Are You a Philanthropist?

"A philanthropist transforms the social wellbeing of others through generosity." - McCabe Callahan

Finding the philanthropists who want to transform the social wellbeing of our students in the Jubilee Schools is our goal.  These are the folks who are going to make the difference needed to change lives by providing our students with the opportunity for hope and success.

The current development team for the Jubilee Schools has been in place for less than eleven months. We are searching our way through the development process and in many cases starting from scratch. We have experienced many successes and I want to focus on one of these successes.

We, as a development team, were asked by the Jubilee Schools board of directors to meet several objectives with one major objective being to increase the number of new philanthropists to the Jubilee Schools. They gave us no specific number mainly because there was no real data to go by in setting a number.

We began the process by first cleaning up the database. If a person in our database never contributed to the schools or participated in any activities, they were removed from the database. We then worked to update contact information for the folks in our database to make sure they would be receiving communications from the Jubilee Schools office.

This was a long and tedious process that removed about 2/3 of the names from our database. We want philanthropists and volunteers in our database who are engaged in our mission and not a bunch of names of important people who aren't a part of our Jubilee School mission.

The next task was to set a goal for the number of new philanthropists to the Jubilee Schools. We still didn't have a formula to use so we set an arbitrary goal of bringing in 500 new philanthropists. We had no idea if this was achievable so we set a plan to get this done. We have to have a plan in order to achieve a goal.

The most important part of actually doing development work is to create engagement. To create engagement, we developed first time events and organizations such as the Wings of Jubilee, Tails of Jubilee, Blue Streak 1,000 Club, and Memphis Catholic Alumni Association. We asked the Memphis Catholic Hall of Fame to become more involved with the school. Blue Streak created CatholicTree.org to help the Jubilee Schools raise funds for non-budgeted items such as SMARTBoards, iPad charging carts, and even a new flag pole for Memphis Catholic. This week we will have our first ever End of the Year Bash at Neil's Music Room.

We also created the Jubilee Employee 10x10 Challenge to encourage new philanthropists to join our efforts. In the 10x10 challenge, we asked all Jubilee School employees to donate a minimum of $10 and/or pray one decade of the Rosary (10 Holy Marys) for the schools and ask 10 other people to do the same.

Between the Jubilee Schools and Blue Streak, we are currently at 450 new philanthropists on our way to hopefully reaching our goal of 500.

Part of the plan is not for a one time donation but for our philanthropists to become recurring donors. If we receive one time donations, that is nice but it doesn't transform the social wellbeing of our students. The idea of transformation takes place over time and with a lot of dedication. It doesn't happen overnight. We need the philanthropists to join and help lead our team. These folks are leaders and we need their commitment and ability to make a positive difference.

We are creating engagement so we can bring people on board to support our mission. From there the transformation can take place.

We could sure use your help in transforming the social wellbeing of our students. If you are interested in being a part of the transformation, please feel free to contact me. There are many ways you can help. Let your philanthropic heart and desire to transform the social wellbeing of the Jubilee students lead you to be the change you want to see in the world.

God bless you,

Didier Aur

Record Year for Blue Streak!

Blue Streak donations to the Jubilee Schools:

2004- $21,550
2005- $72,414
2006- $120,000

Students at De La Salle

2007- $190,406
2008- $120,000
2009- $63,698
2010- $100,000
2011- $100,000
2012- $110,000
2013- $220,000
2014- $0
2015- $177,000
2016- $184,280
2017- $292,733.89 & counting!
Total- $1,771,675.89

Our Blue Streak adventure has been a pretty incredible journey since the first check presentation to the Jubilee Schools back in 2004. I remember Tom Dorian and I having our heads shaved as a fundraiser thanks to Kevin and Pam Callahan. What I discovered from this and other experiences is the passion behind the work of Blue Streak.

Students at Our Lady of Sorrows

Since that inaugural year, Blue Streak has donated over $1.7 million to the Jubilee Schools. This year, our goal has been $250,000, which would set a record and beat our 2013 donation of $220,000. With that being said, we not only reached our goal, but are now less than $8,000 from reaching $300,000 for the year!

At this stage of the school year, ideas are like the Gobi, energy is at brown-out level, with no recess time in sight. Nevertheless, being rapacious for the Jubilee Schools, my mind is fixated on $300,000.

