During the 2023-2024 school year that celebrated Risen Christ's 30th Anniversary, we reflected on our school theme: Every Encounter / Cada Encuentro.
Just as the resurrected Jesus changed the hearts and minds of those he encountered, all of us, in our own way, have walked alongside the students of Risen Christ, helping them in their journey to realize their God-given potential.
It is within every encounter at Risen Christ that we have built a better future for all students. Through God’s grace, we are here today because of you! Thank you for your unwavering support and for celebrating 30 years of growth, community and faith with us.
“For my children, finding Risen Christ was like finding hope. I want my children to be like you, the donors of Risen Christ, and all the servants of God. I hope you will see that in this film.”
Laura Rivera, Risen Christ Parent and Custodian
Laura’s life transformed when she first encountered Christ at Risen Christ Catholic School, where all three of her children attended. She credits her family’s success to God’s grace, the support of Risen Christ, and the generosity of its donors.
Risen Christ By the Numbers
We extend a special thanks to the Aim Higher Foundation for their remarkable contribution of 153 scholarships to the students of Risen Christ Catholic School during the 2023-2024 school year. Since its inception, the Aim Higher Foundation has invested over half a million dollars in scholarships at Risen Christ, making it possible for our students to aim higher by achieving their God-given potential.
Congratulations Class of 2024!
25 Students
60% Attending Catholic High Schools
3 Students were accepted into Countdown to College at Saint Mary’s University
2 Students were recipients of Flaherty Family Foundation Scholarships
“Over these years, we have had the fortune of receiving a bilingual education. Learning in two languages has not only opened academic doors for us but has also allowed us to understand and appreciate different cultures. We thank our teachers, staff, leadership team, donors and everyone who made this educational journey possible. Your support and dedication have been crucial to our success. The future is bright and full of possibilities!”
Julissa, 2024 Graduate & Nicolette Finley Spirit of Risen Christ Award Winner
2023-2024 Financial Summary
PLEASE NOTE: This is an unaudited summary of financial activities during the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Risen Christ is currently engaged with CliftonLarsonAllen for a third-party audit that will be completed in April 2025. At that time, this financial summary will update, as appropriate, and a copy of Risen Christ’s audited financial statements will be available.
Any questions regarding this financial summary and our forthcoming audited financial statements can be directed to Nathan Meehling, CFO and Director of Business Administration at [email protected] or 612-234-8534.
Thank you Risen Christ Volunteers!
Total # volunteers: 74
Total # volunteer hours: 2,239
Using the Independent Sector value of volunteer time in Minnesota ($36.31 per hour in 2024), Risen Christ volunteers contributed the equivalent of $81,298 in time and talent during the 2023-24 school year.
Donors and Supporters
We strive for accuracy. If you discover an error please contact the Advancement Office:
Liz Allie, Advancement Associate: [email protected]
Ann Henrich, Advancement Manager: [email protected]
James DeLong ‘95, Director of Advancement: [email protected]
The incredible outcomes in this report are made possible by YOU!
Please help sustain our success by making a gift today.
The First Step Toward Success is Showing Up
Two years ago, Heydi first arrived at Risen Christ as a 6th grader. “I was nervous to join a new school and meet new people, but the teachers, staff and students were very welcoming,” Heydi shared, reflecting on her time at Risen Christ now as an 8th grader. She emphasized the importance of positive relationships and entering a welcoming environment, “I instantly made new friends and felt comfortable. Students are taught to never disrespect and always make everyone feel safe.”
Showing up to school for the first day can be challenging and schools in the state of Minnesota are finding it difficult to keep students in the classroom – well beyond the first day. One third of Minnesota students are chronically absent, a state report revealed. Chronically absent students are defined as those missing over 10% of the school year.
The figures are worse for students living in poverty. In Minneapolis Public Schools, 56% of students live in poverty and the consistent attendance rate is only 46%. At Risen Christ, 89% of students live in poverty, but average daily attendance is 93%.
What makes Risen Christ different?
Read The Full Story
Bill Makens Recognized with Circle of Light Award
Each year, Risen Christ presents the Circle of Light Award to individuals or organizations whose dedication, long-time support, visionary leadership and generosity have made this school the hallmark of hope and opportunity for the children we serve today.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, it was our great honor to present Risen Christ's annual Circle of Light Award to Bill Makens for his ongoing contributions to Risen Christ since its inception in 1993.
In 1997, Bill Makens was one of five laypersons invited by Father Ron Clubb, Risen Christ’s Canonical Administrator at the time, to join the school’s first-ever Board of Trustees. A man driven by his faith and passion for urban Catholic education, Bill immediately and generously shared his skills and connections within the business community to benefit Risen Christ’s financial stability, growth and enrichment. This extraordinary group of individuals established the culture of philanthropy surrounding Risen Christ that endures to this day.
During his remarks, Bill reminded us of the importance of never losing faith. Despite many challenges Risen Christ faced over its history, Bill was steadfast in believing that “the Holy Spirit will get us through,” quoting a favorite verse from Psalm 66:
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing of his glorious name;
give him glorious praise;
Say to God: 'How awesome your deeds!'
A New Bilingual Curriculum
Ms. Carmen Grace Poppert, Director of Academics & Elementary, played a key role in Risen Christ's successful grant request to the GHR Foundation, helping Risen Christ acquire a new bilingual curriculum for the elementary grades.
The new Amplify curriculum is a literacy program, offered in both Spanish and English, that has been successful in significantly improving student literacy. Thanks to our new curriculum, there was a 40% increase in K-5 students meeting or exceeding benchmarks in English by the end of last year.
All School Reunion
To celebrate the school’s 30th Anniversary, Risen Christ hosted an All School Reunion! Risen Christ welcomed former teachers, staff and alumni back to the school to connect, reminisce and take lots of fun photos at our photo booth!
New Mural for the Cafeteria
Students worked alongside Ecuadorian artist Victor Yepez to design and paint our amazing new mural in the cafeteria. The mural features images that hold deep significance for our students: Minneapolis, the city they now live; each of our founding parishes, where many of them attend Mass; and the beautiful mountainous landscapes of Latin America, the home where many of them are from. In the middle of the mural stands Our Lady of Guadalupe, adorned in a veil featuring the vast number of nations representing our students and families. Beneath Our Lady of Guadalupe, many people flock towards her loving heart for comfort.
We are so grateful to the COMPAS Artist-in-Residency program and the Carolyn Foundation for making this beautiful work of art possible!
As we move beyond our 30th anniversary school year, we invite you to watch this short video, to enjoy a glimpse of the numerous encounters we experienced throughout this special year at Risen Christ!