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Regina Foundation History
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The Regina Foundation was the vision of Jim Butler. Upon completion of his second term on the Regina Board of Education in 1973, Jim addressed Regina’s need for long-term financial support. With the help of Joe Meyer of the University of Iowa Foundation and the support of the four parish priests, the Foundation was created.
1973 Iowa City Education Vicariate Foundation was formed. 1975 Iowa City Education Vicariate Foundation formally incorporated. 1986 The Iowa City Education Vicariate Foundation was renamed The Regina Foundation. The focus was on building an endowment fund, facilitating pass-through gifts and developing deferred gifts. 1997 Regina Teacher Endowment Fund was established to supplement teacher salaries, helping to bring parity to public school counterparts. 2000 April Rouner, hired as Executive Director of Regina Foundation. October 2000 The Regina Foundation Endowment Fund directed to long-term investments is valued at $1,500,000. November 2000 The Foundation was reconfigured and renamed the Catholic Community Foundation. Its mission was broadened to include the four Iowa City parishes in addition to the Regina Inter-Parish Catholic Education Center. December 2000 The $5 million, five-year Fueling the Fire of Faith Campaign begins. Campaign components include: $1.25 million Regina teacher salary fund, $1.6 million capital improvements, $1.5 million general endowment fund, $450,000 for the creation of an Evangelization & Stewardship office and programs, and $200,000 for campaign costs. April 2001 The lead gifts to the campaign, $750,000 given by Larry and Cathy Pacha, coupled with $250,000 from Ted and Deb Pacha, in March of 2001, served as a $1 million, four-to-one matching challenge gift. June 2003 A $500,000 gift was made to challenge the community to bring the campaign to its $5 million goal. September 2003 The Fueling the Fire of Faith Campaign was successfully completed, with $5.8+ million being raised. June 2004 The Catholic Community Foundation holds groundbreaking ceremonies on June 22, 2004 for the four-classroom elementary addition, two-story education complex, new kitchen, cafeteria, and restrooms. April 2005 Parish leadership recommends that the Foundation can best serve the Iowa City Catholic community by returning to its roots, concentrating its works on the long-term financial strength of Regina, mainly in the area of endowment growth. 2005 The elementary, junior/senior high school, kitchen, and cafeteria construction was completed. The open house and dedication was held on Sunday, October 9, 2005, in the Regina Jr./Sr. High School Gym. Bishop William Franklin blessed the new facilities. January 2006 Catholic Community Foundation Board votes to adopt as its new mission: the mission of the Catholic Community Foundation is to enhance the financial strength of the Regina Inter-Parish Catholic Education Center. 2009 The Catholic Community Foundation returns to the Regina Foundation name October 2016 The silent phase of the Pride in Our Past, Building Our Future Capital Campaign begins. January 2017 Kecia Boysen named the next Executive Director of the Regina Foundation.
A press conference and kickoff event were held to announce the public phase of the nearly $6 million Pride in Our Past, Building Our Future Capital Campaign. Campaign components included: add entrance/exit off First Avenue, upgrade boys and girls locker rooms, repair high school gym roof, install security upgrades, resurface and expand front parking lot, build educational wing. Possible Phase 2 projects included a renovated auditorium and new gymnasium.September 2017 Regina celebrated the completion of the first capital campaign project with a ribbon cutting for the updated and expanded locker rooms on September 14, 2017. Fr. Chuck Adam blessed the new facilities. 2018 Capital campaign progress included a new high school gym roof, construction of a second entrance of First Avenue, resurfaced front drive, loop, and parking lot, updated bell and intercom system, and completion of a new athletic training facility with a hitting facility, weight room, and strength training area. A ribbon cutting and blessing were held for the Regina Athletic Training Facility on Sunday, June 3, 2018. August 2019 Capital Campaign Continuation plans announced: $1.85 million secured from three donors; $1.1 million needed for remaining projects ($7.8 total): new education wing and Early Childhood center and improved parking and roadways. January 2020 Regina celebrates a meaningful milestone in the construction of the new Regina Education Wing with a beam signing on January 19, 2020. The signed beam was later lifted into place during construction. July 2020 Construction of the new Regina Events Entrance, lobby, and junior/senior high Education Wing was completed with a ribbon cutting and blessing on August 23, 2020. August 2022 Construction of the new Early Childhood Center construction is/was completed. A ribbon cutting and blessing by Fr. Steve Witt is/was held on August 17, 2022. December 2022 The Pride in Our Past, Building Our Future Capital Campaign was successfully completed, with $9,160,000 million being raised. January 2023 The Regina Foundation Endowment Fund directed to long-term investments is valued at $9 million. 2023 Regina Foundation celebrates 50 years of growth, service, financial support, and stewardship. Happy 50th Anniversary to the Regina Foundation!
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