MY WHY

It takes all kinds of gifts to sustain St. Benedict’s Prep. From annual giving to endowed and planned gifts, donors share their reasons for supporting The Hive. 

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Ensuring Gray Bees Find Their Path 

If you ask Mike Raysor Jr. ’06 his “why” for making a gift every single year to the Annual Fund since 2017, he always responds that while he may not be able to give back the sum total of all St. Benedict’s Prep provided to him, “Whatever I can give back, I do.” The sentiment perfectly captures the impact all levels of giving can have on sustaining The Hive, for it is widespread participation among all alumni classes that provides a collective pool of support for financial assistance, academics, experiential education, activities, sports and so much more. 

For Mr. Raysor, it was the arts and mentorship from Pamela Wye-Hunsinger H’18 that fueled his growth. He learned to draw and paint, worked on Drama Guild productions and even had the opportunity to travel to Germany. A portrait he painted of the male and female leads for a Drama Guild play still hangs in the Art Room today. Now the Director of Paid Media for 1000heads and a talented artist, Mr. Raysor and his wife, Nilanthi Sangarabalan, made a deliberate choice when they married in 2021. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in lieu of wedding gifts, the couple asked friends and family to donate to the non-profits close to the newlyweds’ hearts. No one was surprised when Mr. Raysor asked guests to give to St. Benedict’s. 

Although the arts were a fundamental part of his journey at The Hive, “I saw people excel through so many avenues,” he explained. Hence, the alumnus trusts that his recurring gift, which is made on a monthly basis, will be allocated to where it is most needed. Giving back is about providing today’s Gray Bees with immense opportunities, so that they too, can find their own path. 

 

Mike Raysor, Jr. ’06 has been a monthly donor to The Hive since 2017. When he married in 2021, he asked wedding guests to donate to St. Benedict’s Prep in lieu of a gift. 

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Keeping the Benedictine Monks and Mission in Newark 

Lasting stability for Newark Abbey and St. Benedict’s Prep is a big priority for R. Peter Connell ’64 and Laura Connell. The couple were greatly influenced by Downtown Monks: Sketches of God in the City, a book authored by Fr. Albert Holtz, O.S.B. ’60 in 2000. The Connells, both retired attorneys, supported The Hive consistently over the years, but the book helped them understand why the monks remained in Newark and the importance of accompanying kids who live in the community. 

Investing in the endowment was a great way to keep the monks and mission in the city. In 2017, they established the Connell Family Endowed Scholarship. Funding the scholarship with required minimum distributions from their IRAs also provided tax advantages. Mr. Connell liked the idea that the scholarship could impact one Gray Bee at a time in perpetuity. “I always considered St. Benedict’s the most important part of my education,” he said. 

Mrs. Connell is just as committed to St. Benedict’s. “The student-led leadership model just blows me away,” she stated. “It’s an education that considers the entire student.” She is also impressed by the devotion of Fr. Al, Fr. Edwin Leahy, O.S.B. ’63 and Fr. Philip Waters, O.S.B. ’63 to St. Benedict’s and the Class of 64’s support in helping their fellow Gray Bees sustain their vocation and mission.  

At the Senior Alumni Luncheon in June, the Connells met Joshua Johnson ’24, the current recipient of the endowed family scholarship, and other student-leaders. “Having a way to connect face-to-face was really encouraging,” said Mr. Connell. His wife agreed. “When you meet confident and accomplished young men and women, it’s not a hypothetical,” she noted. “The mission bears amazing fruit.” 

 

Peter Connell ’64 and Laura Connell with Joshua Johnson ’24, recipient of the Connell Family Endowed Scholarship.

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Family Values

Family values is a big reason why Robert J. Bercik, M.D. ’71 established the Bercik Family Scholarship in 2018 with a generous gift to St. Benedict’s Prep. Dr. Bercik and his three brothers attended The Hive (Steven Jr. ’62, who passed away in 2010 and is a member of the Benedict’s Hall of Fame, Michael ’68 and Kevin, who would have graduated in 1973 had the School not closed,) and his four sisters graduated from Benedictine Academy. Their father, Steven J. Bercik, J.D., a civic leader who served as mayor of Elizabeth and judge for the Superior Court of Union County, along with his wife, Catherine, instilled the importance of education in the family. 

“My dad and mom saw education as a way for people to better themselves, better society and better the world,” said Dr. Bercik. His own Benedict’s experience mirrored those ideals in that “The School showed you the right way to approach life and how to be a positive influence. No one was an island. You had a responsibility to those around you.” 

The ethos that Judge and Mrs. Bercik prioritized for their children was realized — and then some. Dr. Bercik wanted to help young men and women, who might not have the opportunity or financial means, attend St. Benedict’s Prep. To date, three Gray Bees have benefited from the scholarship, which will continue to grow thanks to a gift Dr. Bercik has left in his estate. Preference is given to students from Elizabeth, N.J. There is an assortment of gift-planning vehicles that can be customized to help donors reduce tax liabilities while making a sizable investment in the future of students and The Hive. 

Guitze Rodriguez ’23 is a recent Bercik Family Scholarship recipient. He is currently attending Bowdoin College as a QuestBridge Scholar, one of the most competitive scholarship programs in the country. During his time at St. Benedict’s, Guitze played water polo and baseball, was opinion editor of The Benedict News and served as Transfer Leader. For Dr. Bercik, the trajectory of Guitze and other scholarship recipients is exactly as he hoped. “St. Benedict’s is still doing the same job,” he said, “producing great people.”  

The Bercik family are proud Benedictine Academy and St. Benedict’s Prep graduates. (L to R): Michael ’68, Mary Ellen ’70, Kevin ’73, Robert ’71, Ann Marie ’64, Richard (Regis ’75), Jean Marie ’79 and Patricia ’65. 

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