At Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, the annual Day of Giving is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a day that fulfills the school’s mission. It is a day when the entire community—families, alumni, and friends—donates to school programs such as academics, arts, service projects, student programming, and athletic teams.

This year, one program stood at the top of the leaderboards with the most money it has ever raised: the Good Counsel Boys Lacrosse team. 

For players like Chase Spahr ‘27, their victory on the Day of Giving directly reflects the strong bond the team has. “Our team’s culture is a brotherhood; we strive to make every single kid in the program feel like family,” Spahr explains. The team always strives to build relationships through programs such as the Lead Em Up, which promotes connection and teaches players how to communicate with each other. For Spahr, the Day of Giving funds are more than just a large amount of money; they are a motivational tool. “It reminds me that I’m not only playing for myself but also the community. It creates a sense of pride knowing that I have people who are helping support our goals, and it motivates me to achieve them.”

Teammate Andrew Mahoney ‘27 shares a similar view. “Each time I put the jersey with Good Counsel across the front, I know that I am playing not just for myself, but for all those who believe in me by contributing to our program on the Day of Giving,” Mahoney shares. “Every time I put on my gear, I am reminded of how many people are pushing our team along. Having so many people behind me when I play gives a huge boost of confidence.” Mahoney connects the team motto as one of the main reasons so many people supported them: “To create an uncommon and everlasting brotherhood through relentless effort, passions, toughness, and complete and total selflessness.” He points out that the reason the funds were so high was not because of luck, but because of the character shown by each player, which inspires families and alumni to give money. 

For Coach Smith, the Day of Giving results are a direct reflection of the program’s status. “The program has a lot of momentum right now, both on the field and off the field, in terms of building a strong culture and community,” Coach Smith explains. He emphasizes that the most important part of this day is how many people are donating rather than the amount of money raised. It shows that the “vision” he has is coming to life. “It shows that we are very passionate about what we do, and we try to share that vision with as many people who are willing to listen, and the more people who get on board. Just like on the field, we want to get better every year, we want to have more support each year.” For Coach Smith, alumni connections are another important factor that contributed to the success of the Day of Giving. He has many alumni who are playing at the next level; they come in and talk to the community about what Good Counsel meant to them and how, by donating to the lacrosse program, they are paying it forward to another kid who could have a great experience. From this year’s funds, the cost for the team to go to San Diego was greatly lowered, which was an amazing experience for the team that provided bonding opportunities far beyond what practice can do. 

High school athletics are as competitive as ever; competing for the top spot requires more than just talent; it requires resources. Coach Smith is honest about the necessity of support. “Getting the guys to have team meals, new gear that is state of the art, film, and a social media presence for all of the players getting recruited. The funds are required to compete at the highest level, especially with some of the other schools and what they have. To match that, we need extra support from our community.” Smith believes that the lacrosse team’s success is a blueprint for the athletic department. “I would hope that other teams see what is possible. I would challenge other teams and coaches to do the same thing. Imagine what it would look like if all teams raised $50,000.” 

As another successful Day of Giving passes, the work of managing the funds begins. The lacrosse program follows up with the major donors and provides updates at the banquet at the end of the season, explaining how the funds were used. For the players, the impact is felt every time they put on the jersey and step onto the field. The lacrosse team’s win on the Day of Giving is a direct correlation to what the program prioritizes: “uncommon brotherhood”. It shows that when a team shows up for the community, the community will show up for the team.