OLMA Vision 2025 & Beyond

Our Lady of Mercy Academy announced the public launch of a capital campaign that will support and strengthen the school’s commitment to young women’s education. 

Our Lady of Mercy Academy is poised to achieve the largest known philanthropic investment ever for the school. A generous $100,000 has already been committed by Dana Kazan Catalana ‘78 and Carmine Catalana ‘76 St. Augustine Prep graduate as well as an incredible $1 million from Rose Marie Davis, for a total of $1.1 million.

Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a trailblazer in the empowerment and education of young women, and this historic campaign seeks to honor and extend this legacy. Since 1962, the school has set out on a mission to provide its students with an unrivaled education and infinite opportunity. This pursuit gave rise to Vision 2025 & Beyond. The campaign, guided by the school’s strategic plan, will allow Our Lady of Mercy Academy to strengthen its commitment to academic excellence, ensure access for all deserving young women, attract and retain a talented and diverse faculty, preserve its historic campus, and elevate facilities to meet the needs of a dynamic and creative student body.

“Together, we are building a new legacy that evokes our commitment to OLMA’s core values of Wisdom, Unity, Mercy, and Courage,” said Head of School Brooke Coyle. “Vision 2025 & Beyond will extend the bold vision of our founders, the Daughters of Mercy. Sixty years later, here we are again - continuing the legacy established many years ago. And today, I believe we are ready to begin a new, important chapter of OLMA’s story.”

The campaign was ignited by an alumnae, Dana Kazan Catalana ‘78 and Carmine Catalana ‘76 St. Augustine Preparatory School graduate, with a $100,000 lead gift to start the transformation of a space which was, just months ago, an unused pool in an unused room. Dana and Carmine believe in the importance of developing strong female leaders and providing intentional and meaningful opportunities for those female leaders to grow in skills and experience.

Rose Marie Davis also came forward with an incredible gift of $1,000,000 to further push our vision forward. Her gift -  in honor of Dana and Carmine Catalana - will allow Our Lady of Mercy Academy to complete the pool area into a space that is inspiring for our future female leaders. Her gift will also ensure tuition assistance availability for several students each year. The combined $1.1 million gift from these generous benefactors will be used to kick off our campaign, Vision 2025 and Beyond. 

“We are humbled by this act of generosity,” adds Head of School Coyle. “I had the honor of getting to personally know Dana and Carmine throughout my years at St. Augustine and even more so during my seven years as Head of School here at OLMA. I recently have gotten to spend time with Rose and I am truly moved by their faith, perspective, and love for Catholic education for young men and women.”

Vision 2025 & Beyond will be guided through a campaign cabinet composed of board members, alumnae, parents, faculty representatives, and current staff. This committee will be co-chaired by Dana and Carmine Catalana.

“I know we are beginning an unprecedented journey that will shape Our Lady of Academy for generations,” reflects Dana Catalana ‘78. “I, along with Carmine, are honored to be entrusted with the leadership of this effort and to have another opportunity to partner with so many OLMA families and our incredible alumnae to shape the future for OLMA students.”

The campaign announcement was made today during a special celebration and thank you Mass, held in honor of Rose, Dana, and Carmine. Cemented in the vision created by the school’s strategic plan adopted in 2022 and fueled by the Catalana and Davis gifts, Vision 2025 & Beyond has several key funding priorities: completing a Leadership-focused center, modernizing our science labs and art room, installing a turf athletic field, increasing opportunities for tuition assistance, and so much more.