Chemin de Fer

Saturday’s Chemin de Fer: the Golden Age was a grand celebration of 50 years! Nearly 400 guests came together for a spectacular evening of Sacred Heart community to benefit the Academy in our own Grand Central Station.

Board member Mary Charlotte Chandler, RSCJ began the evening with prayer. Mr. Horner then recognized the evening’s Honorary Chair, Marcia Baronovic Renken ’72, 8th, and introduced a tribute video. Marcia was joined by her family, former classmates and friends for this very special moment.

The live auction featured trips, tickets and one-of-kind experiences plus an adorable pup. White Center Cafeteria was filled with silent auction items and guests mingled, enjoying each other’s company and Academy spirit.

Big congratulations to our 24K Magic Raffle winners current parents Brian and Lauren Teschendorf! Kevin and Elizabeth Grelle (parents of Laurel ’17) were winners of the Around the World in 50 Years Raffle.

An exciting evening of bidding concluded with the Fund-the-Need project: Computer Lab Updates, Interactive Touch Panels in the Classroom, and a new Curriculum and Learning Coach position. An initial anonymous donation of $200,000 with a $200,000 match was met with a total of $100,000 in anonymous gifts and brisk bidding in the room, to reach more than $400,000!

Thank you to our chairs Mike ’91 and Jessica Weeks and co-chairs Katie Renken ’96 and Marco Rosales and the incredible work of the auction committees. We are grateful to our guests for making the journey — looking back at 50 years and forward to 50 more! Mark your calendars and join us for Chemin de Fer 2025 on May 3!

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This week Mr. Horner shares deep gratitude to the Academy community for a successful Chemin de Fer last Saturday. It was humbling to experience the support of Academy families — present and past — alums from across the years, former faculty and staff, RSCJ, Board members, grandparents and friends of the Academy.

The 50th Chemin de Fer transported us to a magical night, from a train station unrecognizable as a gym, to an enjoyable meal with friends, to Chemin Central crowded with almost 400 guests, to honoring Mrs. Renken as Honorary Chair. The excitement began as the doors opened and continued throughout the night.

We will continue down the tracks of appreciation. Thank you to all who donated to the Fund-the-Need, or in this case fund enhancements to the academic program. The generosity of the community raised more than $400,000.

Thank you to all who donated and purchased items. The total raised this year was record setting, eclipsing the record set just last year. Stay tuned for final numbers.

Thank you to all who attended and filled the room with Academy spirit. Our school is strong because our community is unequaled.

Chemin de Fer is a labor of love and I am especially grateful to Special Events Coordinator extraordinaire Heather Locker for her masterful work. Thank you to chairs Mike ’91 and Jessica Weeks and co-chairs Katie Renken ’96 and Marco Rosales and the incredible work of the auction committees. The dedication and hard work demonstrated — week after week of “Chemin Season” — was remarkable and inspiring.

Chemin de Fer #51: Please join us May 3, 2025 as we seek to have more than 500 attendees!