Restore St. Leonard’s: Pro Bono For Papa Antonio

We get an offer we can’t refuse.

Situation

St. Leonard’s Church in Boston’s historic North End was in need of major renovations. Father Antonio Nardoianni had a dated mailing list, a small army of committed volunteers and “this guy named Tony” who knew something about marketing.

Insight

The church is a neighborhood icon but in the past 40 years many parishioners had moved away. We knew if we created a fundraising machine and rekindled their warm memories and deep nostalgia — of baptisms, weddings, festivals, etc., many would be inspired to help us.

Solution

We leaned into this beautiful shared history, creating a web site, direct mail, social media and signage. Subcommittees were given clear outreach responsibilities. And with Father Antonio as our surprise “closer” we raised over $3.2 million and completed the restoration debt free.

Creative Partner: Melissa Smith