STM Raises Over $25,000 on GivingTuesday to Support Teachers’ Requests

12/6/2023

St. Thomas More High School proudly announces that the school achieved its goal of raising $25,000 on GivingTuesday. These contributions will fund items, equipment, and student experiences requested personally by St. Thomas More teachers, coaches, and club moderators.

GivingTuesday provided supporters the opportunity to invest directly in St. Thomas More. By donating the cost of an item on the school’s GiveSmart fundraising website, supporters “purchased” this equipment, service, or experience for St. Thomas More faculty and students.

Items and experiences funded by donors on GivingTuesday include a senior field trip to see a performance at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, a laser engraver for our S.M.A.R.T. Manufacturing program, and exercise equipment for our fitness center. Students in biomedical sciences will also use one of these exercise devices to design and implement experiments that detail the relationship between fitness training and human physiology.

“This is a great opportunity to get our kids more involved in the science of fitness,” said biomedical sciences teacher Darlene Langhoff, who appeared in a video with health and leadership teacher Jimmy Litscher (TM ’06) to request donations for velocity-based training devices. “Many biomed students are involved in the fitness program, so this is a natural connection for them to really look at the science of what they’re doing.”

St. Thomas More promoted its GivingTuesday campaign through email and social media. The school released a series of short videos where teachers, staff, and students explained how their requested items would facilitate additional learning opportunities and create memorable moments for students outside the classroom.

“The vibe completely changes when it’s a packed house,” athletic director Katlyn Putney (STM ’10) said in her GivingTuesday video. “The energy can make or break a close game, and I know that all of our athletes really appreciate having a full fan section.” By sponsoring student fans on GivingTuesday, donors helped offset admission fees and transportation costs, creating an energizing environment for our student-athletes and allowing more students to enjoy these unforgettable moments cheering on their peers to victory.

St. Thomas More has participated in GivingTuesday since 2014, with donors contributing over $150,000 in total during those campaigns. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our alumni, parents, and other supporters, St. Thomas More has met its GivingTuesday fundraising goal each year.

“Our families and friends have once again gone above and beyond in their support of St. Thomas More,” president John Hoch (TM ’87) said. “We are incredibly grateful for their continued support, and we look forward to sharing how these investments improve the student experience here at St. Thomas More.”

Initial estimates show that giving in the United States on GivingTuesday 2023 totaled $3.1 billion, and 34 million adults participated in some way, contributing critical support to causes, communities, and non-profit organizations as they kick off the giving season this year.

“We are so inspired to see a show of generosity of this magnitude every year. Our goal with GivingTuesday, not just on the day itself but year-round, is to create an ecosystem of giving that helps communities, causes, and organizations across the globe,” Asha Curran, GivingTuesday’s Chief Executive Officer, said in the organization’s press release.

To watch the GivingTuesday messages from our teachers, staff, and students, please visit our YouTube page at youtube.com/StThomasMoreHighSchool. To make a GivingTuesday donation in honor of your favorite educator, visit tmore.org/donate.

Back