When Holy Cross High School opened its doors in Delaware in 2025, an anonymous donor gave the new school $1 million to help it through its first year. One year later, on the first day of the school’s second academic year, the same donor contacted Head of School Tom Fertal again with another unexpected gift, this time worth $2 million. The latest contribution comes as Holy Cross works to establish a permanent campus in Frederica, where it has secured about 100 acres of land. The school is now developing plans for a new campus that it hopes to open in 2028.
The donor has asked to remain anonymous, while the school refers to the person as its “Angel Investor”.
Holy Cross High School began operating in autumn 2025 as an independent Catholic high school serving families in Kent and Sussex counties. It was established to provide a Catholic high-school option in an area that had been without one since the closure of St Thomas More Academy in 2020. The anonymous donor contacted Fertal and gave the school $1 million to support its inaugural year. Fertal was contacted by the same donor on the first day of the 2026-27 school year, exactly as Holy Cross began its second academic year, according to The Dialog. Instead of another introductory gift, the donor committed $2 million. With the latest contribution, the donor has now given Holy Cross a total of $3 million across its first two years.
The school refers to the anonymous benefactor as its “Angel Investor”. The school initially operated from a temporary location in Dover while working towards its long-term campus. From the outset, school leaders envisioned moving into a dedicated facility as enrolment and programmes expanded. The contribution arrived as the new institution was beginning to establish its academic programmes, build enrolment and develop the financial foundation needed for future growth. At the time, the donor’s identity was not disclosed, and the school has continued to keep it private.