Rancho Santa Fe Review, August 2022

Rancho Santa Fe Review, August 2022

Two RSF Residents Raise Nearly $300,000 for Underserved San Diego Students

Rancho Santa Fe Review (August 2022)

Rancho Santa Fe—On Saturday, July 30th, tuition-free middle school Nativity Prep Academy hosted its 20th Anniversary Gala to Light the Way to a Better Future. The event was hosted at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar and was co-chaired by two Rancho Sante Fe residents and long-time supporters of Nativity Prep, Alchera Ayyad and Jamie Carr.

The gala celebrated 20 years of educating and supporting historically underserved students in the San Diego area. As San Diego County’s only all-scholarship, Catholic school, Nativity Prep solely serves first-generation students. Beginning in sixth grade, Nativity Prep supports a student for the entirety of their 11-year journey towards their college graduation. Each year the school operates 100% reliant on donor support. This inaugural gala’s goal was to raise funds for the school’s resources so that they can increase the student population and provide more students with the privilege of a private education. The event was a tremendous success in raising over $275,000.

The night highlighted the 20-year history and significant leaders for the school. David Rivera and Brendan Sullivan, the founder and founding principal, and president respectively, were in attendance. Dr. Gil Brady, the outgoing president, shared about the opportunities for the non-profit to grow in the coming years under the new leadership of Jessica Hooper.

The former Assistant Head of Our Lady of Peace Academy (OLP), Jessica Hooper accepted the role of Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Nativity Prep in the fall of 2022. It quickly became apparent that her experience as a school leader, coupled with her dedication and drive to help historically under-resourced populations discover opportunity alongside their potential, uniquely poised her for the role of President of Nativity Prep.