In last month’s edition of the Friends of Ryan Newsletter we discussed the purpose and need in creating the Friends of Ryan organization. As an IRS recognized non-profit 501(c)(3) organization our primary focus is to raise funds to support Archbishop Ryan and its students through grants and events which are directly funneled to support Tuition Assistance, Programs and Capital Improvements.

The Board of Friends of Ryan consist of members that span across the several decades of Archbishop Ryan’s history. Over the next several months we will highlight each board member to provide a better understanding of the individuals and their drive to volunteer in the goal of helping future generations receive a quality education at Archbishop Ryan High School.

Archbishop Ryan Ambassador Program

Remember back to your time at Archbishop Ryan, all the activities and events throughout your school years. You may have participated in a majority or only chosen to attend a few but as you can imagine, the effort to plan and execute all of these activities and events for the school, sports, clubs, alumni are a monumental undertaking. It may surprise you to discover that a large portion of the support comes from alumni like yourself, giving back to Archbishop Ryan and volunteering their time.

The purpose of the Ambassador Program is to recruit members from the Archbishop Ryan community to serve as representatives for the school, promoting school events and programs, and participating in efforts to enhance the community. A conference call is held each month where various representatives across the Archbishop Ryan footprint detail information and upcoming activities that may require volunteer resources. We are always looking for help so if you are interested in reconnecting with Archbishop Ryan and joining the Ambassador Program go to Ambassadors — Friends of Ryan (friendsofryanalumni.org) and select the Join Now button at the bottom of the page and a representative from the Ambassador Program will reach out to you.

The Friends of Ryan Collaborates with the Archbishop Ryan Baseball Team in Fund-Raising Efforts

When the Friends of Ryan organization was incorporated, one of the main priorities was the implementation of the proper infrastructure that supported donor and event management with a focus on transparent accounting and reporting. With the help of an industry leading vendor, the Friends of Ryan stood up the backend infrastructure which was successfully deployed during the 2021 Summer Social event. Over 1,000 tickets were sold during the event and our team was able to systematically publish event tickets and donation tax receipts automatically and report event totals the same day of the event.

Identifying several needs in increasing their fund-raising goals, the Archbishop Ryan Baseball Team reached out to the Friends of Ryan to collaborate in an effort to centralize their fund-raising campaign under the umbrella of the Friends of Ryan donation and event management system. A unique Archbishop Ryan Baseball Fund Campaign was created and launched on November 24, 2021, which is also available at www.arhs.me/baseballfund. The Friends of Ryan has the ability to offer expertise event planning, graphical design and social media publication along with donor and event management tracking and reporting.

Coach Eric Brooks and Joe Gillespie shared their thoughts on the collaboration between the Archbishop Ryan Baseball Team and the Friends of Ryan.

“Coach Brooks and I would like to extend our thanks to the Friends of Ryan for working directly with the Archbishop Ryan Baseball Team to establish a centralized donation point to raise funds to support our players and improve our playing fields. Fund-raising to support our players has been a struggle throughout the years attempting to coordinate various donations sites, manually tracking donating participants and managing funds. When we approached the Friends of Ryan to discuss collaborating together, they offered a solution which brings together event and donor management all under one roof, disburse funds to focused projects, and provide for transparent accounting and reporting. From the outset, working with the Friends of Ryan couldn’t have been easier as they established our donation page with Archbishop Ryan Baseball branding, provided professional graphical support and social media promotion. Our main goal is to support our players and build a first-class playing environment for future generations. Collaborating with the Friends of Ryan allows us to keep the focus directly on our players while all the backend support is managed by the Friends of Ryan. We encourage any groups related to Archbishop Ryan students or alumni to reach out to the Friends of Ryan to establish a partnership. Ultimately, we all have one goal to make Archbishop Ryan the best environment whether academically, athletically or socially in the Archdiocese”.

- Coach Eric Brooks and Coach Joseph Gillespie

Archbishop Ryan Names Ed Hughes ‘79 Director of Institutional Development

It is with great pleasure to announce that Ed Hughes ‘79 will be joining the staff at Archbishop Ryan High School as the New Director of Institutional Advancement, officially starting on February 1, 2022. Most recently Ed has been one of the key leaders of the successful startup of Friends of Ryan, our official alumni association. He is a well-respected Senior Executive with 30 years of experience in the Banking & Mortgage industry. He is a proven leader and strategist with tremendous people skills. In addition, he has a vast knowledge of technology and running profitable organizations. More than ever before, the need for increased available financial aid dollars and annual giving will be the key to the success of a sustainable future for Archbishop Ryan. It is through Ed's leadership that we will meet these needs for our school and its students. Please join us in wishing Ed the best and supporting him in reaching our goals

2022 Friends of Ryan Winter Social

The Friends of Ryan is hosting the 2022 Winter Social at Archbishop Ryan High School on Saturday March 5, 2022, from 7PM to 12AM. Entertainment provided by the Juliano Brothers and DJ Bobby Sacco. Lite snacks sponsored by Marinucci’s Deli and vodka tasting sponsored by City Distilling. Tickets can be purchased at arhs.me/wintersocial, don’t delay, our last Winter Social sold out.

Upcoming Events

Visit Friends of Ryan Events page www.friendsofryanalumni.org/events for the latest information on events.

Save the date!! The George Karusky IV Memorial Foundation is hosting a 5K Run / 2K Walk on Saturday April 23 at 1PM EST at Archbishop Ryan High School to celebrate the memory of George Karusky IV. Remaining details will be provided at a later date.

Class of ‘72 50th Reunion scheduled for Friday June 10, 2022, at the Philadelphia Ballroom, details provided soon.

Save the date!! The first annual classic car show is scheduled for Saturday June 25, 2022, from noon to 5PM EST. A great event for the entire family. Further details will follow.

Friends of Ryan Summer Social scheduled for Saturday July 30, 2022, at the Seaport Pier, Wildwood New Jersey, details provided soon.

Friends of Ryan Alumni

Interested in joining the Friends of Ryan Alumni and mailing list for further updates, visit the Alumni section of www.friendsofryanalumni.org/alumni and Join Now.

Interested in giving back and becoming an Archbishop Ryan Ambassador, visit www.friendsofryanalumni.org/ambassadors to Join Now.

Thank You from the Friends of Ryan Team

Board President Tim Lederer ‘90 and Board Vice President Ed Hughes ‘79

Meet the Board