St. Catharine Academy kicked off its Together Unstoppable Capital Campaign to raise funds to construct a state-of-the-art Athletics and Wellness Facility, which will be built near the Academy’s Rose Garden on March 16.
“I loved my time here. I have often said they were the best years of my life,” Judith Puchalski ‘75 told the more than 40 guests as she explained why she made the $3 million challenge gift. “I knew immediately that I wanted to solve a problem for the school. A gymnasium that was a decent size for 50 years ago in the Bronx, but now needed refurbishing or replacement.”
Ms. Puchalski invited a seventh grade student to join her at the podium saying they would be able to watch the project come to fruition together. She then challenged the audience, “How can you help? You can make a donation, host an event or reach out to people you know who have a connection to the school or who understand the value of a solid private Catholic education.”
The new facility has the potential to further transform SCA’s young women and the community in mind, body and spirit. A recent study published on the countyhealthrankings website shows that the Bronx ranks at the bottom of the counties in New York State for health. St. Catharine’s plans to share its new facility with the local community for outreach programs, community engagement and more.
The vision is that the facility will:
1. Support all Catharinites’ health and wellness and athlete development, with regulation-size courts and the capacity to host tournaments
2. Expand school and community participation with capacity for new and current programs
3. Increase safety and comfort for athletes and spectators
4. Bolster sustainable growth through new income streams and accelerating enrollment.
A basketball player all four years at SCA, Ms. Puchalski also played basketball at Fordham University while studying accounting and finance.
“Since I was at SCA, the importance of having a varied wellness lifestyle to support both physical and mental well being has become increasingly critical. The new center will assist in bringing current and future students to a greater understanding of the importance of total wellness.”
Ms. Puchalski concluded her remarks with a favorite motto: “ ‘Miracles Happen to Those Who Believe.’ I hope you will all join me in believing and bringing this miracle to its successful conclusion.”