"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire"

William Butler Yeats

Dear Saint David's Community,

As we prepare to celebrate our 2025 Benefit, we invite you to reflect on our school-wide theme, "Strong Values." As parents raising curious boys in a world that often presents many distractions and influences, we use strong values as a moral compass to help our boys navigate life's difficult decisions. Saint David's gifts our boys an essential foundation to support them in choosing the good. Our passionate founders knew that a home on East 89th Street, where boys could learn and live by the Seven Virtues of faith, hope, charity, temperance, prudence, justice and fortitude, would provide a strong future for generations of Saint David's boys.

Each morning our boys shake Dr. O'Halloran's hand and enter the doors of our wondrous school, where they engage in inspired learning led by our dedicated faculty and staff. It is here that they gain an understanding of how to be kind friends, critical thinkers, creative artists, strong athletes, and "good men." Like Yeats, whom Dr. O'Halloran quoted in his opening letter, we agree that "education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." When our boys grow up and leave these doors, we are assured that Saint David's boys are equipped with the virtues they need to go out and illuminate the world! We are thrilled to present this year's Benefit theme "Illuminate: Lighting the Flame of Virtue."

It is with great joy that we invite you to join us on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at Cipriani's 42nd Street to celebrate our beloved school! Together, we will enjoy a night of cocktails, dinner, auction, and dancing as we honor Saint David's School. There are many ways to participate in our Saint David's benefit including underwriting, auction, family photo journal, community events, benefit ties and gifts, and patron tickets. We invite every family to be a part of our benefit celebration!

We look forward to lighting up the night with you on February 7th!

With gratitude,

Laura Pietropinto and Tierney Smith

2025 Benefit Chairs