
Join us November 3rd as we raise funds for tuition assistance.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Transforming Lives Dinner, an event that raises critical funds for tuition assistance. Your support will ensure that an O’Dowd education is accessible to students of all socio-economic backgrounds - students who share their unique identities, experiences, heritages, and gifts - enriching the lives of everyone in our community.


“I found pieces of myself at O'Dowd through the faculty, activities, and programs.
I left here with a sense of pride. O'Dowd has a magical way of encouraging students to find and use their voices.”
- Ruby Perez '18
Event
This year’s event will be held in-person on November 3, 2022 at 6 pm in O’Dowd’s new Bishop John S. Cummins Center.
This year’s event will include:
-
A reception with live music
-
Seated dinner in the Knauss Gymnasium provided by parent-owned Dove Catering
-
Keynote Speaker John Valva ‘84
-
Student speakers who bring to life the experience of an O’Dowd education
-
Emcee Emily Quinn ‘95
-
Auction-style paddle raise for tuition assistance
-
Tickets are $175 per person
About
The Transforming Lives Dinner began in 2013 to assist O’Dowd in providing tuition grants to all students requiring financial assistance. Cumulatively, Transforming Lives has raised over $2.8 million. Ticket prices cover the cost of the event so that 100% of the sponsorships and donations go directly toward tuition assistance. This year’s goal is to raise $425,000.
O’Dowd’s commitment to access and affordability ensures that tuition assistance is available to as many incoming 9th grade students with demonstrated financial need as possible. For the 2022-23 school year, the school provided $4,100,000 to close to 30% of our students with grants ranging $1,900 to $23,860 per year.
Cornerstone Donors
Demonstrate your commitment to transforming students’ lives by becoming a Cornerstone Donor.
Every successful fundraising effort needs a solid foundation, foundations always begin with the Cornerstone. That's why this year we are asking you to demonstrate your commitment to transforming students’ lives by becoming a Cornerstone Donor. Cornerstone Donations are pledged in advance and buoy our fundraising efforts at the event, multiplying the impact of your gifts.
Cornerstone Donors receive name recognition on the event website, in the Dragon magazine, during the Transforming Lives event, and on digital signage.
Donation levels range from $1,000 – $23,860, the amount of O’Dowd’s 2022-23 full tuition.
Thank you to our 2022 Cornerstone Donors.
Corporate Sponsors
We want to give your business an opportunity to act on your corporate social responsibility values. By investing in O’Dowd’s tuition assistance program at the Transforming Live Dinner, you send a message to your clients and customers that you value educational equity and economic justice for young people in Oakland.
Let us help you by sharing the message of your local impact and see the results: people are 4-6x more likely to patronize companies who demonstrate values that align with their own.* We help you spread the word to a large community of like minded individuals and they will continue to amplify the message because 80% of people tell friends and family about a company’s inspiring philanthropic efforts.* There are 5 corporate sponsorship levels available for this event.
-
Onyx: $23,860 (1 available)
-
Diamond: $15,000 (1 available)
-
Platinum: $10,000 (2 available)
-
Gold: $5,000 (4 available)
-
Silver: $2,500 (4 available)
Learn more about the Benefits that come at each sponsor level.