NEW ORLEANS, LA — May 23, 2025 — In a profound act of generosity and vision, New Orleans native Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi and his wife, Carol Jupiter Garibaldi, have made a transformational gift of $50,000 to St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School (SKDP), one of the most significant contributions in the school’s history. Their donation will support student scholarships and much-needed campus renovations, ensuring that Drexel Prep’s mission continues to thrive for generations to come. Their gift honors family members who were educated at Xavier University Preparatory (Xavier Prep), the founding institution of today’s Drexel Prep. Antoine’s sisters, Alfreda Leonetti Garibaldi ’62 and Agnes Garibaldi ’64, as well as Carol’s godfather, Charles B. Bell ’47, uncle, Clarence J. Jupiter ’48 and father, Clyde P. Jupiter ’49 and many other cousins benefitted greatly from the excellent education of Xavier Prep. Their gift is also a reflection of their strong belief in the founding mission of Xavier Prep to “provide a strong Catholic education for students and prepare them for the challenges ahead.”  

Antoine and Carol also believe that there is an urgent and overwhelming need to prepare students now and are grateful that Drexel Prep alumni and friends stepped up in 2013 to continue to fulfill those needs. “We could not wait ten or twenty years to donate money through our will,” said Carol. “The need to empower and prepare students is so urgent that if we and others wait to give, Drexel Prep and other institutions that serve our students may not survive.”  

Dr. Antoine Garibaldi, a locally and nationally respected educator, is currently president emeritus of University of Detroit Mercy after serving as president there for more than 11 years, was a professor and senior administrator at Xavier University of Louisiana for nearly 15 years, Howard University’s first provost and chief academic officer, and Gannon University’s president for a decade, and has prepared high school and college students for numerous professions and leadership roles throughout his career. Carol Jupiter Garibaldi has deep roots in New Orleans, but because her parents were part of the great migration out of New Orleans, she was born and raised in California.  But Carol returned to New Orleans as a young person and lived here for 20 years.  New Orleans taught her the importance of family, education and providing opportunities.  

The Garibaldi’s major gift comes at a pivotal moment for the school, which is proudly celebrating a historic milestone: the graduation of its largest class in recent years. The Class of 2025, comprising 36 young ladies, achieved a 100% graduation rate, 99% college acceptance, and earned nearly $6 million in scholarships. These scholars have been accepted to over 100 colleges and universities nationwide, continuing the Prep legacy of academic excellence, faith-based leadership, and community impact. “ These graduates represent the spirit and strength of St. Katharine Drexel Prep,” said Principal Latasha LaBostrie Skidmore. “They are proof of what’s possible when young ladies are supported, challenged, and believed in. The Garibaldi’s incredible generosity ensures more students will have the opportunity to rise and lead.”  

Their generosity is not only an investment in the students walking the halls of 5116 Magazine Street today but also a call to action for alumni, families, and community leaders to join in continuing this important legacy.