Jesuit High School has received the largest gift in its history, a $10 million bequest from 1968 graduate Dr. Manuel “Manny” Mon, as the Tampa school pursues a $100 million fundraising goal through its recently announced Excelsior! capital campaign.
Jesuit President Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. announced the gift Tuesday during Convocation in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, moments after Mon addressed the student body. Jesuit announced the $100 million campaign last month and said at the time that $69 million had already been raised.
Mon, 76, arrived in the United States from Cuba without his family in 1961, when he was 12, through Operation Peter Pan. His family followed four years later. Mon lived with a foster family, learned English and received a scholarship to attend Jesuit, where he became the 1968 valedictorian.
He went on to receive a full scholarship to St. Louis University, earned a medical degree and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Florida and spent more than 40 years as a pediatrician in the Fort Myers area.
“Dr. Mon’s journey to Jesuit began under circumstances very few of us can imagine,” Giacabazi said. “He was given the opportunity to attend Jesuit. What he did with that opportunity is extraordinary.”
Jesuit has not said whether Mon’s $10 million bequest is included in the previously announced $69 million campaign total or would increase commitments beyond that amount.
Development Director Nick Suszynski said major gifts helped give Jesuit the confidence to announce the $100 million campaign.
“Transformational gifts such as these strengthen our mission and inspire us to pursue an even greater vision for the future, and gave us the confidence to announce an ambitious $100 million campaign goal,” Suszynski said.
Students gave Mon a standing ovation after his presentation Tuesday, then stood again when Giacabazi announced the gift.
“Jesuit is not just a school; you are receiving something very precious and rare here,” Mon told the students. “You’re receiving a formation that is preparing you not just to make a living, but to make a life that matters.”
