After seven years at the helm of the Sacred Heart Foundation, Denny DeMers and Mark Brickson have announced their retirements effective July 1, 2023. They have agreed to stick around for a while as mentors for the incoming leadership of the foundation.
Both Denny and Mark had recently retired from full careers in administration and fundraising when the foundation's board of directors hired them on June 1, 2016. They dug into management and donor relations issues and the financial and facility needs of a growing student body at Sacred Heart School. With the support and direction of the Sacred Heart Foundation Board of Directors, Sacred Heart School Development Office (now Advancement Office), and parish and school administration, they embarked upon both short-term and long-term strategic and tactical planning.
During their tenure, Mark and Denny were successful in putting some “meat on the bones” of the infant Foundation. They increased the number of donors and grew the net assets of the foundation to nearly $9 million. Their efforts led to a $4 million addition to the school in 2019, adding much needed classroom space for a blossoming student population without needing debt service. This addition was dedicated to the Sisters of Mount Saint Benedict and turned over to the school.
In addition to adding property assets to the parish and school during Denny and Mark's tenure, the foundation distributed nearly $4.9 million to students and their families through scholarships and tuition assistance and generated more than $900,000 in grants..
As Denny and Mark transition into their second retirement, they wish to thank the Sacred Heart Foundation Board of Directors, parish and school administration and the Sacred Heart School Advancement Office for the opportunity to serve in a purposeful and meaning way. They especially want to thank the teachers, support staff and building management personnel – together they provide a special and unique learning environment for the students and families at Sacred Heart for which donors sacrifice and invest.
Together the “campsite has been left a bit better,” say Denny and Mark. There remains much more to accomplish and there will always be needs to meet. Thus, as Denny and Mark move on, we celebrate success as we...
Dennis P. DeMers
Sacred Heart Foundation Executive Director (2016-2023)
Mark Brickson
Sacred Heart Foundation Donor Relations Officer (2016-2023)
The Sacred Heart Foundation Board of Directors is excited to hire Carl Adolphson to replace Denny DeMers and Mark Brickson as the Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Foundation. Carl’s experience in education, school finance, knowledge of Sacred Heart, and passion for Catholic education make him a great fit for this position. Carl states, “Denny DeMers and Mark Brickson did such a great job establishing and growing the Sacred Heart Foundation. I look forward to ensuring we continue to build upon the strong financial footing Denny and Mark have established for the Sacred Heart Foundation.”
Carl has been at Sacred Heart in a leadership role for a decade, one year as high school principal and nine years as school president. Under his leadership, enrollment in the school has grown and led to the need for more space and a seven-classroom addition to the school in 2019.
During his tenure as school president, Mr. Adolphson has made many improvements to both the school and to extracurricular activities. He was also integrally involved in the success of the New Day and Seize This Moment campaigns.
In his new dual role as school president and executive director of the foundation, Carl will continue to set the long-term vision for the school and work collaboratively with the foundation board and parish and school leadership. “To complete our mission and serve as many families as possible, we need to continue to increase our student enrollment, yearly fundraisers, and the endowed scholarships,” Carl says. "I optimistically look forward to moving the Sacred Heart Foundation and its mission forward."
Carl Adolphson will begin his new role starting July 1, 2023.
Mr. Carl Adolphson
School President and Sacred Heart Foundation Executive Director
218-773-0877
cadolphsonsacredheartegf.net
During the winter of 2018, the Sacred Heart Foundation accepted a significant challenge grant from the Engelstad Family Foundation. The challenge: they would provide $2,500,000 to build an addition to the Sacred Heart School, if we could raise $500,000 by the end of the year. Sacred Heart accepted the challenge, raised over $700,000, and the addition was completed in 2019.
LEARN MORE about the "seize this moment" campaign