Sep 29, 2021

The St. Sebastian Parish Foundation hosted a 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 16, 2021 at Monsignor Zwisler Hall on the parish campus. Over 70 parishioners, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate, including most of the Foundation’s current board members. The St. Sebastian Parish Foundation was started in 1971 with a mission to provide financial support to the parish, including both the church and the school. Since 1971, the Foundation has provided over $11 million in support to the parish. 

The first fund established at the Foundation was the Unrestricted Fund, which to this day provides essential funding for the areas of greatest need in the parish. Today, the Foundation also oversees more than 70 named funds and endowments that provide ongoing support for everything from school scholarships to faith formation activities.

The Foundation has also funded many capital improvement projects over the years, including major projects such as the renovation of the former convent into the Beringer Center for Early Learning for preschool and kindergarten classes, the construction of the Victor Buehrle, Jr. Science Laboratory, the complete renovation of Zwisler Hall, the reconstruction of the brick parking, the overhaul of the church organ, the construction of the Helen Barry Hamlin Library, and the $1 million Cornerstone of Our Faith church restoration project.

Pictured above, the 2021 St. Sebastian Parish Foundation Board of Trustees: [back row] Tim Beringer, Steve Wilt, Ken Contrera (treasurer), Pastor Fr. John Valencheck (secretary), Tim DelMedico, Patrick O’Neill, [front] Sophia Veillette, Lois Gerstenmaier, Brenda Pier Beck (president), and Heidi Heinle. Not pictured: Amanda Leffler.