East Providence School Receives $2.5 Million Gift

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — An anonymous donor has delivered the largest gift ever received by St. Mary's Academy-Bay View. The school, which celebrated its 145th anniversary last year, received the $2.5-million donor in what it said was intended "to serve as a challenge to inspire other donors."

The donor told the school the donation is because of the mission of the academy, rooted in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, and to help ensure future generations of young women will be able to learn to shape the world with their Mercy minds and hearts.

The school said the funds will be used to enhance facilities, expand scholarship and financial aid programs, and strengthen the school's endowment.

"We are sincerely grateful for the extraordinary support and philanthropy of our donor, which will not only contribute to a flourishing future for our school but for every child and young woman who will benefit from their Mercy experience at Bay View," said Sister Marybeth Beretta, president of the Academy. "This is a gift that honors the power of a Bay View education, the many generations of families, staff and Sisters who comprise our legacy, and most importantly, the current and prospective students who inspire our every effort toward ongoing excellence in education."

"This incredibly generous gift comes at an important time for Bay View," said Julie Patalano Hamil, chair of the Board of Trustees. "We are eternally grateful to this donor. May her gift be the spark that lights the fire under all of us. I call on our alumnae to step forward now in support of Bay View’s mission and its future."