Support SVHS
Every gift, large or small truly makes a difference to a St. Vincent de Paul High School student. 
As we look back on an extraordinarily productive school year, we want to thank the St. Vincent de Paul High School community for your continued support of our mission to provide for the academic, spiritual and social development of our students coupled with a strong college preparatory program.
Your donations are a vote of confidence that you believe in our school and its mission.
We ask you to join us in our mission to develop students to become educated, engaged and faithful members of their communities, by recommending SVHS to your family and friends and by giving your tax deductible gifts to the St. Vincent de Paul High School Annual Fund.
Please read the full Fall 2022 Annual Fund Letter from Fr. William Donahue, Pastor and President, Alumnus Class of ’76.
We thank you in advance for your support of this important annual campaign and we encourage you to plan a visit to our campus soon.
Ways to Give
For decades, the Annual Fund has been an integral part of St. Vincent de Paul High School’s financial foundation. Thank you to all who have supported this campaign and continue to do so, your generosity is greatly appreciated!
The Annual Fund is a vital fundraising appeal that supports the school’s fiscal budget. We reach out to the entire SVHS community and receive contributions from alumni, parents, and friends that goes directly to deferring expenses in the following areas: providing need-based financial aid, supporting technology and preserving our ever-growing campus facilities, just to name a few.
Parent Promise to the Annual Fund
SVHS honors the spirit of the Catholic school tradition, we charge tuition less than the actual cost and grant financial aid to those in need. Every year, each school family is asked to make a promise or pledge to the Annual Fund in order to bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating each student.
St. Vincent de Paul High School Endowments and Endowed Scholarships include the following:
- The Dan Ercolini Memorial Scholarship
- The Michael Gonzalez Scholarship
- The Kavanaugh Scholarship
- The Tim Shea Memorial Scholarship
- The Young Maturing Athlete Scholarship
- St. Vincent de Paul High School Tuition Endowment
- St. Vincent de Paul High School Endowment
Once a scholarship balance reaches $25,000, it is at endowment status and will be invested to grow over time, providing earnings on an annual basis that can be awarded to students. St. Vincent de Paul High School utilizes the Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) to house all of our endowments. PEF’s Endowment is managed by Exchange Bank Wealth Management with oversight by PEF’s Investment Advisory Committee.
St. Vincent de Paul High School is proud to have the St. Vincent de Paul and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scholarship Fund.
This scholarship honors the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the order that first taught and founded our school. You can honor a loved one and your loved one’s name will be listed for that year under our most honored scholarship. You can also give a memorial donation in a loved one’s name and have their name appear on this scholarship for that year.
For information about creating a new endowed scholarship, please contact the Advancement Office.
Do not miss the opportunity to purchase a commemorative brick for your family! This is the perfect way to honor your graduating senior or a whole family of alumni. Show your SVHS pride by adorning one of our walkways with your family name. Funds from the brick sales will go toward paving the way for future SV generations. Cost is $275 per brick.
Payments can also be made via check. Please make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul High School. Please include in the memo: Brick Payment. These can be mailed or dropped off at the front office.
We have another great year planned of fun events to both build our community, while we raise money for our schools. Join us and take this opportunity to meet parents and families from both of our amazing schools!
For more information about sponsorships, please contact Melissa Smith at eventcoordinator1@svhs-pet.org.
You may be able to double, even triple the impact of your gift to St. Vincent de Paul High School if you work for a company that has a matching gift program. Many corporations match the gifts their employers give to nonprofit and charitable organizations in an effort to extend the reach of corporate giving and to encourage employees to be actively involved in supporting their communities.
Check with your employer’s human resources office for details. We are happy to provide a copy of our non-profit status documentation. We also can register through your employer’s matching funds online programs.
St. Vincent de Paul & the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Sisters Scholarship Fund
St. Vincent de Paul High School is proud to have the St. Vincent de Paul and the Blessed Virgin Mary Scholarship Fund. This scholarship honors St. Vincent de Paul and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the order that first taught and founded our school.
