John O'Rourke '62
Red Bank, NJ

“I give to Regis to honor the generosity of the Foundress who made it possible for this son of a working-class immigrant family to absorb the spirit of Regis and enjoy life-long benefits. I give to Regis to honor the faculty members including Frs. William Egan, Steven Duffy, Walter Brown and so many others who had such a positive impact on my life. I give to Regis to honor my classmates, many of whom became my role models and life-long friends.

Most importantly, I give to Regis to help create opportunities for young men (and hopefully women) who, like me, come from families who could not otherwise afford the kind of superior education that Regis provides. I am particularly enthused by the REACH Program and its mission to prepare kids from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to compete on a level playing field for entry to Regis. REACH is a proven success story with another fifteen of its graduates entering Regis this fall. Regis/REACH alumni have proven they belong by succeeding at Regis and moving on to some of the most competitive colleges and universities in our country.

I am particularly proud that at our 50th Reunion celebration, the Class of 1962 endowed a seat at Regis for a REACH graduate. REACH is the heart and soul of Regis, so I hope that my continuing commitment to give to Regis will enable its continuing expansion and success.

Finally, I give to Regis as just one small way of answering that Regis command to be Men for Others."