Nazareth’s Endowed Funds
Nazareth has a General Endowment Fund and three donor-designated funds:
Donor-Designated Endowment Funds
Class of 1967 Scholarship Fund
The Charles L. and Nora Coakley Reiter Scholarship Fund
The Girardi Family Scholarship Fund
General Fund
Endowed Fund for the Future of Nazareth. This permanent fund is for discretionary purposes. Earnings from this fund may be used for scholarships, programs, or unforeseen costs or expenses.
Class of 1967 Scholarship Fund
Historically, the class of 1967 has been the greatest supporters of any graduating class in Nazareth’s history and we continue to be in constant contact with each other. A few years ago, we decided to direct our donations to an Endowment which, upon reaching a certain critical mass, would be able to offer a scholarship each year to a student deemed worthy at the discretion of the Nazareth staff based upon the student’s need, ethics, scholastic performance and potential.
The Charles L. and Nora Coakley Reiter Scholarship Fund
Provides financial assistance to students at Nazareth who demonstrate financial need. This dedicated scholarship fund for financially needy students was established in 2020 by the Thomas More Project to recognize Charles L. and Nora Coakley Reiter for their exceptional work in Catholic education as teachers and leaders. Nora served as President of the Board of Trustees, Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville, Md., and as Director of Religious Education at Saint Mark Parish, also in Catonsville. Charles served as principal of Nazareth High School and was the first person chosen to fill the newly created office of president at Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, Md.
The Girardi Family Scholarship Fund
Provides financial assistance to students at Nazareth demonstrating financial need.Assunta Manna and Luigi Girardi arrived separately at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. They met, married, and eventually settled in St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Brooklyn, where they raised seven children and struggled to provide them with the best education available. The Sisters of St. Joseph and the Xaverian Brothers offered a tuition-free education in the parish school to the mostly poor parishioners.The Girardi Family has in turn established this scholarship fund to help others enjoy the benefits of a Catholic education and recognize their place of dignity in the human family. Two of the Girardi grandchildren, both deceased, graduated from Nazareth, Francis Esposito (1968) and Robert Esposito (1974). This fund was initiated in loving memory of them and all the other deceased members of the Girardi Family.
FAQs About Endowment Funds
Gifts to the endowment, such as cash, bonds or stock, are invested to generate income for a designated purpose or for the broad-ranging needs of the school.
Endowment funds are overseen by Nazareth’s Board of Trustees and are held in perpetuity. Typically, a percentage of the earnings will be used for the purposes designated and the remainder added to the principal to keep up with inflation and ensure growth.
Nazareth is grateful for all donations, large and small. Indeed, if it weren’t for small donations, we wouldn’t be here! Endowment gifts of any size may be directed to the general endowment fund or any existing fund. To initiate a newly named or designated scholarship fund, we ask for a gift or pledge of $25,000 or more. Endowments are a way to create a memorial or honorary fund or to direct spending to a specific area or function of the school.
To create an endowed scholarship fund or an endowed fund for a specific purpose, such as programs, sports, the arts, building maintenance, or teaching positions, please email or call Robert DiRe, Principal at rdire@nazarethrhs.org (718-763-1100, ext. 223) or email Board Member Denis Wuestman at dwuestman@nazarethrhs.org