You are reading

St. Francis Prep School in Fresh Meadows Gifted $1 Million Check From Anonymous Donor

St Francis Preparatory School, pictured, has been gifted a $1 million check from an anonymous donor (Photo provided by St Francis Preparatory School)

March 14, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

Call it a gift from on high.

A renowned Catholic preparatory school in Fresh Meadows has received a $1 million check from an anonymous donor — the largest single donation in the institution’s long history, according to school officials.

St. Francis Preparatory School, located at 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd., was gifted the financial windfall from an unidentified former student to be used to fund a scholarship program at the 164-year-old institution. The prep school is considered the largest Catholic school in the country with around 2,400 students currently enrolled.

The huge gift was donated to help support the school’s Thomas J. Sheehan Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to current and incoming students, according to school officials. The scholarship was set up in 1986 to honor Sheehan who graduated in 1955 and still holds some of the school’s all-time track records. He was considered an exemplary student leader and role model, the officials said.

“This donation… is humbling and inspiring for the entire alumni community,” said Wally Bishop, President of the St. Francis Prep Alumni Board.

“The students who walk through the Prep’s doors can attest to the school’s unwavering commitment helping families facing financial hardships to have the ability to enjoy a world-class Catholic education that prepares young people for college and beyond.”

School officials said the gift significantly bolsters the school’s ability to provide a values-driven education to students of all backgrounds, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

The $1 million bonanza follows a big fundraising drive by the school to raise money for students who experienced financial setbacks because of the COVID-19 crisis. St. Francis Preparatory School raised around $1.8 million that helped support more than 400 students who were in need of monetary relief, school officials said.

Ninety-nine percent of seniors who graduated from the school in 2021 ended up attending the college of their choice, according to school officials.

Some of St. Francis’ famous alumni include NFL coaching legend Vince Lombardi, former Yankees manager Joe Torre, actor Peter Facinelli and NYPD whistleblower Frank Serpico.

Brother Leonard Conway, St. Francis Prep President, said the donation will support students for years to come.

“St. Francis Prep has provided generations of students a place where they can grow, learn and develop in a religious, joyful school environment,” Conway said.

 “This [donation]… is representative of the generosity and service enshrined in the St. Francis Prep education.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Hollis man charged with raping 14-year-old told teen, ‘I can help you get work’

New details have emerged in the case of the Hollis man accused luring a 14-year-old boy into his car in St. Albans and then allegedly raping him on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 1.

Virgilio Taveras, 63, of Hillside Avenue, was arrested by detectives from the Queens Special Victims Squad two days later and booked at the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows. Taveras was arraigned on the Fourth of July in Queens Criminal Court on a complaint charging him with rape in the second degree, luring a child as an E felony, endangering the welfare of a child and other related crimes.

Man in his 50s sought for exposing himself to 13-year-old on E train in Forest Hills: NYPD

Police from the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills and Transit District 20 are looking for a suspect who allegedly flashed a 13-year-old girl on a Queens subway train last month.

The victim was riding a southbound E train approaching the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station at around 1 p.m. on Monday, June 30, when she saw a stranger exposing himself to her, police said Wednesday. The perpetrator ran off the train at the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station and fled in an unknown direction. The youngster was not injured during her encounter with the stranger.