QUINCY — The University of Quincy Notre Dame kicked off its annual fundraiser Friday with a goal of raising $475,000.
“The Fund Drive continues to be the most important fundraising event we do at QND each year,” said Kurt Stackman, Executive Director of the QND Foundation. “QND is successful because of the generosity of our donors, which allows us to provide quality education. Fund Drive allows us to invest in growth and development to achieve our mission. We remain humbled by this kind of kindness both locally and across the country.”
This year’s campaign chairs are Brian Dreier ’89 and Dr. Jason Nachman ’93.
Dreyer and his wife, Dana, graduated from QND in 1989 and received their bachelor’s degrees from Rockhurst University in 1993. Brian currently serves as Director of Employee Benefits at Winters Insurance Group in Quincy. They are members of St. Francis Solanus Church and have three daughters: Emily, 17, Hannah, 20, and Grace, who is currently in fourth grade at QND.
“QND is a great faith-based secondary education. This experience creates a lifelong community of people who believe in a common mission,” Dryer said. “This community and our ability to raise money through initiatives like the QND Fund Drive will help lower the cost of education for future generations. Fortunately, QND has been growing this community for over 155 years. Our goal is, with your support, to extend this tradition of giving for generations to come.”
Nachman graduated from QND in 1993, St. Louis University in 1997, and St. Louis University School of Medicine in 2001. He is an allergist for his medical group in Quincy and currently he is the head coach of QND Women’s Golf. He is married to Rebecca, his 1996 graduate of Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin. They are members of St. Peter’s Church and have four daughters. Hana ’23 is majoring in elementary education at Illinois State University. QND junior Heidi is a Kaiser dancer.She is an avid dancer. A new student at QND, Caroline is involved in band, choir, and golf. Catherine is in her 7th grade at St. Peter’s School.
“QND has played an important role in the academic and spiritual formation of not only myself and my daughters, but also countless friends and alumni,” Knuffman said. “QND’s current leadership, faculty, and staff exemplify these qualities to the highest degree. Along with Brian Dreier, I am humbled to have the opportunity to co-chair this year’s fundraising efforts. At the same time, I am proud. Together, we are the future!”
Since its inception in 1977, the Fund Drive has raised more than $18 million.
The QND Fund Drive helps keep tuition affordable by paying a portion of the school’s operating costs and bridging the gap between the cost of a student’s education and tuition. Fund Drive also supports QND’s financial aid programs. This academic year, 42% of QND students are receiving financial aid.
The 2024 Fund Drive Leaders are LB Cornwell ’15, Brady Frerichs ’07, Will Mex ’06, Jeremy Mefford ’06, Hannah Cramsey ’12, Jake Scholz ’00, and Lucas Frageman’ 03, Laura Reinecker ’03, and Kurt Weavering ’97. .
The QND Fund Drive will run until the end of the year. Gifts can be mailed to QND, filled out online at QuincyNotreDame.org, or paid through PayPal or Venmo.