The pinnacle is before us. Can we ascend to the summit (Not sure why I'm using mountain climbing metaphors)? We have two weeks left in this fiscal year, which ends on June 30th. It is going to be tough because we do not have any events planned and people are getting tired of hearing from me. I know this because my phone ain't ringin' and my inbox ain't dingin'. Outgoing communication is an echo and responses scant. But, I ain't givin' up!

Students at St. John

Hence, I'm using this blog to reach out to my fellow Blue Streakers in soliciting support to finish the year by accomplishing the outlandish; raising $300,000 for the Jubilee School! This would be an incredible achievement considering we first believed $250,000 would be unreachable. Because of the mind, heart, body, and soul of Blue Streakers involved in helping those most in need, obtaining $300,000 is now in my mind doubtless. The passion of the Blue Streakers for the Jubilee Schools is awe-inspiring.

So, this is just a simple ask, plea, request from me in the name of every Jubilee School student to the several hundred people out there who support Blue Streak. This is our last chance to make a difference for the 2016-17 school year.

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Silence won't help. Action will. Not sure what else I can do. So, I'm reaching out for help. What can you do? Spread the word and bring others onboard. The finish line is near. Time to sprint.

"Let your light so shine before all that they may see your good works." - Matthew 5:16

If you are able to help, please click on the Blue Streak logo below to donate. 

Thank you to all who have helped make a positive difference in the lives of Jubilee students and their families as well as enabling Blue Streak to achieve a record breaking year!

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Measuring Success: Class of 2017

"Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

This post is dedicated to the Memphis Catholic Class of 2017 and the faculty and staff members I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with over the past two years. (#1 below is a list of successes achieved by the Class of '17)

Memphis Catholic Class of 2017

Henry Ford said that, "Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Success is no accident and there is no secret to success. Success happens when you put your mind, heart, body, and soul into your actions no matter how great or small. It is the result of preparation and hard work. And, success isn't achieved in a vacuum. It takes teamwork.

Administrators, teachers, and staff members work together at Memphis Catholic to educate the nearly 270 students in grades 7-12. These educators have earned a combined 44 degrees from 18 different colleges/universities with 13 educators having earned a master's degree or higher. 13 of these degrees have been earned at the University of Memphis and 10 from Notre Dame. (#2 below is a list of colleges/universities the members of the Class of '17 will be attending)

The reason for the previous paragraph to say these educators came together from everywhere to teach at Memphis Catholic. "Coming together is the beginning."

Principal Kevin Kimberly is one fantastic leader. Is he a taskmaster? Does he expect excellence from his staff and students? Is he intelligent? Is he a no excuse and no nonsense person? Is Memphis Catholic better because he is the leader? Does he love his team and students? And, does all this pave the way to student success? The answer to all these questions is resounding YES! He holds the parents to the same standards as the students and his staff. No one gets a free-pass with Mr. Kimberly. You earn everything you get. He is the leader of the school and he leads from the front. He makes sure that everyone and everything stays together and moves forward. "Keeping together is progress."

Working together is the culture that has been created at Memphis Catholic. Our high schoolers learn to work together through the Education that Works (ETW) program. Even though we are not a Cristo Rey school, we follow their model in that all our high schoolers have an internship. After four years of high school at Memphis Catholic, our graduates will have had four-years of internships (#3 below is a list of all the ETW sponsors). Our students work in some of the top businesses in Memphis. They learn the importance of working as a team. And, they learn at a young age what it takes to succeed in the business world. They work with highly educated and motivated mentors. They know it takes hard work and teamwork to succeed and they aren't afraid of success. "Working together is success."

Is there one reason more than any other the students of Memphis Catholic are succeeding? Yes, there is one reason and it is that the school is Catholic! We are a school of faith. We educate our students because we are Catholic/Christians! We believe God loves us and our schools are here for a reason. We believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins.

Jesus said in order to inherit eternal life, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27) This is what we do in mind, body, heart, and soul.

Our community is very diverse with students coming from 35 zip codes in the Memphis metropolitan area and 9 different countries. The majority of our students are African-American (58%) with 26% Hispanic/Latino, 7% Caucasian, 5% African, 4% multi-racial, and 1% Asian. Many of our families are either one-parent families or encounter significant financial hardship, or both, but the goal of this school is to provide a Catholic education for students who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it.

The successes achieved by the  Class of 2017 are outstanding and it mirrors the successes of the Class of 2016. The culture has been created and the wheels are in motion to ensure continued success.

