Transforming Lives Dinner – Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence

One Night, One Student, Infinite Possibilities

The Transforming Lives Dinner celebrates the power of an O’Dowd education and the generosity that makes it possible. This year’s gala embraces the theme, “One student can change the world, one night can make it happen,” honoring both the students whose lives are transformed and the supporters who help make that transformation possible. The evening also celebrates our 75th anniversary and the decades of academic excellence, leadership, and community impact for which O’Dowd is known.

Caitlin Meyer ’08 knows firsthand how life-changing an O’Dowd education can be. “O’Dowd introduced me to the art of the possible,” she says. “It totally shaped my academic and professional careers.” Caitlin credits the school with instilling the values of empathy, integrity, and human connection, lessons that continue to guide her professional work and personal life. She recalls that O’Dowd taught her to treat everyone with authenticity, to lead with compassion, and to always prioritize people.

Tuition assistance is at the heart of ensuring that every student can access these transformative opportunities. Currently, 30% of O’Dowd students receive tuition assistance, providing $4.2 million in support annually. “You cannot cultivate the magic of O’Dowd without removing economic barriers to enrollment for students, plain and simple,” Caitlin emphasizes. Supporting tuition assistance enables bright, talented students from diverse backgrounds to join the O’Dowd community, acquire the skills to lead with purpose, and carry forward the school’s mission of social impact, joy, and community.

Throughout the special evening, which includes passed hors d’oeuvres and a plated dinner,

guests will be treated to an O’Dowd string orchestra performance, a specially choreographed praise dance from the Dance Team, and hear directly from student speakers whose lives have been transformed through O’Dowd. We’ll end the evening with a lively paddle raise in support of tuition assistance.

The Transforming Lives Dinner is more than a celebration. It’s an invitation to make a real difference. “I know a great investment when I see one, and an O’Dowd education is top of that list,” Caitlin says. Attendees of the gala will not only honor the school’s 75-year legacy but also directly support the next generation of Dragons, giving them the opportunity to learn, grow, and ultimately change the world. One night truly can make it happen, one student at a time.

Tickets to the Transforming Lives Dinner are available until October 27. Reserve your seat today.