The foundation that sustains Gonzaga Prep's mission was built through vision, persistence, and firmly held belief in access and opportunity. Vice President for Advancement Corrina (O'Brien) Kelsey `06 reflects on the experience of women who stepped into roles that were still taking shape — and whose courage and conviction helped form the culture of generosity that continues to define Prep today.
 
As a sophomore at Gonzaga Prep in 2004, I remember meeting Mrs. Doolittle and being intrigued by her role at the school. She was not in a classroom, yet it was clear she mattered. I did not understand her role then. I do now.

No one grows up planning to work in fundraising. It is not a career you circle at career day, or you write on a poster or dream about. When I recently sat down with Jennifer Doolittle, Trish McFarland, and Debbie Hansen, we laughed at the same truth: none of us set out to become development directors. Each of us was asked to step in.

But they were more than ready.

Long before Gonzaga Prep had a formal development structure, these women were honing leadership skills through the Spokane Junior League. They learned fundraising, strategic planning, volunteer management, and marketing. When Prep needed someone to build something that did not yet exist, they said yes.

And in doing so, they became trailblazers.

Before them, much of the school’s fundraising rested with Jesuits deeply devoted to the mission but without the infrastructure a growing school required. Debbie, Jennifer, and Trish stepped into that gap. They were the first women to lead fundraising efforts at Prep. They walked into rooms without a roadmap. They navigated skepticism. They built systems from scratch. They earned trust one relationship at a time.

They helped our community understand that generosity was not optional if Prep was going to thrive.

Their most defining work came through Fair Share. The early years were not easy. There were difficult conversations and real tension. It would have been simpler to retreat. Instead, they pressed forward because they believed access mattered. They believed economic diversity made Gonzaga Prep stronger, and they believed families deserved a pathway, not a barrier.

Today, six out of ten students receive Fair Share or scholarship support. That reality is woven into the fabric of Prep. It shapes our classrooms, our friendships, and the opportunities available to every student. That accessibility exists because these women were willing to go first. The Blue & White Gala stands as a visible reminder of that legacy. In 1976, the auction (the largest annual fundraiser at that time) raised just under $90,000 — a monumental sum at the time. Today, our Blue and White Ball goal is nearly $1 million. The scale has changed. The heart has not. The Annual Fund and Blue & White Gala sustain our retreats, athletics, fine arts, campus ministry, and the daily experiences that shape confident, compassionate young people.

These women also helped lead early capital campaigns, including Prep Forever. While there were other attractive projects to fund, the Chapel of the Three Companions became the heart of that effort — a reflection of what matters most at Gonzaga Prep. We are not simply building facilities. We are forming people grounded in faith, purpose, and community.

Their fingerprints are everywhere … in traditions such as the family-friendly Prep Pride event, now held each fall. In the growth of the Blue & White Gala into our largest community fundraiser. In the culture of volunteerism and generosity, we sometimes take for granted. There were long nights and difficult asks. There was also pride in building something lasting.

As we approach our $24M The World Needs Bullpups campaign goal, that foundation is unmistakable. The culture of generosity that defines Gonzaga Prep did not happen by accident. It was built by these pioneering development directors who were willing to lead before there was a clear path. I think back to that moment as a sophomore, meeting Mrs. Doolittle with curiosity about her work. I could not have imagined then that I would one day serve in this role, carrying forward the work she, Trish, and Debbie began.

Gonzaga Prep has always been sustained by people willing to say yes when the school needs them. I am grateful for the families, alumni, and friends who continue to believe in what this place offers our students and generations that follow.
These women said yes first.
This week, as the Blue & White Gala brings us together once again, we have the opportunity to do the same.
That is their legacy. And that is the mission we carry forward together.

Debbie Hansen served as Gonzaga Prep’s development director from 1991–96, following her service on the Overseers Board in the 1980s. Trish McFarland led the Development Office from 1994–2000. Jennifer Doolittle dedicated 23 years to Gonzaga Prep’s Development Office, including service as director and campaign manager from 2003–13.