Thank you to everyone who plays a part in helping our students succeed from donors to the faculty and staff to the parents to the students to the volunteers to those who pray for us. Thank you.

1. Statistics from the Class of 2017:
35 Seniors
100% graduation rate
100% 4-year college acceptance rate
100% college attendance rate
67 unique colleges
$3.54 million in scholarships
19 Tennessee Hope Scholarships recipients
28 Attended Memphis Catholic H.S. all 4-years
7 attended Memphis Catholic for 6-years
13 National Honor Society members

2. Colleges attending:
10- University of Memphis
4- Southwest Tennessee College
3- Christian Brothers University
3- Philander Smith College
2- Mississippi Valley State University
2- University of Mississippi
1- Austin Peay State University
1- Carson-Newman University
1- Cumberland University
1- Fisher College
1- Freed-Hardeman University
1- Kentucky Christian University
1- Lane College
1- Maryville University
1- Spalding University
1- University of Oklahoma
1- Voorhees College

#3. Education That Works Sponsors
A to Z Construction Services
Adams Keegan
ALSAC
American Residential Services
AutoZone
Baptist Memorial Health Care
Cargill Cotton
Cloverleaf Animal Hospital
FedEx Express
Gerber Taylor
Greystone Servicing Corporation
Interactive Solutions
Kroger
Landmark Community Bank
Le Bonheur
MLG&W
Monogram Foods
nexAir
Pediatric Dental Group
ReTrans
Rhodes College
Southern Eye Associates
St. Paul Gift Store
RGT Management
Southeastern Asset Management
The Day Foundation
Thomas & Betts
Wharton Charitable Trust
Plus 10 Family and Individual Sponsorships

If you would like to join our list of sponsors for Education That Works, please contact me. You will be helping to make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Build a Cross and Spread the Faith

I am constantly on the lookout for new, fresh, and innovative ideas to improve our schools. Every chance I get, I visit schools to see what good things are happening and figure out how I can take those good things and apply them.

Last year while visiting my daughter in San Antonio, I stopped by St. Pius X Catholic School to look at their facilities. In the middle of their courtyard, they have a seven foot tall cross made of tiles and each tile was created by one of their students. Like that State Farm commercial where the lady said, "I saw it and I was just like I have to have it."  I saw the cross and I was just like I have to have it!

St. Pius X in San Antonio

I took several pictures of the cross and texted them right away to Carrie Sealey.  Carrie is a teacher at Memphis Catholic.  She is very artistic and highly creative.  I knew she could organize the students and staff to design the tiles.

I'm that guy who comes up with all these ideas but need lots of people to help to make the ideas come to fruition. Well, Carrie took the idea and ran with it.  She recruited her father, Cary Mills, to build the cross and Cary recruited Billy Truemann, a Memphis Catholic graduate, to help him. McKenzie and Pair Glass Company donated the aluminum for the frame of the cross and Paint a Piece donated everything else needed for the construction of the cross including the tiles.

Memphis Catholic Students Creating the Tiles

The cross consists of 276 tiles painted by the students and staff.  Once the tiles were painted, they were fired at Paint a Piece. The tiles were painted as part of a Catholic Schools Week activity. The
students and staff were asked to paint what the mission of Memphis Catholic means to them and how they plan to carry out that mission.

Fr. Kirk Blessing the Cross

Even though the conception of the idea occurred last year, the actual work began in February with the painting of the tiles and ended in May when Fr. Thomas Kirk blessed the cross during a Mass at the Memphis Catholic outdoor chapel. It has taken great teamwork to accomplish this project and now the community garden is almost complete.

The picnic tables  and benches of the outdoor chapel were stained by the seniors as their legacy project from the Class of 2017.  The seniors donated money for the project and the Midtown Home Depot and Behr Paints made a very generous donation to this project.

The outdoor chapel has been completely rebuilt. An altar, ambo, and credence table were added as well. A ninth grade initiative, led by teachers Rebecca Rosa and Tim Hankins, raised the money to add these to the outdoor chapel. Derrol Jowell, the super-talented maintenance man, built everything from scratch.

Memphis Catholic Cross

After all work was completed, we decided that two more items are needed to really make the project complete.  We need to add electrical power next to the altar and cross by running lines underground to these two areas. When a large number of people are present, we set up our sound system so everyone can hear the Mass. It would be a lot easier if we didn't have to run extension cords every time we have Mass.

