Circle of mercy & catherine mcAuley award

Circle of Mercy

The Circle of Mercy honors those donors who have shared in our mission through an annual leadership gift of $1,500 or more to the school. Mercy counts on these leadership gifts to provide many enhancements to our programs and campus. These leadership donors are honored annually by the Board of Directors at the Circle of Mercy dinner held in October. All individuals, families or corporations making a leadership gift are invited to be members of the Circle of Mercy and attend the dinner. In 2006, Mercy established the Catherine McAuley Award which is presented at the Circle of Mercy Donor Dinner.

“Catherine McAuley Award”

Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy said “No work of charity can be more productive of good to society than the careful instruction of women.” The Catherine McAuley Award is presented to a person or group who represents a commitment to Catherine McAuley’s vision and the education of young women. Through their support, the recipients of this award have enabled us to prepare our students to be women of faith, influence and compassionate service. The young women at Mercy today are our future; the recipients of this award have joined with Mercy in educating young women not only for success in college but for life.

2009 Awardees

Bill and Carolyn Gaul
Bill and Carolyn have had a lifetime association with the Sisters of Mercy. Bill’s two aunts were beloved Sisters of Mercy – Sr. Mary Petronilla and Sr. Mary Kevin Gaul. Bill and Carolyn’s daughters, Kathleen ’77 and Claire ’81, are graduates of Mercy, as is their granddaughter Fiona ’09 and currently, their granddaughter Breanna is a sophomore. Bill recently ended six years as a member of the Mercy High School Board of Directors where he served on the Finance, Building and Grounds Committee. Bill and Carolyn honored Bill’s aunts when they established The Sister Mary Petronilla and Sister Mary Kevin Gaul Endowed Scholarship Fund in December 2004. Bill is the Principal and President of ChemCo Systems. Bill and Carolyn are truly an example of a couple who live out Catherine McAuley’s vision of educating young women through their dedication and support of Mercy High School.

Penny (Stack ’78) and Matt Alexander
Penny and Matt Alexander also have a lifelong connection with the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy High School. Penny’s mother, Penelope Boden Stack was a graduate of the Class of 1945 and her father served as an attorney for the Sisters of Mercy for many years. Penny was a Student Body Officer and outstanding athlete during her years at Mercy. Penny was instrumental in the establishment of Mercy’s annual Alumnae Phonathon which has been hosted for 17 years at Franklin Resources, Inc. where Penny serves as Vice-President for Human Resources. Penny served on the Board of Directors for Mercy High School in the 1990’s and continues her relationship in many ways including assisting with our admissions efforts by hosting events for parents at Our Lady of Angels where their two children attend school. Penny and Matt honored Penny’s mom with the establishment of the Penelope Boden Stack Endowed Scholarship. Penny and Matt have graciously supported Mercy High School in numerous ways and their generosity of spirit, commitment to the values and vision of the Sisters of Mercy and Catherine McAuley are truly an example to us all.

Past Awardees

2006
Sisters of Mercy
The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation
Franklin Templeton Investments