Give to West Catholic
West Catholic offers a transformative education, one that helps students grow in mind, heart and soul. The lasting gift of a Catholic education provides a strong foundation for the development of a lifetime devotion to service and learning and is truly one of the greatest legacies we can offer to our students. They are the future and the best investment you can make! Our goal is to provide a Catholic education for all who wish to receive one, regardless of their financial situation. You can be the difference-maker for a student and provide them with a learning experience that will last a lifetime.
Your gift to the Falcon Annual Fund for tuition assistance makes a big impact! The West Catholic Falcon Annual Fund, provides the critical dollars for financial aid to assist approximately 43% of our families. Over the past year, West Catholic has awarded over $1.2 million in tuition assistance. Without the generosity of our amazing benefactors, we would fall short of our mission to “Open Wide the Doors to Christ.” The students and parents at West Catholic High School appreciate your consideration of this worthy cause.
Ways to Give
There are a number of ways to help support West Catholic and its students. Whether your heart is into tuition assistance, planned giving options or supporting our various fundraisers, there are great options for you to help our school to thrive into the future. Donate now into the area you would like to support!
You can make an impact immediately by giving online now with a credit or debit card.
To make a gift with a credit card over the phone, you can call our Development office at (616) 233-5918. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards.
Send cash or a check directly to West Catholic. Please include a note telling us how to direct your gift.
West Catholic High School
Attn: Development
1801 Bristol Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
PLANNED GIVING
A legacy gift, or a gift through your estate, such as a provision for West Catholic in your will or designating West Catholic as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, may offer substantial benefits for you and your loved ones. A legacy gift to West Catholic may:
- Provide attractive tax benefits.
- Create a meaningful legacy by enriching the education of countless young people.
- Create lifetime income.
West Catholic offers many creative ways to structure a gift to West Catholic through bequests, retirement plans, gift annuities, charitable trusts and other charitable gift-planning vehicles, allowing you to advance the mission of West Catholic and care for your loved ones. Our team would be honored to work with you to help create a plan that fulfills your desires and objectives.
By including West Catholic in your will or estate plans, you can help sustain our legacy for generations to come. For more information on Planned Giving, contact our CEO/President, Jill Wierzbicki jillwierzbicki@grwestcatholic.org or (616) 233-5900.
SECURITIES
You can make a gift of stocks, mutual fund shares or other appreciated assets to West Catholic. This is a tax-efficient way to donate. To begin the process of donating securities, please call the Development Department at (616) 233-5918.
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Any gift can be made in honor of a special person, special event or in memory of a decedent. Memorial gifts can be made at any time for any amount. When you donate online, there is a section titled “Tribute Information.” By mail, just include a note or use the memo section on your check.
You can also establish an endowed or non-endowed scholarship to honor someone. Please contact Taylor Holman at (616) 233-5918.
EMPLOYER MATCHED GIFTS
You can maximize your charitable donation to West Catholic through a special program many companies offer—matching gifts. Through matching gift programs, companies will match an employee’s charitable gift, often dollar for dollar. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, contact your company’s HR department.
West Catholic Legacy Funds
There are a number of ways to help support West Catholic and its students. Whether your heart is into tuition assistance, planned giving options or supporting our various fundraisers, there are great options for you to help our school to thrive into the future. Donate now into the area you would like to support!
ENDOWED FUNDS
An endowment is a type of fund that is invested in perpetuity and provides a spend rate that reflects a portion of the fund balance, distributed in the form of annual grants to West Catholic, forever. Through shared faith and endowment management, West Catholic is committed to furthering our school community both now and for generations to come.
As your endowment fund grows, a percentage of the fund’s balance (4%) is given each year to the beneficiary. Once an endowment is established, anyone can make additional contributions to the fund in any dollar amount.
Fund Minimum for Distribution: $25,000
Annual Distribution to Beneficiary: 4% of the fund’s balance based on a three-year rolling average
How to leave your legacy through an endowment:
Determine a Purpose: Is the fund restricted to a specific purpose at the beneficiary organization? For example, a scholarship fund could be created to support those who need financial assistance to attend West Catholic.
Choose a Name: The fund name could include your name or be in memory or in honor of someone.
Start the process of establishing your endowed fund by contacting Jill Wierzbicki at jillwierzbicki@grwestcatholic.org or 616-233-5900.
ST. JOHN PAUL II SOCIETY
The St. John Paul II Society honors those who have made a planned gift (a gift intention that is deferred until the Lord calls them home) in their will or estate plan to West Catholic. Legacy gifts of all sizes combine to help strengthen our mission to form disciples of Christ, ensuring the stability and prosperity of our school community for the next generation.
If you desire to provide for the future well-being of West Catholic through a provision in your estate plan, please contact President/CEO Jill Wierzbicki (jillwierzbicki@grwestcatholic.org or 616-233-5900) to share your future commitment with us!
Annual Events
All A’s Classic
This important annual fundraiser raised money to aid the hundreds of students every year who benefit from tuition assistance, in addition to helping reduce overall tuition costs for all students. Each West Catholic student has a personal goal of $100 with an overall student-body goal of $90,000.
Help our students reach their goal! Links will be available soon to make a contribution to the 2025 All A’s Classic.
Falcon Awards Night
Our 2025 Falcon Awards Night will take place on Wednesday, October 22, at The Gilmore in Comstock Park. That evening, we will honor the following members of our Falcon Community:
- St. John Paul II Award – Sister Colleen Ann Nagle
- Falcon By Choice Award – Charlene Czarnecki
- Alumni Excellence Award – Bill Roth ’79
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Dave Faber
Thank you for attending Falcon Awards Night 2025.
2026 information and awardees to come!
Celebrate West Auction
Friday, April 17, 2026
Join us for our annual Celebrate West Auction. Enjoy the auction, raffles, a delicious meal and much more!
Ticket and sponsorship information will be made available soon.
Contact
Megan Eversman
Project Manager
(616) 233-5969
meganeversman@grwestcatholic.org
Taylor Holman
Development Services Manager
(616) 233-5918
taylorholman@grwestcatholic.org