On February 11, the Lourdes community came together for its inaugural Give OLLA Day, a day rooted in gratitude, stewardship and community. What began as a reimagined tradition became a historic moment for the school, raising $332,591 by 11:59 p.m., far surpassing the original goal of $196,300.
Give OLLA Day was created as Lourdes’ own signature Day of Giving, replacing participation in Give Miami Day. According to Ms. Rossato ’03, director of Advancement, this shift was intentional.
“It’s our day of giving,” Ms. Rossato ’03 said. “This is a campaign that’s strictly focused on the OLLA Fund. Tuition covers the day-to-day. But big projects are handled by the annual fund and this is the single biggest campaign for it.”
The OLLA Fund supports priorities beyond daily operations, including campus improvements and long-term projects guided by OLLA’ five-year strategic plan. Last year, funds helped install new scoreboard monitors in the gym. This year, initiatives include the creation of Alumnae Memorial Walls in the Grotto, improvements to sound systems in the gym and PAs, enhanced security, and other building-related upgrades.
“We are in year one of our five-year strategic plan,” Ms. Rossato ‘03 said. “The strategic plan is what guides how we use the annual fund.” She emphasized that Give OLLA Day is not just about immediate improvements but about sustaining Lourdes for generations to come.
The decision to align the campaign with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was also deeply meaningful. “This date holds importance for all Lourdes girls,” she shared. “Rather than picking some obscure date, we chose this day as a day to give back.” The Feast Day Mass, 1963 Society Breakfast, and multiple Power Hours throughout the day reflected this intentional connection.
The campaign extended beyond February 11 itself. Early giving opened February 7, class challenges were unveiled February 1, and events such as the Alumnae All-Class Service Event and Ernie’s Açaí partnership built momentum. On Give OLLA Day, activities ranged from driveway cafecitos to Power Hours supporting Lourdes Singers, DECA and Athletics.
A highlight of the campaign was the All-Class Service Event on Saturday, February 7th, which marked the official countdown to Give OLLA Day. The event brought together generations of Lourdes girls to pack 63,000 meals in honor of the 63 graduating classes from 1967 through 2029. Students, alumnae, faculty and staff worked together to prepare meals for families in need.
Every meal packed supports local families through nearby food pantries. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters, a long-standing Lourdes tradition, volunteered side by side, including junior Chloe Kawass and her family.
“Getting to serve alongside my mom was truly one of my favorite things because it was more than just showing up for us: it was showing up for all those in need of these meals. It helped further strengthen our bond as mother, class of 1994, and daughter, class of 2027, because we know we helped be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” junior Chloe Kawass said.
Throughout the campaign, challenges encouraged participation. One donor from each of Lourdes’ 63 graduating classes unlocked a $25,000 gift, and reaching 2,000 donors unlocked an additional $10,000. Each current class also worked to raise at least $1,963 and reach 10 percent participation in honor of the school’s founding year.
