Holy Spirit Students Raise $55,000 for Schools

Students at a Minneapolis Catholic school exceeded their fundraising goal in the annual Marathon for Nonpublic Education.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy

Quiet autumn residential street in Minneapolis with fallen yellow maple leaves on the sidewalk and a brick house at the end of the block. — Students at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Minneapolis raised $55,000 in the Marathon for Nonpublic Education, surpassing their $50,000 goal. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Students at Holy Spirit Catholic School raised $55,000 in the Marathon for Nonpublic Education, surpassing the school's $50,000 goal. The students gathered pledges and walked around their Minneapolis neighborhood on Oct. 2.

Why it matters

The Marathon for Nonpublic Education supports Catholic schools, and many now participate in walks, runs and bicycle trips to raise funds. Exceeding the goal shows how student-led fundraising can contribute meaningfully to school budgets.

Holy Spirit Catholic School students raised $55,000 against a $50,000 target, exceeding it by $5,000. The Marathon for Nonpublic Education, which began with the Knights of Columbus in the Twin Cities in 1974, continues to be held each October, though the source does not detail how the proceeds will be used.

The players

Father Tom Margevicius

Pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic School who pledged to eat bugs if students exceeded the fundraising goal.

The details

Students gathered pledges and walked around the school's Minneapolis neighborhood on Oct. 2. Father Tom Margevicius promised to eat bugs if the goal was exceeded, and at the end-of-Marathon carnival on Oct. 30 he ate roasted crickets alongside several faculty and staff members.

Oct. 2: Students gathered pledges and walked the neighborhood.
Oct. 30: End-of-Marathon carnival, where Father Margevicius ate roasted crickets.

Roadmap

The Marathon for Nonpublic Education began with the Knights of Columbus in the Twin Cities in 1974 and has since spread to many Catholic schools. Holy Spirit's result fits this continuing pattern of walks, runs and bicycle trips raising money for nonpublic education.

Families and donors in the Minneapolis area who support Catholic education can see how pledge-based walks translate into school funding. The source does not indicate any changes to tuition or school programs.

The takeaway

Student-driven pledge drives can meet or exceed ambitious targets when participants are engaged, as shown by the $55,000 raised at Holy Spirit. Schools seeking similar results may consider pairing a clear goal with a visible, memorable incentive.