Bishop Kelley High School Celebrates the Successful Completion of $25 Million Capital Campaign

March 4, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TULSA, OK – March 4, 2025 – Bishop Kelley School is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its $25 million capital campaign, the We Are BK: Honoring our Legacy, Building our Future, raising an impressive total of $25,128,667. This extraordinary achievement marks a significant milestone for the school and reflects the unwavering support from its alumni, parents, grandparents, and community members.

The campaign officially concluded on Friday, February 28, 2025, after landing the final five-year pledge. This remarkable accomplishment surpasses all previous fundraising efforts, including the Forever Bishop Kelley Campaign which raised $6.4 million in 2006, and the Championship Drive stadium renovation project, which raised $8.2 million. The overwhelming success of this campaign is a testament to the strength of the Bishop Kelley community and its commitment to the school's mission and future.

Campaign Journey:
The We Are BK Capital Campaign began in December 2019 during its silent phase when Very Reverend Fr. Gary Kastl, then-President of Bishop Kelley, secured a generous $3 million pledge that helped kick off the campaign. Less than three months later, the global pandemic forced the world into lockdown, halting in-person meetings and altering the course of fundraising efforts. Despite these challenges, the campaign persevered, thanks to the relentless efforts of Doug Thomas, Bishop Kelley’s Director of Philanthropy, and the school’s Philanthropy Team, as well as the dedication of the Campaign Steering Committee.

Now, just over five years after its inception, Bishop Kelley has successfully surpassed its original fundraising goal, securing essential funding to support the school’s future growth and impact.

Gratitude for Leadership and Support
The school extends its deepest gratitude to the Campaign Co-Chairs, Beth and Randall Snapp, for their exceptional leadership. Their tireless dedication, professionalism, and personal engagement with both new and longtime donors played an instrumental role in this campaign’s success. BK President Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM, went on to say, “From writing heartfelt thank-you notes to attending campus meetings and checking in with regular phone calls and texts, Beth and Randall were key to bringing this vision to life.”

The Snapps echoed that sentiment, saying “The campaign's success would not have been possible without the hard work and generosity of the donors who made this campaign a priority. Each individual and family who gave their time, resources, and support played a vital role in ensuring the school's future growth and success.”

A Bright Future Ahead:
The funds raised through the We Are BK Capital Campaign play a crucial role in enhancing the student experience at Bishop Kelley, supporting academic excellence, facility improvements, and continued growth in the school’s endowments. The success of this campaign ensures that Bishop Kelley will continue to be a beacon of academic and spiritual formation for generations to come.

“We are truly humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support from our community,” said Doug Thomas, Director of Philanthropy. “This campaign has shown that when we come together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve for Bishop Kelley. We are excited for the future and all the wonderful things we will continue to accomplish with the help of our generous donors.”

For more information about the We Are BK Capital Campaign or how to get involved with Bishop Kelley, please visit our website at www.bishopkelley.org or contact the Philanthropy Department at philanthropy@bishopkelley.org.


About Bishop Kelley School

Bishop Kelley School is a Catholic diocesan high school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which focuses on preparing students' hearts and minds for a purposeful life, for college and beyond. Founded in 1960, the school offers a rigorous academic curriculum, a wide range of extracurricular activities, and a deep commitment to spiritual formation. Bishop Kelley strives to educate the whole person, empowering students to become responsible, faith-filled leaders in their communities.


Media Contact:

 Candace Maggard

 Manager of Marketing and Communications

 Bishop Kelley High School

 Phone: (918) 609-7143

 Email: cmaggard@bishopkelley.org

 Website: www.bishopkelley.org

November 17, 2025
This past summer, God blessed me with the incredible opportunity to go on the Campus Ministry mission trip to Nashville, Tennessee. Going into the trip, I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived in Nashville, I was placed in a group of people I had never met before. We were all from different states, with completely different backgrounds. This was definitely a little bit outside of my comfort zone. But, from that very first day, I realized that God had put me in that group for a reason. We quickly grew close through working together and commuting on the hour drive to our work site, praying and sharing stories of faith on the drive. Our service project assignment was repairing a house for a woman named Lavern. There, we repaired and painted her shutters, front door, and porch. We cleaned her gutters, organized and got rid of unnecessary things in her shed, chopped down bushes and trees, trimmed overgrowth, and even did some drywall repair inside of her house. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met - so full of gratitude and joy, even in difficult circumstances. Every morning when we showed up to work, she greeted us with a smile and words of encouragement. Seeing her faith and positivity really opened my eyes to how powerful gratitude can be. Throughout the week, we had Mass every single morning. Starting my morning with Mass made my days full of joy and gratitude. We also had different activities at night, such as Eucharistic Adoration and confession. I had no idea how much these moments of prayer would affect me, but they did significantly. I had never truly experienced God in the way I did the evening of Adoration. Sitting in Adoration with everyone quietly singing and taking time just to be still with God was one of the most peaceful and powerful experiences I have ever had. There was also a woman who gave us a talk every evening. Her talks helped us to reflect on our faith and our purpose. Her words helped me to think more deeply about how God is present not just in the big events, like the Mission Trip, but in every single part of my life, the good and the bad, the joys and sorrows, and the wins and the losses. As the week started to end, I felt closer to God than I ever had before. And even though my air mattress deflated every single night and the showers were absolutely freezing, this trip reminded me that faith is not just something that we practice on Sundays, it is something that we live out through service, community, and love for others every single day. It showed me that when we step outside of our comfort zones and open our hearts, God meets us there and transforms us in ways that we would have never imagined. This Mission Trip did not just change the house that we worked on, it changed me. It deepened my faith, strengthened my trust in God, and helped me see how powerful it can be when we serve others with joy and humility. I would like to leave you all with one thing: At the end of the week, Lavern wrote me a letter. When I opened it, it read, “Write the vision and make it plain.” Now, if I am being honest, when I first read this, I was super confused, so I looked it up. What I found was amazing. This is a Bible Verse, Habakkuk 2:2, that means writing down your vision is a way to show God that you believe He will help you accomplish what He has called you to do. So BK, write the vision, and make it plain .
October 23, 2025
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