Immaculate Heart of Mary School

Why #WeGiveCatholic?

Thank you for choosing Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School to educate your child(ren). It is our privilege to walk with your family in faith and learning, watching our students grow into faith-filled, lifelong learners who joyfully serve others. Together, we share a mission: to form hearts and minds rooted in Christ and to continue IHM’s strong tradition of academic and spiritual excellence for generations to come. 

Although the new EdChoice Scholarship program has created a wonderful opportunity to reinvest in our school – through a more competitive salary scale for our teachers, expanding the tutoring and counseling services, continuing the music, arts and elective programs, and the addition of a new campus Director of Catholic Identity - it does not cover everything to run our thriving Catholic school. 

Four years ago, parents were charged over $5,000 per child, yet we still struggled to pay our teachers a just and competitive wage. Today, the actual cost to educating one child at IHM is approximately $8,500, however our tuition remains around $7,000, and most families pay significantly less thanks to many scholarship programs. IHM must raise additional funds to keep tuition low and sustain the high-quality education and faith formation we all value.

We rely on the following key fundraising opportunities each year:

• #WeGiveCatholic in November/December

• The IHM 5k Marathon & Fun Run in May. 

• The Angel Scholarship Fund, which allows families and individuals to redirect their Ohio state taxes to benefit IHM students directly, at no additional cost (ongoing).

• Fr. McIntyre Tuition Assistance fund (ongoing).

These fundraisers are vital to our operations. On average, $25,000–$50,000 must be raised each year to maintain our programs, support our teachers, and continue offering the Catholic education our students deserve. 

We know it can be confusing when so many fundraisers appear throughout the year—such as the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. trip, Student Council’s service projects, fundraisers to reduce the cost of local field trips, or the PAG Boosterthon! While these events are wonderful and support specific purposes, they do not contribute to the school’s operational needs or reduce tuition. For example, the recent Boosterthon raised nearly $27,000 - an incredible success! But those funds are dedicated to the Parents Assistance Group (PAG), which provides student activities, privileges and opportunities that make IHM such a special place. 

That is why #WeGiveCatholic, on Tuesday December 2nd, is so important. Every dollar you give during this campaign goes directly to sustaining and strengthening IHM School. #WeGiveCatholic gives the financial help to support our teachers, improve our classrooms, and ensure that Catholic education remains accessible and excellent for every family.

While #WeGiveCatholic is important, three other fundraising opportunities throughout the year are also necessary. The Angel Scholarship Fund supports the school by redirecting your Ohio State tax. We also hope you participate in the 5k Marathon and Fun Run on May 9th, 2026. Lastly, any donation given to our Fr. McIntyre tuition assistance fund also helps families in need and keeps IHM going strong.

We completely understand that “donor fatigue” is real. It can feel like there is always another request for support. Please know that each giving opportunity plays a unique and vital role in maintaining the IHM experience we treasure. Your generosity through prayer, volunteer time, or financial gifts directly impacts the daily life of every student and staff member.

We hope this letter helps to clarify where your gifts go for each of these fundraising efforts and why they matter so deeply. Together, we can continue to strengthen the foundation of IHM School so that our children and future generations may continue to learn, serve, and grow in faith.

Many blessings,

Rev. James E. Singler, Pastor
Bibiana Seislove, Principal
Jeff Andrea, Business Manager