Some institutions are built on brick and mortar. Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert was built, in no small part, on the vision and tireless dedication of founding member DoeDee Rover. Since 1999, Rover has not just been present at nearly every chapter of Xavier’s story, she’s been leading. As a founding member of the first lay-built Jesuit High School in the United States, she helped make the case, made the calls and did the work that brought Xavier into the great Jesuit network it belongs to today.
In appreciation of Rover’s visionary leadership and more than 27 years of faithful stewardship, more than 200 elegantly attired guests turned out on May 1 to honor her at the school’s highly anticipated annual Companions Dinner. This event annually brings the community together to celebrate those who have helped shape and strengthen the school’s mission. In a powerful show of generosity and shared purpose, attendees accomplished something extraordinary: raising more than $250,000 in a single evening to fully endow the Rover Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.
“One of the many joys of my role at Xavier is to celebrate the work and impact this school continues to make here in the valley,” said Mark Campbell, Xavier’s president. “Tonight is more than just a dinner, it is a reflection of something much deeper. Tonight is about the realization of a dream — one that began over 20 years ago — with courage, faith and a desire for something more.
“In 2006, Xavier opened its doors because a small but determined group of parents believed that their children and this community deserved more. What began as a bold vision, rooted firmly in the Catholic faith, has grown into something remarkable.
“For more than 25 years, DoeDee has been a steady, passionate and visionary presence in the life of Xavier. Her leadership has never simply been about building a school — it has always been rooted in forming, shaping and changing lives. … The words ‘no,’ ‘impossible’ or ‘can’t’ do not exist in Xavier’s vocabulary, nor do they in DoeDee’s vocabulary.
“Tonight we are excited to announce a donor-directed endowed scholarship fund supporting tuition assistance to celebrate the legacy of DoeDee Rover. This Rover Family Endowed Scholarship Fund will carry her 27 years of vision and leadership forward, ensuring a Xavier education remains accessible to future generations of Saints. This year’s Companions Dinner transformed gratitude into opportunity, raising over $250,000 in support of this endowment.”
Grounded in an unshakable belief in the transformative power of Catholic education, Rover stepped out in faith to create a school where young people in the valley would rise academically, spiritually and personally. Her work continues to shape generations of students called to lead, serve and thrive. The Rover Family Endowed Scholarship Fund reflects a shared commitment to opening doors and investing in the potential of every student entrusted to our care.
“I have to begin with gratitude, because when I look out at all of you, I don’t just see a room full of people … I see 27 years of moments, of belief, of showing up when it mattered most,” Rover said. “As I have been thinking about tonight, about what I could possibly say to capture what Xavier has meant to me, and what all of you have meant to me and to this place, I kept coming back to something that has stayed with me over the years — the miracles. When someone sees a need, someone speaks up, and then … others step in. … The students, the Saints, who walk these halls and leave here changed, ready to go out and change the world — that is the miracle. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this miracle.”
Learn more about Xavier Prep at xavierprep.org.
Madeline Zuckerman is owner and president of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations Inc., a marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, California. Zuckerman is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a Desert Arc Champion, a member of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation and a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. She has been a guest reporter for The Desert Sun for 18 years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Xavier Prep honors DoeDee Rover at annual companions dinner
Reporting by Madeline Zuckerman, Special to The Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Madeline Zuckerman, Special to The Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
