NDP NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING; DAN LAI PROMOTED TO SENIOR MARCOM DIRECTOR

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February 5, 2025

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, Mich. has hired Cynthia Corey to lead its philanthropic strategy as director of annual giving. Corey will primarily be responsible for growing awareness around and donations for the Notre Dame Fund. The fund helps close the gap between income from tuition and the school’s yearly operating expenses.

“With nearly a decade of experience in the private school sector—spanning major and annual giving, special events, and alumni relations—Cynthia brings a wealth of expertise and innovative ideas. Her experience will be invaluable in advancing our annual giving efforts and strengthening all aspects of our fundraising initiatives,” said Matthew P. Brown, vice president for advancement at NDP.

Corey previously served as director of advancement at Regina High School. Most recently she served as the director of advancement and alumni relations at Austin Catholic where she was responsible for donor and alumni engagement.

Corey said she is looking forward to talking with donors, learning about the NDP community, and sharing the importance of philanthropic giving to advance the school’s mission.

“All gifts make a lasting impact on the school’s mission and the education our students receive. It is essential to continue to build and maintain strong relationships with our current and potential donors. This will allow our donors to fully understand the importance of giving and the impact their gift has on the students of Notre Dame Prep,” Corey said.

Communications Director Promoted to Senior Position

In addition to Corey, the Advancement Office announced that Daniel Lai, NDP’s director of communications, is promoted to senior director of marketing and strategic communications effective immediately.

Lai has been with the school since 2019 overseeing major projects, including two website redesigns, the launch of the school’s first-ever smartphone app for parents, a strategic plan, executive communications, alumni communications, and prospective and current family communications. He is also certified in crisis communication strategy.

A graduate of Wayne State University and the University of Texas, Lai previously served as communications manager for the Detroit Regional Chamber. He is also an award-winning journalist. As senior director, Lai will be responsible for leading the school’s Marketing and Communications Department. He will collaborate with Director of Marketing Mike Kelly and Jim Sesi, webmaster, to leverage NDP’s communications platforms to support the overall internal and external communications functions of the school. This includes working closely with the head of school and the NDP Alumni Association, Office of Enrollment Management, and Advancement Office to assure that each constituency of the school has the information necessary to keep it informed, engaged and supportive.

Corey and Lai are both located within the NDP Advancement Office located at the Fr. Colin House, 1389 Giddings Road, Pontiac, Mich.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? dlai@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.