Johannes and Bowen Lead QND Foundation Annual Fund Drive

JOHANNES AND BOWEN TO LEAD QND FOUNDATION’S 35th ANNUAL FUND DRIVE

John Johannes and Julie Bowen, both graduates of Quincy Notre Dame High School, have been selected as chairpersons of the Quincy Notre Dame Foundation’s 35th Annual Fund Drive.

The 2012 drive kicks off January 20, 2012, with a breakfast meeting at the school during which this year’s fundraising goal will be announced.

The foundation has raised over $10 million in the past 34 years and exceeded its 2011 $398,000 goal by $35,000. The money raised helps keep tuition affordable by paying a portion of the school’s operating costs and closing the gap between the cost to educate a student and tuition. The fund drive additionally supports QND’s financial aid program. Tuition at QND for the 2011-2012 school year remained steady at $4,700 per student, but the actual cost to educate each student is $5,800. QND’s 2011-12 enrollment is 386.

Johannes, a 1985 graduate, is community president at First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust. A member of St. Francis Church, Johannes also serves as a member of the Quincy Exchange Club, is the Treasurer of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County and is a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He is past president of the Historic Quincy Business District. Johannes is active in the Boy Scouts and serves as a coach in the Quinsippi Soccer League. John and his wife, Kim, have three children, Mitchell, 15, Nicholas, 12, and Matthew, 10.

“The Annual Fund is the most important fund raising event for QND,” Johannes said. “Funds from the campaign help close the gap between what it costs to educate and the tuition charged. The funds also provide financial assistance to families who need the assistance to send their children to QND for a high quality, faith based education. My thanks go out to all those who have supported the Annual Fund throughout the years. Without their support and the support of our volunteers, we would not be here today. To our many donors, please continue to be generous in your support of the campaign again this year. These young people are the future of our community and many other communities.”

Bowen, a 1989 graduate and class salutatorian, is vice president of marketing and deposit compliance at Mercantile Bank. She is a member of St. Peter Church and serves on the communication committee of the Quincy Catholic Schools Collaboration Team. Bowen is a graduate of both John Wood Community College and Missouri Southern State University. She is an advisory board member for the Quincy branch of the Central Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and participates on the Bridge the Gap to Health race committee as chair of the Paul Arndt Kids Fun Run. Julie and her husband, Scott, have a son, Vincent, 10, who attends St. Peter School.

“Support of the QND Foundation through the Annual Fund Drive is so much more than a monetary gift,” declares Bowen. It is a lasting investment in our community’s only Catholic high school. It is commitment to all the children currently enrolled at QND, in our Catholic grade schools, and to generations yet to come that they will each have the opportunity to grow in their faith and fellowship while receiving an excellent education that prepares them for any course in life.”

In addition to the leadership of Johannes and Bowen, QND’s Annual Fund Drive will be supported by 120 volunteers in the business phase of this year’s campaign, 65 individuals in the parish phase and over 70 to assist with the drive’s alumni phon-a-thon effort.

The Commercial Division leaders are Kevin O’Donnell ‘70, president of O’Donnell’s Termite & Pest Control; Kirk Frageman ‘69, community volunteer and Jared Haugh ‘90, co-owner Duker and Haugh Funeral Home.

Professional Division leaders are Jake Scholz ‘00, attorney with Scholz & Scholz; Andrew Mays ’02, associate attorney, Mays, Walden & Anastas, P.C. and Jill Mason, chief nursing officer at Blessing Hospital.

Financial Division leaders are Steve Green, accountant for Prince Agri Products, and Jim Obert ’78, vice president/lending officer at First Bankers Trust of Quincy.

Industrial Division leaders are Debbie Naught ‘74, architect with Klingner & Associates and Alan Musholt ’82, president of Compressor Parts & Equipment of Quincy.

The first six weeks of QND’s Annual Fund Drive, beginning January 20, will focus on donations from the business community. QND Commitment Sunday follows on March 4, when members of Quincy and Hannibal’s Catholic parishes are asked for donations. The Alumni Phon-a-thon will begin on May 7, during which QND graduates living outside of Quincy are asked to contribute funds to their alma mater.

QND’s Annual Fund was established in 1977. It is overseen by the QND Foundation, which was founded in 1968. QND alumnus Kurt Stuckman ‘91 is the Foundation’s executive director.