When Jenn Cherveny first walked through the doors of Escuela de Guadalupe, she wasn’t sure she belonged there. A mom of four young children—each still in elementary school—she was just beginning to imagine a life that included something outside the full-time job of parenting. She had been raised to embed herself in the communities where she lived, to truly immerse herself in other cultures rather than simply serve them. But still, she wondered: What could I offer a school like this? Am I good enough?
Her introduction to Escuela turned out to be a divine match—one of those rare connections where values, experience, and opportunity align perfectly.
Rooted in Immersion, Not Charity
Jenn’s worldview was shaped early. Because of her father’s work, the family lived in both Europe and South America, and each time they entered a new community her parents chose to enroll their children in local schools rather than American schools for expatriates. This ensured that she and her siblings became fluent not only in the language, but also in the rhythms, traditions, and relationships of daily life. The family believed in providing opportunities, not charity—and in learning cultures by living them. It’s a distinction Jenn still carries today: there’s a world of difference between logging “service hours” in a community and truly becoming part of it.
That’s what resonated so deeply when she encountered Escuela’s mission: an academically excellent, Catholic, dual-language school for a diverse student body. It wasn’t about swooping in to “help” children and families. These were students working hard toward their dreams, families investing in their children’s futures. Sometimes, the missing piece was simply the financial support to make those dreams possible.
Jenn Cherveny is Accompanying, Not Serving
From the beginning, Jenn approached Escuela as a partner, not a benefactor. She doesn’t see herself as “serving” the school—she accompanies it, walking alongside its leaders, families, and students in pursuit of shared goals.
“I think it is this beautiful, magical place where everyone works hard. It doesn’t feel like work. It just feels like this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” she says.
That sense of purpose quickly translated into action. Jenn chaired the very first Salud—Escuela’s now-signature fundraising event—and infused it with her vision of a communal celebration. It wasn’t about status, table placements, or designer dresses. It was about joy, togetherness, and shared commitment. Over the years, she chaired or co-chaired Salud five or six more times, helping it grow into a powerhouse event that grossed more than $600,000 last year.
Jenn also joined the board—eventually serving nine years, including as board chair. She led through both challenge and change. For example, she helped steer the school during the pandemic while then-President Michelle Galuszka was on maternity leave. She’s also proud to have been part of the team that achieved ACIS accreditation, strengthening Escuela’s standing as a premier independent Catholic school.
Along the way, Jenn’s personal growth as a volunteer and philanthropist mirrored Escuela’s growth into a stronger, more viable institution. She credits much of her own impact to the school’s leadership—especially Galuszka—and to a board filled with people who work well together, who have “no ego,” and who work solely for the mission.
“When a nonprofit has strong leadership,” she says, “it enables volunteers and donors to do more impactful work.”
A Family Commitment
Not surprisingly, Jenn’s family is also involved with Escuela. Jenn and her husband, Jason, have supported Escuela financially, and she also introduced her parents to the school. Warren and Mary Lynn started the Staley Family Foundation when Warren retired and they have also become a consistent partner to Escuela. On a more fundamental level, Jenn is proud that her children—now in high school, college, and beyond—have witnessed her living the values she and Jason have worked to instill: commitment, humility, and walking alongside others.
Receiving the Fr. Tom Prag, SJ, Service Award is, for Jenn, deeply humbling and she deflects the spotlight, giving credit to everyone with whom she worked so tirelessly.
“It’s a village and we were doing the work together. The award is for Escuela. It’s for the continued momentum forward. It’s for the team we were for the past nine years and what we were able to accomplish.”
However, she does admit that the award is also validating in a personal way.
“When you’re raising kids, you sometimes wonder if what you’re doing beyond your family matters,” she says. “This is validating in the sense that I’ve made a difference, and that’s all that matters.”
A Legacy of Walking Side-by-Side
Jenn’s story is not one of charity bestowed, but of presence, partnership, and purpose. She has accompanied Escuela de Guadalupe—not from ahead or behind, but side by side—through growth, challenges, and triumphs. And in doing so, she has modeled the very heart of the school’s mission.
