Mission
“Life’s true wonder is this:
the more you give, the more you have.”
Our school is a family, whose lives and love span 60 years. The mission of our Office of Development & Alumni Relations is to foster our family's growth and strength by promoting the following goals every day:
- Plant a seed of life-long belonging in the heart of every student who attends our school,
- Bring graduates of AWHS closer to our school as members of our alumni than they were as students,
- Build life-long relationships between our school and our community,
- Build life-long relationships between our school and our Parent Support Group
How we build relationships
1) AWHS Bi-Annual Newsletter. Twice each year, our newsletter highlights the activities, events, and accomplishments of our school. This is a vital communications tool that helps parents, alumni, and our community understand us.
2) Annual Report. Each summer, we share a “state of the school” report as it applies to finance and fundraising. This report also shines a bright light of thanks upon all our donors, benefactors, friends, and supporters.
3) Newsletters Via Email. Our “C-Mails” are filled with exciting news about our alumni and our school. They serve the important function of keeping everyone connected.
4) Social Alumni Events. A major part of building relationships with our alumni happens in person when alumni attend these regularly scheduled events:
- Class Reunions
- Summer Socials
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Academic Hall of Fame
- Fall Golf Tournament
- Homecoming Football Game
All of these events are meant to bring our alumni back to Archbishop Williams High School and give them time to reunite and connect with one another.
5) Fundraising. The events we plan and the activities we sponsor are for fun first, and for funds after fun. Our family members; past, present or future will never be seen as dollar signs with arms and legs. Our alumni have given us our past. Our students, families and friends are giving us a present. They owe us nothing more. We will value them and appreciate them for who they are and what they have done; not for what they will give.
Our mission is one of feeling; not finances. It has been said that, “We have two hands. One gives. The other receives.” We will celebrate both. We will give before we ask to receive.
Do we need donations? Yes. Do we need support? Yes.
Do we need people who will give with both hands? Yes.
Will we base the value of our family members on how much they donate, support, or give? No.
Our alumni are the reason we are here now. If they give, we celebrate. They are our history and our heritage. Our family owes us nothing. We will do all we can to make them feel like our family; and to give to them more than they owe.
Sincerely,
Carmen Mariano, Ed.D. ‘64
