Saint Joseph High School receives $1 million pledge

Saint Joseph High School, Hammonton received a pledge of $1 million from an individual who is an alumnus and a parent of students in both Saint Joseph High School and Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School.

Trustee Jeff Umosella, the donor, is the COO of US LBM Holdings in Hammonton.

“I was motivated by the exciting future and the strategic direction of Saint Joseph High School,” he said. “As a leader in Catholic education, the school is making education more affordable to students coming in from diocesan grammar schools, and is establishing pathways to college for its graduating seniors. I believe in the mission of Saint Joseph High School and I wanted to invest in its future success.”

To be given over a four-year period, the gift is the largest contribution in the history of the institution.

“Jeff’s pledge is an example of our Board’s leadership and also of the passion which our alumni and parents have for Saint Joseph High School,” said principal Lynn Domenico. “We are proud of our students and their accomplishments. Over the last five years, 98 percent of our seniors have attended colleges and universities after high school. In 2015, 89 graduates were offered over 8 million dollars in scholarships.”

Domenico also announced that Saint Joseph is expanding its partnerships with area colleges and universities.

“In September 2016, Saint Joseph High School will begin a new program, Pathway to College,” the school said in a statement announcing Umosella’s gift.

“Our strong commitment to Bishop Sullivan’s Plan for Catholic Education is reflected in this undertaking as we encourage our students to continue their post- secondary education at Catholic institutions, and emphasize a strong relationship with Christ in every aspect of their lives. We are also working with non-Catholic universities as a part of our Pathway to College initiative.”