And, we would like to add lights to the cross so that it is visible 24/7 by everyone visiting the school and/or driving down McLean. It would be a great way of making Christ visible to all. You never know when you will touch a heart. Kind of hard to touch a heart in the dark.

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5

Cary & Patsy Mills

We want you to join us. It is never too late to be a part of this project. It is a great way of evangelizing our faith. A couple of hundred people have come together to make this happen. This is my invitation to you to join our team. Please click on Catholic Tree to donate to Light Up The Cross! and accept my invitation. All are welcomed!

"Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Catholic Tree: A Crowdfunding Website for Catholic School Educators!

You can now help fund classroom and school projects for Catholic Schools. Through a Blue Streak Scholarship Fund initiative, we have developed a crowdfunding website for Catholic School educators.

Often, educators use their own money for classroom supplies, special projects, book purchases, extra-curricular activities for the students, etc. Most times, educators don't mind spending our own money because we want what's best for our students. Sometimes, we just don't have the funds to pay for special projects, materials, so forth and so on. Many times, especially in Catholic Schools, there is no extra money in the budget to help fund these special projects.

Catholic School educators now have a source they can turn to for funding support: Catholic Tree.

Public school educators have Donors Choose to help them and that is fantastic. Donors Choose is for public school educators only so Catholic School educators need not apply. That's fine and we support their efforts because in the end, it is about the students no matter where they go to school.

The focus of Catholic Tree is to support Catholic Schools and those who choose to work in them. If a need arises for a Catholic School educator, they now have Catholic Tree they can turn to to request funding.

There are also many donors out there who want to support Catholic School education. Catholic Tree will hopefully simplify their search on how they can possibly fund a need. They can support according to project, teacher, school, and/or location.

Our plan is to reach out to all Catholic School educators to offer our support. Site registration and project posting are free. Once an educator registers, we verify the registration.  After the registration is accepted, we will verify the project to make sure it is a legitimate request and supported by that particular school's administrator. When a project is fully funded, Blue Streak Scholarship Fund will send the funds to the school in support of their request.

We have been up and running for about four days and the first project has already been fully funded and Blue Streak has delivered a check to the Jubilee Schools for Resurrection Catholic School to purchase two iPad charging stations.

If you know a Catholic School educator, share this blog with them. We can team up and help support their school and students. We hope to use Catholic Tree to fund most every project, which would save all our Catholic Schools a lot of money to better serve students. It is another way of funding the schools.

God bless you,
Didier Aur

We Can Make a Difference! Blue Streak 1,000 Club!

I read a report today by the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) that stated "68 percent of the population of Memphis lives in economic distress."  EIG arrived at this number by blending government data on educational attainment, housing vacancy rates, unemployment rates, poverty levels, median income levels, changes in employment, and the percentage of businesses opening and closing within certain zip codes.  Memphis ranked second of the list of most distressed large city, between Detroit (94 percent) and Milwaukee (55 percent).

With that in mind, I believe it is time to have another 1,000 Club membership push.  We all know people who are looking for a great opportunity to help the children of Memphis.  There is probably no better way of helping the children especially those living in "economic distress" than to give them hope for a better tomorrow.  The way to do this is by giving them the academic and spiritual education they need to succeed.

Pele', the world's greatest soccer player, once said, "Success is no accident.  It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."  As we all know, this is what is taking place in the Jubilee Schools; the students are working hard, studying, learning, and persevering.  This leads to success and brings our students out of "economic distress."

Blue Streak was created to help the Jubilee Schools give the children and their families hope.   In order to continue to serve the Jubilee Schools, we need Blue Streak members who are active members and we need to continue to grow in membership.  With the creation of the 1,000 Club, we want members who year in and year out actively participate in making sure our children have hope for a better future.

If you would like to make a difference and become a member of the Blue Streak 1,000 Club, please contact me and I can answer any question(s) you may have.  If you are already a 1,000 Club member, please invite a friend to join up.  Also, check out the Blue Streak website at http://bluestreakmemphis.net/ for more information about our organization.

We are currently 140 members strong in just six months.  The 1,000 Club has pledged over $86K for 2017.  We are on the right path and it is necessary for us to continue to grow so that our good work can positively impact more children.

