A commitment to offer a Xaverian education to all qualified students, regardless of their financial standing, is a traditional and widely acknowledged strength of the school. We simply do not want capable students excluded for financial reasons.  
The education a young man receives at Xaverian is not meant to be the same as he could receive at any other school. We are unique. It is not enough to know all the facts. Values matter. Faith matters. Service matters.

The mission of the Advancement Program is to keep Xaverian accessible to qualified students and secure financial resources for its current and future financial needs. However, we cannot do this without your help. Your help is critical to the aspirations of our students and the financial stability of Xaverian.

We have been blessed with the generosity of our Board of Trustees, alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents and friends, and we do not take these blessings for granted. Please explore our site to find out how you can help us now to secure our future.

Meet the Team

List of 5 items.

  • Dr. Christopher Vasta ’00

    Chief Administrator for School Advancement
    E: cvasta@xbhs.com
    P: (781) 801-1604

    Contact Dr. Vasta for:
    • How to find meaning in your giving to Xaverian
    • Major and Planned Giving
    • Questions pertaining to the oversight of the school advancement office

    Bio:
    Dr. Christopher Vasta ’00 is Xaverian’s Chief Administrator for School Advancement, responsible for developing a program to communicate Xaverian’s mission to all school constituencies and securing financial assistance through a comprehensive development program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and education from Merrimack College, a Master of Education from Bridgewater State University, and a Doctor of Education from Northeastern University. 
     
    Dr. Vasta has played a role at every level of school leadership, whether in the classroom as a teacher, on the field as a coach, after school as a club moderator, a campus minister, or in the administration as dean of students and the assistant principal for academics. In his current role, he leads a team of advancement professionals who build and sustain a culture of philanthropy in order to ensure that the mission of the school is appropriately funded in both the near- and long-term. 
     
    An important formative experience for Dr. Vasta occurred in the summer of 2004, when he volunteered with the Order of St. Augustine (Augustinians) in San Gimignano, Italy. Dr. Vasta lives in Medway with his wife and four children.

     
  • Mr. Dave Nelson ’02

    Director of Annual and Leadership Giving
    P: (781) 801-1641

    Contact Dave for:
    • Questions about annual giving
    • Fund for Xaverian
    • XB12 Recurring Gift Program
    • Questions about planned giving

    Bio:
    Mr. Dave Nelson, a 2002 graduate of Xaverian, joined the advancement team in 2022 as the Director of Annual and Leadership Giving. Mr. Nelson comes to Xaverian with extensive professional experience in sales. He also founded Milestone Mind, which helped high-performing individuals, teams, and organizations develop mental resilience to achieve meaningful focus, personal resolve, and improve productivity. After Xaverian, Mr. Nelson attended Lafayette College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and sociology. As a Lafayette football co-captain, Mr. Nelson was a 2006 recipient of the ECAC Award of Valor, an annual award to honor Eastern College Athletic Conference student athletes whose courage, motivation, and relentless determination serves as an inspiration to all. In his role at Xaverian, Mr. Nelson continues to build upon the school’s strong annual giving program (the Fund for Xaverian), while working closely with the rest of the advancement team in cultivating new major gifts and stewarding donors.
  • Mrs. Pam Fothergill, P ’07

    Director of Data Management and Operations
    P: (781) 801-1635

    Contact Pam for:
    • Questions about Volunteer opportunities
    • Scholarship Program
    • Fashion Show

    Bio:
    Mrs. Pam Fothergill, P ’07 has been a member of Xaverian’s advancement team since 2006. After witnessing her son’s rewarding experience at the school, she knew that she would be happy if her own experience working at Xaverian was even half as good (thankfully, she says it has been every bit as good!). With a passion for building relationships with parents and ensuring that all families have access to a Xaverian education, Mrs. Fothergill has brought her background in banking and accounting to roles like Gift Processor, Advancement Services Manager, and Director of Stewardship and Advancement Services. She currently serves as Xaverian’s Director of Data Management and Operations. You can often find her at advancement events like the gala, reunion, and the FXS reception, greeting guests at the registration table and making sure everything runs smoothly. She has proudly coordinated the annual fashion show for the past eight years. She currently lives in Franklin with her husband. 
  • Mrs. Linda Calabrese, P ’20

    Advancement Services Manager
    E: lcalabrese@xbhs.com    
    P: (781) 801-1622

    Contact Mrs. Calabrese for:
    • Assistance with making a gift to Xaverian (mail, credit card, wire transfer, ACH, stock transfer, gift in-kind)
    • Questions about your giving history
    • Tax receipt requests

    Bio:
    Mrs. Linda Calabrese, P ’20 holds a BBA in Accounting from Siena College. She began as an advancement volunteer and was hired as the coordinator for the 2019 Gala. Since 2019, she has served as the Advancement Services Manager. She is responsible for processing all gifts received, as well as generating acknowledgement letters and tax receipts. She works with Xaverian’s business office to track the department’s revenue and expenses, and records registrations and sponsorships for a number of Xaverian’s major events. She is a member of Xaverian’s Staff Formation Committee and the Faculty and Staff Retreat planning committee. Mrs. Calabrese is a longtime member of St. Mary’s Parish in Holliston, where she served for thirteen years as the moderator of the WINGS (Women in God’s Spirit) Ministry. 
  • Mrs. Marissa Gelso, P ’19, ’21

    Advancement Office Assistant
    E: mgelso@xbhs.com 
    P: (781) 801-1636

    Contact Mrs. Gelso for:
    • Questions concerning the advancement calendar
    • Data updates; including address changes, employment, advance degrees marriages, births, deaths, etc.
    • Alumni Class Notes

    Bio:
    Mrs. Marissa Gelso, P ’19, ’21 has a passion and enthusiasm for Xaverian and its mission that began when her sons started attending the school. An extremely active parent, she was a consistent volunteer for the advancement office, serving as the Fashion Show Chairperson, Hospitality Committee Co-Chair, Bulletin Board Committee Co-Chair, and for the admissions office, serving as an Admissions Ambassador. Mrs. Gelso first joined Xaverian’s staff in 2017, aiding the admissions team during four enrollment seasons. She enjoyed connecting with prospective parents and students, and sharing her own family’s experience with Xaverian education. In August of 2021, Mrs. Gelso joined the advancement team. She currently serves as the Advancement Office Assistant. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining constituent data, providing support for events, and managing seasonal displays.
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.