An increase in enrollments, the need for facility upgrades and a mission to help families through tuition assistance and scholarships has Bishop Guilfoyle Academy kicking off the first major capital campaign in its history.

Due to early donations, BG is already halfway to raising its $7 million goal.

“The Call to Lead: The Campaign for Bishop Guilfoyle Academy” was publicly announced Wednesday evening and early support has been strong, school officials said.

According to President Joseph Adams, the campaign has raised $5.2 million that was committed by several dozen early donors.

“This includes gifts of cash, securities and planned gifts where benefactors include BG as a beneficiary in their 401(k) plan or will,” Adams said.

In addition to funding scholarships for families who want to be a part of BG, capital funds will be used for improvements to BG’s school buildings as well as faculty compensation.

“The last significant change to our school buildings was in 1985,” Adams said. “The buildings need to be updated to reflect the experience that is now happening at BG.”

Enrollments are growing rapidly, with BG expecting to grow 7% this year to next school year, driven by the preschool and elementary grades.

That growth is attributed to the repositioning of the school as an integrated PreK-12 school under the new Bishop Guilfoyle Academy name, Adams said.

The new third elementary school in Hollidaysburg for Pre-K3 through grade 2 for the 2025-26 school year has proven to be necessary because the younger grades at the other two locations — Fairview and Eldorado, Pre-K3 through grade 5 — are already at capacity for 2025-26, Adams said. While the Hollidaysburg campus does currently have space for additional students, BG is experiencing strong enrollment growth there, too.

Capital campaign funds will be used to refurbish classrooms at the Hollidaysburg campus, where updated, modern learning spaces are being specifically designed for young students to have small group and one-on-one interactions.

Technology upgrades, including wireless technology, computer labs, 1-1 devices and more, will be made at all levels. In addition, BG recently upgraded the eSports technology, which supported their newly crowned state championship team.

In an effort to retain and attract new teachers, funds will go toward faculty compensation.

“We are privileged to have dedicated teachers who we wish to reward,” Adams stated. “We also want to attract and retain new teachers with competitive compensation, great benefits including tuition remission and a great working environment. And we are adding teachers to accommodate our growth.”

According to Lisa (Lightner) Georgiana, BG’s director of advancement, donations will make an immediate and direct impact on day-to-day life for students.

While the $7 million goal is near, the campaign will result in pledges of funds that will be received over the next five years, and investments will occur steadily over that time frame, she said.

“We have engaged an architect to create a master plan for the high school building,” Adams said, noting this will be a multi-stage plan.

Some near-term priorities expected to emerge from that plan include a student learning commons at the Pleasant Valley campus. The space will be re-imagined out of the current high school library space.

The time frame depends on donations, he said.

Other improvements include refreshing the outside entrances and surrounding spaces at the Pleasant Valley campus that are used as gathering places and studies when the weather is nice.

Refreshes at the elementary sites at Fairview and Eldorado will include new permanent signage.

The timing of donations will determine future enhancements to the athletic facilities, such as the gym and locker room, Adams said.

“Our generous benefactors are investing to help us grow so we can make a positive impact on an even greater number of families in our community. We hope to build momentum and maybe even exceed our goal, which will allow for an even greater vision for transformational upgrades in the future that require even more funds,” Adams said.

A Campaign Leadership team has been formed to help guide and lead the capital campaign effort.

The team includes Matt and Tiffany Stuckey, chairs; Tony and Cathy Misitano, honorary chairs; and members George and Sarah Delbaggio, Patrick and Kim Irwin, Mark and Allison Ritchey, Rob and Karen Tribeck, Doug and Lisa Wolf and Dr. Stewart VanHorn and Dr. Sarah Schroeder.