Let's work together to eliminate the 68 percent economic distress.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

God bless you,
Didier Aur

Brooks Schollmeyer, Helias Class of 2012

Brooks Schollmeyer is a Helias graduate from the Class of 2012.  His first mission trip was to Memphis as a chaperon.  He hopes to become a Heart's Home missionary and has even traveled to their U.S. headquarters in Brooklyn for a Come and See Weekend.  This blog is about his mission to Memphis.

Brooks Schollmeyer, Class of 2012

Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

            That decent anxious feeling was running through me as I sat on the bus headed to Memphis on November 28^th.  Being my first mission trip, as well as being a chaperone, all that I was capable of doing was begging to God to send his wisdom into my thoughts, actions, and words, due to my lack of experience.

            Arriving in Memphis, we ate at an Italian restaurant called Coletta’s.  Ian Thompson who was also a chaperone, sat at my table while we ate.  I was very blessed to have had a conversation with him as he encouraged me in the right direction starting the week off, along with being much help with any advice I needed throughout the trip.

            I came to realize very quickly that his Helias group was selfless towards one another, unloading bags and equipment into the gymnasium, and lending a hand until everyone was situated.

Holy Names Catholic School

When my group and I first arrived at Holy Names Thursday morning, certainly the environment was consisted of heavy poverty.  As we were walking towards the school, Mr. Aur pointed to a couple of houses nearby saying, “That one used to be a crack house, and this one two young boys were shot to death in.”  Keeping this in mind I walked into the school.  Two of my students helped sixth grade math, the other two went to seventh grade English, as I went back and forth between the two.  I must say we didn’t have as many activities to engage/help the students as hoped for, but this didn’t take away the amount of love we received and gave.  They quickly invited us into their discussions and made us feel right at home.  Each one of the students in English class introduced themselves by saying what their hobbies were and what they wanted to be when they grew up.  During their responses, I was hearing their heart cry out.  With hope, they were determined to live a better life than what their parents have chosen and to make them proud.  From wanting to be a doctor, artist, engineer, etc.  They were joyfully thankful to be in school to receive an education, thus they could pursue their dreams.  The teachers were on a mission to give them all they offered.  With infinite love, they were genuine and heart driven to help these kids enjoy school and succeed.  As I walked in for lunch, they all screamed at me to hurry over and sit with them!  They were so excited to be in my presence along with their friends, just giving and receiving love.

Brooks & his team at Holy Names

            Looking up at this big cross in the school with no arms, Mr. Aur tells us about history and the meaning behind it.  “We are the arms of God in this world.”  We are all here to help each other grow with God’s love.

            On Friday, my group and I went to a school named New Hope.  I helped organize school work with Liz Myers.  At first, I thought I wasn’t doing too much help.  She specified to me, “Being with the kids is great because you really sense the good you are doing, but they are grateful for everything you do for them.”  Which made me realize helping in any sort of way is of equal cause.

            The St. Jude Marathon was truly a memorable experience.  Each person was running for their own cause.  In the minds of many, “Let’s punch cancer in the face!”  Many were nowhere near in shape for this journey.  Out of straight willpower, they pushed themselves.  How grateful they were of our action in this event by just handing out water, cheering them on.  This kept me baffled for quite some time as they were my idol.

            This mission trip bears immeasurable fruits that I know I’ll never fully understand.  I have experienced the need of fellowship.  Rich or poor, whichever way life has taken you.  We all long for love by one another and without it, loneliness will take over which will rob us of the true beauty in life.  It is through one another that we see the face of Christ.

            As everyone knows who has been on a mission trip before, it’s a life changing experience.  I do believe, however, it is after your experience that you must take the gifts God has given to you and use it in your everyday life; otherwise you lose the value of it.  My mission simply doesn’t end here.  Jesus invites me to take up my cross daily.  Every day I must die to myself and live for Christ, which is challenging but well worth it.  I encourage others to do the same.  Luke 9:24 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it.”

Memphis 2012 Chaperons

            I decided to go on this mission trip because I feel a heavy calling by God to pursue one, called Hearts Home, that Mr. Aur’s son and daughter have chosen to become a part of.  If this is what the Lord has down his path for me, I will be sure to partake on this mission.

            Thanks to the Helias Catholic students, and chaperones.  I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Aur.  Thank you so much for not only letting me come on this trip, but believing in me as a chaperone with no experience.  I can only hope I met your expectations.  I owe you one.

Grace to you, and Peace,

Brooks Schollmeyer