Why Ignite DMCS? A closer look at the crucial role of our monthly giving program
Ignite DMCS was born out of the hope which was sparked for us in the middle of a dark season. In a moment when we couldn’t see the way forward, we saw clearly the impact of our monthly donors.
We realized that growing this campaign would not only invite others to journey more closely with DMCS, but would play a crucial role in sparking hope for the whole future of DMCS.
Investing in DMCS means investing in the individual, irreplaceable stories of the young people entrusted to DMCS. Join us in our bold hope for the future.
At the onset of the pandemic, the DMCS Board of Directors were faced with an unavoidable question: how will we afford to pay our bills?
We knew we weren’t alone - organizations all over the world were trying to navigate this question and we were no exception.
It’s a moment in DMCS history that we won’t ever forget: board and staff meetings held on Zoom, making decisions no one could have anticipated and scrambling to meet the many changing needs of our families.
Very early on in our pandemic discussions, we were reminded - face-on - of a very central reality of DMCS: this school always has and always will belong to God - and as long as He leads this mission, DMCS will stay afloat.
We’d faced tremendously difficult seasons in the school’s almost 20-year history and our trust in God had brought us through many stormy seasons.
And by God’s grace, the pandemic was no exception!
But what we didn’t imagine in those early days of 2020, was how long its impact would last. Fundraising, an essential aspect to the everyday operation of our mission, had taken a serious hit.
After several failed attempts at bringing back our regular fundraising events the following school year, we knew our focus had to shift. Crowded rooms gathered for fundraising concerts and benefit dinners just simply weren’t dependable sources of income for the foreseeable future.
That’s when Ignite DMCS became the focus of our fundraising.
It turned out that there were people who deeply wanted DMCS to thrive for years to come. There are people in our community cheering us on, wanting to work with us to secure our mission and be part of securing its future.
Our top three reasons for growing Ignite DMCS
Fostering A Community Who Journeys with DMCS in the ‘Ups’ and ‘Downs’
We’re learning to pivot to a post-pandemic reality. We absolutely plan on the return of events and we look forward to future opportunities to connect in-person with our community, however, the experience of the last two years has made us realize that more stable, reliable, consistent support is possible - and that there are people who want to journey with us in this way.
Our monthly donors journeyed with us through the ups and downs of the pandemic, through cancelled events, in the noteworthy months and the ordinary ones - and their consistent faithfulness to DMCS bore an incredible amount of fruit and brought us a tremendous amount of hope for the future.
Each of our monthly donors can look back and know that their contribution has played a significant role in helping DMCS navigate through both the beautiful seasons and difficult ones.
2. Stewarding the gift of DMCS and securing the future
We realize that the impact of DMCS spreads beyond the students and families and spills out in the greater community and Church. From the very beginning, DMCS has been a mission that has existed for the community and upheld by the community.
We’re striving to educate young people in values which have been detrimentally lost in our culture, create strong academic skills and habits so that our students go on to be hardworking professionals in various professional fields, we’re fostering an openness to religious life and priesthood by telling stories of the Saints and inviting priests and religious to share their stories and spend time with our students and we’re educating with an attentiveness to the whole person: body, mind and spirit.
We know there are others in our community who, like us, want to steward this God-given gift of DMCS and see the value of this education in the present world and in the future.
3. Each Ignite member is an investor in a real life story
When 8:30 am hits each morning at DMCS, and students begin to pour into our halls and classrooms, it’s abundantly clear that each of them represents a unique, unrepeatable story which is unfolding daily.
A significant portion of a child’s story is entrusted to their in-school experience and we’re aware of this tremendous responsibility. While our staff play a central role in tending to each child’s needs, our monthly donors contribute significantly to our day-to-day ability to serve each child and family.
For us, another month’s heating bill paid means another warm classroom for a searching soul. Top quality textbooks mean a world of possibilities waiting for the inquisitive and curious mind. A gym with new windows means pure joy and freedom for the active, growing body. And maintaining affordable tuition means that DMCS is a possibility for those who need us most.
Those who give to DMCS are playing a crucial role in each student’s unique journey.
Why fundraising?
From the very first meetings about the creation of DMCS, the founders were adamant that DMCS remain a humble school accessible to as many families as possible. They wanted to accept families who really desired a Catholic Education for their children and students who really needed the love of the DMCS Family. This vision has endured for almost 20 years and has become an integral aspect of the whole vision of DMCS. Our tuition remains one of the lowest in all of New Brunswick because we’re striving to keep barriers for families to a minimum.
Our monthly donors receive monthly updates, an annual event of thanksgiving and their donations are recognized on our hallway community tree - so that our students and staff are aware of the members who are enabling our doors to be open everyday. Donations can also be made and recognized in memory of a loved one.
If you’re interested in journeying more closely with DMCS and investing in the lives of our students, check out our Ignite program below. We’d love to welcome you into this community of people who are igniting hope for the future by securing the mission of DMCS.
