"The Transforming Lives Dinner is an event where everyone collectively comes together to support our students," says parent and event co-chair Kellie Jackson. “O’Dowd’s tuition assistance program ensures that all students have the opportunity to fully experience an O’Dowd education and creates a path for their future success."
The socio-economic diversity of O'Dowd’s student body is a priority of the school, a driving force in our mission and Charism. Our vibrant student body, with a wide variety of life experiences and perspectives, is an essential part of the O'Dowd experience.
This year O’Dowd will grant over $3.9 million in tuition assistance to 390 students, who receive an average of $10,000 to support their O’Dowd education. Every fall, our Transforming Lives Dinner invites our community to help raise $500,000 to support these families.
Without tuition assistance, one-third of O'Dowd’s students would not be on campus today. We would lose the vitality and joy these students bring to our English classes, our art classes, our science classes, our sports fields, our student council, our stage, our retreats, and our honor rolls.
This year’s Transforming Lives Dinner will take place in the Knauss Family Gymnasium on Thursday, October 26, beginning with a reception at 6:00pm. The evening will include powerful student speakers whose lives have changed because of O’Dowd’s diverse and engaging culture. You will be inspired by our keynote speaker, President Kim Walsh, who has personally witnessed the transformative power of an O’Dowd education. The evening ends with a paddle raise, an opportunity for people to raise their paddle with a donation in support of tuition assistance. The community also contributes with pre-event sponsorships and donations.
When you give generously to Transforming Lives Dinner, you make a difference not just for students receiving tuition assistance but for the entire student body. Your important donation ensures that O’Dowd remains an inclusive and dynamic community, every day.
Supporting the tuition assistance program through the Transforming Lives Dinner is a commitment to our students today and tomorrow. In one night our community can make certain that every student at O’Dowd has a full high school experience that will lead them toward making a difference in their lives and the world.
If you have any questions about giving or the event, please reach out to Chief Development Officer Rebecca Bischoff.