebrate Gwynedd's STEM and Arts programs at the annual Arts Festival. Visual Arts and STEM exhibits will be on display throughout the corridors from 5-7PM, followed by a concert in the Performing Arts Center from 7-9PM.
April 29 and 30, 2023 GMA Practice Test All 6th and 7th grade girls are invited to register for the practice test at Gwynedd.
Register May 4, 2023
Alumnae Happy Hour, 6-8PM All GMAHS alumnae are invited to join the Alumnae Association for happy hour at Winnie's Manayunk. Registration is $15 and includes 2 drink tickets and appetizers.
Register |
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Enjoy a Drink with Fellow Alumnae All GMAHS alumnae are invited to join the Alumnae Association for happy hour at Winnie's Manayunk on May 4, 2023, 6-8PM! Registration is $15 and includes 2 drink tickets and appetizers. Please register by Sunday, April 30. Thank you to the Young Alumnae Committee and Winnie Murphy Clowry '77 for hosting this event! |
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| Submit Alumnae Award Nominations
Each year, the Alumnae Association honors alumnae for exceptional leadership and service at Gwynedd’s annual Reunion celebration, coming up on October 21, 2023. Awards include: -
Trocaire Leadership Awards: Service to the World
- Margaret Beirn Barger ’35 Distinguished Alumna Award: Service to the School
- Athletic Hall of Fame Award
- Maria Lutz McHugh '46 Award for Outstanding Commitment to Gwynedd Mercy Athletics
Please consider nominating a fellow alumna for an Alumnae Award. Nominations are due on May 30. |
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Calling on Classes Ending in "4" to Make Gifts to Strawberry Market
In an effort to keep the shelves of Strawberry market consistently stocked, the Alumnae Association asks for donations from the members of the class years ending in the number that matches the current month. That means during this month (April), we are looking for donations from the classes ending in 4. Please consider supporting this special alumnae-sponsored initiative in one or more of the following ways:
- Purchase items directly from the Strawberry Mansion Pantry Target Wish List and automatically ship to Alison McGrorty-Crotts, M.D., M.P.H. '04.
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Drop items off in a bin located inside Gwynedd's front door.
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Purchase a Target gift card and send it to strawberrymarketsmhc@gmail.com.
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Send money via Venmo to @Ali-McCrotts.
- Make a check out to Alison McGrorty-Crotts and mail to GMAHS.
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| | Bethanne Mascio Connolly '03 and her daughter Mary Claire made a big donation to Strawberry Market in honor of Mary Claire's 5th birthday!
Her mother shared, "We decided to ask our friends not to bring birthday gifts and instead to help us bring gifts to those in need. We were humbled at how our friends showed up to support Strawberry Market. And Mary Claire (future Class of 2036!) was able to stock the shelves."
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Support Habitat for Humanity
Tune into Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia's Building Hope LIVE event on May 4 at 12PM. This livestreamed annual event is a 30-minute broadcast where guests have the opportunity to hear personal stories of Habitat families and give generously from the comfort of their homes. CEO Corinne O'Connell '93 will be speaking during the program. Building Hope LIVE’s ultimate goal is to raise $475,000 to assist Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia in furthering our impact and building housing stability, health stability, and human stability.
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Mentor a Member of the Class of 2024!
The Gwynedd Force Mentorship Program is looking for Alumnae Mentors! The program, sponsored by the Alumnae Association in partnership with Gwynedd's Leadership Department, will pair the Class of 2024 with alumnae mentors to connect with them throughout their senior year. Alumnae Mentors are asked to meet with their student mentees, virtually or in person, four times throughout the 2023-24 academic year. No matter what career stage you are in, all Gwynedd Mercy alumnae have valuable advice and experience to share with our current students as they embark on the college application process and their future careers. Please sign up by May 26. Questions? Email Engagement Coordinator Caitlin Fitzgerald Straub '01 at cstraub@jinken-fukuoka.com. |
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Submit Your Class Notes!
Did you have a baby? Celebrate a personal or professional milestone? Receive a degree or award? Get married? Fill out the form linked below to notify us!
And if you are preparing to get married or have a baby—let us know! We'd love to send you a GMA flag for your reception or a GMA bib for your little one. And be sure to snap photos, tag @gmahighschool on Instagram, and submit them with the Class Notes form. |
Alumna-Produced Feature Premieres on ESPN |
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Alex and her parents, Dennis and Anne Nolen P'10.