Scholarship Information
Students that are in 8th grade through 11th grade can apply for this scholarship. Winners of this scholarship will have emulated St. Vincent de Paul and the BVW Sisters by demonstrating how they have given of themselves and served their community.
By giving to this scholarship, you will be assisting deserving students in their journey through high school.
You can also honor a loved one by giving to this scholarship and your loved one’s name will be listed for that year under our most honored scholarship. You can also give a memorial donation in a loved one’s name and have their name appear on this scholarship for that year.
Saint Vincent de Paul
Among the many saints and great Christian leaders of the Church in the seventeenth century, Saint Vincent de Paul stands out pre-eminent as an apostle of charity and an educator of the clergy. His long life of devotion to the service of his neighbor is a model for our imitation. Charity was his predominant virtue. It extended to all classes of persons, from childhood to old age. Vincent de Paul was born in 1580 in France. Although his family didn’t have much, Vincent always gave whenever he could.
By age 20 he was ordained a priest and began his work on his doctorate degree in theology. In 1635, Vincent found the Congregation of the Mission, known as the Vincentians. They devoted themselves to working to aid the poor. He established many hospitals and orphanages, ransomed Christian slaves in northern Africa, founded seminaries, sent priests abroad to preach missions, organized relief programs for war torn areas, and wrote on many spiritual topics.
Vincent came to believe that when you have nothing, the only help you have is God. Vincent devoted his entire life to helping others, trying to alleviate human suffering and misery. The 80 year-old saint died in 1660.
“Strive to live content in the midst of those things that cause you discontent. Free your mind from all that troubles you, God will take care of things.” –Saint Vincent de Paul
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM)
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known by their initials BVM, are a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the United States by Mother Mary Frances Clarke in 1833. To provide for the continuing desire for a religious co-educational high school the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) were the third and last order of religious women of faith to come to Petaluma arriving in 1892.
Since they were able to teach both boys and girls of all ages they began a long and committed ministry in Petaluma. The BVM Sisters of Charity taught at St. Vincent de Paul schools for more than 100 years. Over the years of their stay there were approximately 138 sisters who taught actively in the elementary school and approximately 95 who taught in the high school. Because of the strong influence of these women of faith, 20 young women of our parish have entered and served as members of the BVM order.
BVM Sisters uphold a mission of three basic philosophies of living.
- By living core values of freedom, education, charity, and justice.
- By strong public witness against oppression brought about by unjust political and social structures.
- By solidarity with those marginalized by society, and by speaking in supportive and non-violent action.
“Thank God often. Love Him much in return for all His gifts.” – Sister Mary Frances Clarke, BVM
Vincentian Scholar Award Fund
The Vincentian Scholar Award is awarded to an incoming freshmen who has achieved and maintained a
GPA of 4.0 in all disciplines during his or her 7 th and 8 th grade year and has met all the requirements of
the award. As the patron saint of St. Vincent de Paul High School, St. Vincent de Paul exhibited humility,
faith, kindness, intellect and respect for those less fortunate. His humbleness and devotion to his faith are
qualities we also look for in a Vincentian Scholar.
St. Vincent de Paul High School uses Morgan Stanley as its primary broker for gifts of stock. Any activity with Morgan Stanley should reference the High School’s Account Number:
Account: 105-023649-036
Contact:
Mr. Christopher McCaffrey, Senior Portfolio Manager
Morgan Stanley
700 Main Street, Suite 315
Napa, CA 94558
707-254-4468
CA Insurance License #0B84334
Chris.mccaffrey@morganstanley.com
If requested by your broker:
Morgan Stanley’s DTC number: 0015
The High School’s Legal Name: Saint Vincent de Paul High School
Federal Tax ID Number: 94-2284011
Contact Information: Office of Advancement at (707) 763-1032
Please call in advance if you are planning to give shares in a mutual fund. Special arrangements must be made to insure maximum gift value for the school and the donor.
In-Kind donations or Gifts in Kind are a type of charitable donation in which, instead of giving money to buy needed goods and services, the goods and services themselves are given. In Kind gifts are distinguished from gifts of cash or stock.
