Chaminade High School Appoints Katie Hess as Director of Development

Chaminade High School Appoints Katie Hess as Director of Development

Chaminade High School announces the appointment of Katie Hess as its new director of development, following a rigorous and competitive search process that attracted over 100 highly qualified applicants. With extensive experience in philanthropy, campaign management, and donor engagement, Mrs. Hess is poised to be a vital addition to Chaminade’s leadership team.

Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. ’81, president of Chaminade High School, welcomed Mrs. Hess to the Chaminade Family,  “We are thrilled to have Katie join us at such a pivotal moment in Chaminade’s history. Her fundraising expertise and experience give me great confidence in her ability to carry the philanthropic torch forward as we continue to expand our capacity to provide students with the very best Catholic, Marianist education. Philanthropy plays an essential role each year in closing the gap between tuition and expenses, ensuring we can sustain and enhance our transformative educational experience.

"I also want to take this opportunity to thank Chris Hanley ’80 for his exceptional leadership over the past decade. Chris has elevated our fundraising efforts to new heights, and we are deeply grateful for his enduring contributions.” Chris will now focus on leading the Alumni Association.

Katie Hess brings a distinguished track record of success to Chaminade, including leading multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, securing major gifts, and fostering strong, lasting relationships with donors and stakeholders. Her extensive experience in well-established development offices within the nonprofit sector will be instrumental as she builds on the success of the Torch Fund, Chaminade’s annual fundraising initiative.
 


Brian Crimmins ’95, chief operating officer of Chaminade High School, expressed his gratitude to those involved in the selection process, “I want to thank the members of our internal search committee for their dedication to this rigorous process. Their commitment ensured we found the best candidate to lead Chaminade’s development efforts. I look forward to partnering with Katie as we continue to strengthen our mission and provide unparalleled opportunities for our students.”

Mrs. Hess shared her enthusiasm about joining Chaminade, “As someone with many Chaminade alumni in my family, I have seen firsthand the profound impact of a Chaminade education in shaping young men of faith, character, and leadership. It is an honor to join this exceptional community and contribute to its mission. I am excited to work with Chaminade’s dedicated team and generous supporters to ensure every student can access the transformative opportunities that define a Chaminade education.”

As director of development, she will oversee all aspects of Chaminade’s fundraising efforts, including the Torch Fund, a cornerstone of the school’s financial model that is critical in sustaining its mission and operations.

For more information, editorial matters, and media relations, please contact:

Guy LaCognata
Director of Communications
glacognata@chaminade-hs.org

To contact Mrs. Hess directly, you may email her at khess@chaminade-hs.org.

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