To the Damien Alumni Community:
As we head into our 60
th year, we are thankful for all that you do to support Damien High School and your contributions to the community and being a good man to your family and friends.
It is with great pleasure that I get the opportunity to share with you the changes that have occurred at Damien over the past year and to introduce you to a new team with a new vision and a new strategy.
For those new to the Damien Alumni Community – welcome!
For those who have been on our e-mail list, it has been awhile since we were last in touch - 357 days to be exact.
Whether you have been connected through the years or just joining, the plan is to share with you the exciting and interesting stories about Damien, current Spartans, teachers and you, the alumni. I want to give you a sense of where we are and where we are going.
New Leadership, New Advancement, Marketing & Outreach Team
We wish to inform you that Fr. Peadar Cronin has taken a leave of absence from his role as President at Damien High School to deal with some personal health issues. I know you will join us in praying for him and his speedy recovery, and we look forward to his future return to the school.
In November 2018, Fr. Richard Danyluk, SS.CC., Pastor of Holy Name of Mary Church (San Dimas, CA), was named as the Interim President of Damien High School.
Mike LeDuc will remain in his role as Assistant to the President and will continue key duties and initiatives in advancement, special projects, events and campaigns.
In January 2018, Stephen Quintero (’87), Director of Marketing & Outreach added the duties of Director of Advancement. In the new position, he is responsible for the branding, communication, strategy and vision for Damien marketing, fundraising and public relations activities.
In February 2018, Kelvin Woods (’88) joined the team as the Tradition Continues Coordinator. He oversees grant writing and reporting with public agencies, private foundations and corporations.
Also in February, Kim Reigel was hired as the Data Management Coordinator. She is responsible for data integrity, donation processing and acknowledgement letters.
In July 2018, Dan Threadgill was named the full-time Alumni Relations Coordinator. Initially, he was hired part-time in the same role March 2017. Threadgill has been organizing and coordinating alumni programs and services designed to foster and strengthen the relationship between Damien and its alumni.
In August 2018, Carrie Birchler was hired as the Marketing & Outreach Coordinator. She is responsible for the enrollment of new students, school promotional campaigns and community outreach.
New Vision
In 1959, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles opened a new school in La Verne, CA: Pomona Catholic Boys High School. From the 1963 yearbook: “with condemned buildings and a strict budget, the goal was simple: create an efficient establishment of education for ‘the citizens of tomorrow’ The purpose of the entire effort is to produce young men who are sound in soul and mind and body, and who will live better Catholic lives as a result of their training here.”
Fast forward. August 2019. Damien High School will celebrate it’s 60
th year. Damien has become one of the top academic institutions in the nation. What makes us proud is that Damien has lived up to its calling of developing young boys to be men of “Service, Scholarship, and Faith,” prepared to engage in a global society.
The new vision is simple: continue the tradition of excellence for the next 60 years and beyond.
New Strategy
As well-known American and National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones would say, “Celebrate what’s right with the world.”
Our plan is to be transparent, inclusive and gracious to you, the Damien Alumni Community. Each of you has laid a foundation at Damien that has changed future lives for the better. We want to know about your journey after Damien and to share those stories to past, present and future Spartans. The brotherhood at Damien has always been special.
In return, we will build a community that embraces history and traditions, the brotherhood and “Spartan Pride.” We invite you to campus to see the old and the new and learn what continues to make Damien…. Damien.
On behalf of the new advancement team, we look forward to meeting you, listening to you and welcoming you to a new beginning of celebrating what’s right with the world.
