One special gift made for a very good Christmas for the students and staff at Cristo Rey Boston High School: a $1 million donation from Edmund F. Murphy, III and his wife, Jennifer, of Boston. Murphy, the CEO of Empower Retirement, is a long-time trustee of the Catholic high school on Savin Hill Avenue that serves roughly 200 students, most of them from Dorchester and Roxbury.

The gift is the largest single contribution to the school in its history, according to school president Rosemary J. Powers, who said the gift will be used to fund operations with a portion set aside to retain and support the school’s teachers, many of whom come to the school directly out of college.

“Ed and Jen’s gift will have a direct impact on retaining high-performing teachers and building a team of experienced and properly supported teachers,” said Powers. “The gift will be used in concordance with our mission of addressing systemic inequity and providing students with the tools they need to succeed.”

She added that the funding “will also allow Cristo Rey Boston to enhance and supplement its school nutrition program, offering higher quality food options to support the health and wellbeing of CRB students.”

The Murphys haves been involved with philanthropic efforts in Greater Boston for many years. A graduate of Boston College, Edmund Murphy is also active in The Ireland Funds and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. But much of his energy has been directed to Cristo Rey, which took over the building that once housed St. William Elementary School in 2010.

“It’s a simple fact that students and teachers achieve success together every day at Cristo Rey Boston,” Murphy said in a statement. “Students who are well-nourished with high-quality meals are going to have a much greater chance to achieve great things in the classroom. Similarly, experienced teachers who are well-nourished financially through the school’s compensation program will have a greater opportunity to lead and inspire those students.”

Jennifer Murphy added: “We hope this gift will inspire others to take a look at the incredible work of Cristo Rey Boston.” 
Part of a Jesuit-founded network based in Chicago, Cristo Rey Boston is one of the system’s 37 college prep schools in place across 24 states that exclusively serve students and families with limited resources. It offers students a rigorous curriculum, a distinctive work-study program, and the support of an inclusive community.

Last year, Cristo Rey made news when it announced that all prospective and current students would be givden full-tuition scholarships. All Cristo Rey Boston students must work one day per week and the revenue generated by those efforts supports the student’s education.

Please contact Carmen T. Donohue at cdonohue@cristoreyboston.org for more information on getting involved or visit cristoreyboston.org to learn more.