Father and Son Team

Braden Quinn '21, left, and father, James.

"This is where I need to be," Braden Quinn '21 said after he shadowed at U of D Jesuit on Ash Wednesday in 2015, when he was in the sixth grade.

Braden's dad, James, said, "After that visit I knew it was important to give Braden this experience." James had heard about how special things were here at U of D Jesuit from friends, co-workers and customers at the Les Stanford dealership where he has worked for 18 years.

"I was drawn to the experience that U of D Jesuit brings together people from all communities and backgrounds, and that's real life. Truthfully, I didn't know if I would be able to swing it as a single dad with Braden and two older daughters, both financially and logistically, as we live in northern Macomb County." Fortunately, Braden qualified as a Circle of Care Scholarship recipient, which helped ease the financial burden. The bus system also helped logistics with stops near home and dad's office.

James encouraged Braden to get involved right away. The first thing the father and son team did was work as deliverers for Focus: HOPE for the monthly and Christmas deliveries. As Braden's involvement increased with swimming, band, Labre Ministry, retreat leadership, Open House guide, serving as a Big Brother and Auction volunteer, James was right there with him. James attends all parent events, swim meets, football and basketball games, Dads' Club events, Fine Arts Festival, and the Scholarship Auction just to name a few. Fellow parents like to call James the "Mayor" of the school because he knows everyone. With a ready smile and outgoing personality, everyone enjoys talking with him.

Promoting the bond between a father and son is a significant theme at Dads' Club meetings. That idea inspired James to encourage Braden to participate in the Science and Engineering Center Campaign. "As the school has been gracious enough to help provide for your education, Braden, why not give back?" James asked his son. Braden agreed and selected a weekly donation that James matched for three years. When the pledge was fulfilled, Braden asked, "What's next?"

In that same spirit, James recently mentioned the school is named as beneficiary on one of his insurance policies. The original intention was to allow Braden to finish school should anything happen to James. Now that Braden is a junior with his eye on attending Wayne State University, James has named the school as beneficiary of a new policy intended to one day create a fully endowed Circle of Care scholarship.

The Quinn family has several mottos, one of which is "Do more." James says it is their way of living the "Magis." By paying it forward in so many ways, James and Braden are true Men for Others.

To learn how you can make a lasting impact on U of D Jesuit for generations to come, contact Jenny Miller P'20, P'22 at 313-927-2335 or jennifer.miller@uofdjesuit.org.