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A $1 million pledge to South Jersey high school

St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, N.J., announced Monday that it had been promised its largest single gift ever - a pledge of $1 million to be given over a four-year period.

"I believe in the mission of St. Joseph High School and I wanted to invest in its future success," said Jeffrey Umosella, class of 1988.
"I believe in the mission of St. Joseph High School and I wanted to invest in its future success," said Jeffrey Umosella, class of 1988.Read more

St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, N.J., announced Monday that it had been promised its largest single gift ever - a pledge of $1 million to be given over a four-year period.

The contributor is Jeffrey Umosella, Class of 1988, vice-chairman of the school's board of trustees. In addition to being an alumnus of the school, Umosella is also the parent of a student at the high school and three students at St. Joseph Regional Elementary School.

"I was motivated by the exciting future and the strategic direction of St. Joseph High School," Umosella said in a statement. "As a leader in Catholic education, the school is making education more affordable to students coming from diocesan grammar schools, and is establishing pathways to college for its graduating seniors.

"I believe in the mission of St. Joseph High School and I wanted to invest in its future success."

In an interview, Umosella, who played football and basketball while at the school, said he wasn't always the strongest student or the best athlete, but his time at St. Joseph taught him valuable lessons. "It always taught me to work hard," said Umosella.

Umosella is president of Universal Supply, a building-supply business in Hammonton that was started by his father, Joseph Jr., and has grown to include 14 locations.

"Jeff's pledge is an example of our board's leadership and also of the passion which our alumni and parents have for St. Joseph's High School," said Lynn Domenico, principal.

In September, administrators said the school will begin a new program, Pathway to College, that will include encouraging students to continue their postsecondary education at Catholic institutions and continue to emphasize their faith. St. Joseph has about 320 boys and girls in grades nine through twelve.

rgiordano@phillynews.com