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ESPN Associate Features Producer Alex Nolen '10 produced the SC Featured spotlight "Nothing Else Matters,” the story of Patrick Behan, the head boys basketball coach at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., who was diagnosed with ALS and given a year to live.
Alex lost her own mother, Anne, to ALS in 2019. "Ever since she passed, it has been a goal of mine to bring awareness to this horrible disease by helping someone tell their ALS story," she told ESPN Front Row. "When people see his story, I hope it brings awareness to ALS and reminds others that nothing can stop you from doing what you love."
Watch the short version below. The full video will air on ESPN 2 on May 7 at 7PM. Well done, Alex! |
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Classmates Celebrate Their Birthdays Together
Members of the Class of 1960 gathered to celebrate their collective 80th birthdays!
Pictured, front row, left to right: Kathi Roeder, Agnes Scaringi Shaughnessy, Chris Winterer Ryan, Eileen Cairnes Samtmann; Back row, left to right: Carmelita Quain Dillon, Sharon O’Donnell, Virginia DesGarennes Mease, Sue Parham Hovancik, Nancy Connolly Straka, Alice Anne Goldkamp Bossow, Louise Regli Matt, Judy McLaughlin Bucko |
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The Circle of Mercy Grows |
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Dorothy Cascerceri Simone '99 and her husband Jone welcomed their daughter Gemma Susan Simone on March 11, 2023. She is already decked out in an adorable GMA outfit. Congratulations, Simone family! |
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Alumna and GMAHS Spanish faculty member Cristina Brenner Cimorelli '05 and her husband Anthony welcomed their daughter Cecilia Lynn Cimorelli on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Congratulations to the Cimorelli family! |
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| Making Mercy Connections Abroad
GMAHS Director of Strategic Initiatives Sherry Mischler met up with alumna Christine Kerlin Nasserghodsi '91 during her recent trip to Dubai. Christine is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Mirai Partners, a learning innovations group in Dubai that focuses on learning strategy (K12 and corporate), education technology, and leadership development.
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| Model UN Students Explore Global Issues
Members of Model UN participated in the Global Economic Forum, a high school simulation program focused on the creation, presentation, and marketing of policy solutions to pressing issues facing the global community, sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia at Drexel University.
Mia MacDonald '23, Sophia Rhines '23, Autumn Kuriger '23, Emily Bilko '23, and Shannon Zehren '23 represented Central and East African nations on Food Insecurity. Charlotte Wolfe '25, Simone French '25, Sydney Hrlic '25, and Brynn Bogle '26 represented the countries of Western Africa on the Unemployment and Workforce Development Committee. Charlotte Wolfe also served as co-chair of the Unemployment Workforce Development Committee, which ended up winning the competition!
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Students Get Involved in Their Community
Before Easter break, student participated in Mission Day. Sophomore students visited various Philadelphia schools and community centers, where they lent a hand and shared their time and talents. Freshmen and seniors learned about global competency and worked with Dr. Rishtee Batra from Villanova University. Junior students attended La Salle University's School of Business Aspiring Business Leaders Workshop, where they learned about different career opportunities and leadership styles.
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| Gwynedd Girls Volunteer
The Ministry and Service team visited Family Promise, an organization in Ambler that works to transform the lives of families experiencing homelessness by aiding in transportation, rent assistance, case management, and much more. The volunteers helped out by cleaning the windows and walls of an apartment and doing the early stages of paint prep. 15 Gwynedd Girls also traveled to Kohler Park in Horsham to pick up trash, and beautify the area for the spring season! |
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Musicians Perform in All Catholic Band
Monica Buzzanca '23, Madeline White '26, and Ashley O'Doherty '24 performed in the All Catholic Jazz Band concert on Saturday, April 1. |
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| Register for Summer Camps
Summer Camps at Gwynedd are featured in Philly Mag's Great Summer Camps and Programs For Philly Kids in 2023! -
Camp Inspire: A full-day, week-long "confidence camp" designed to expose girls to a STEAM field while also teaching them to develop their sense of purpose and self-worth from within
- Athletics: Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Soccer
- Arts: Private Music Lessons and Triple Threat Theater Camp
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Please send any personal or professional updates, questions about how to get involved with GMA, or other inquiries to the Director of Alumnae Engagement Erin Reimel Clements '12 at ereimel@jinken-fukuoka.com.
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© 2023 Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School 1345 Sumneytown Pike | Lower Gwynedd, PA 19437
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