Bennett & Roseann Donaldson to Receive “Tuition Warrior Award”

Building Foundations and Opening Doors of Opportunity

Bennett & Roseann Donaldson
P19 20 22

Founders of the Donaldson Family Scholarship Fund

At Brother Rice, we believe in building foundations and opening doors; foundations of faith and brotherhood, doors of opportunity and promise. Each generation is called to ensure these doors are open and accessible for the next generation of Warrior brothers. It is upon this foundation of shared commitment that we build the bond of brotherhood and ensure the mission of Brother Rice High School continues to thrive and grow.

It is in this spirit of building foundations and opening doors that we are pleased to announce Bennett & Roseann Donaldson will be recognized as the Honorees at the Rice in the D Band of Brothers Dinner.

At its core, for our students and families, what defines the Brother Rice Experience is not simply our shared traditions, but our collective willingness to recognize and embrace the gifts in one another. That spirit of individual authenticity and shared purpose lives powerfully in the example set by the Donaldson Family.

Raised in Grosse Pointe, Bennett and Roseann have always valued the importance of Catholic education and the lifelong bond it fosters. For Roseann, this calling is deeply personal. As the youngest of ten children, she was the only one in her family unable to attend Catholic school during a difficult period marked by the loss of her father when she was just eleven years old. This experience shaped her deep commitment to ensuring that other families would have access to a Catholic education, regardless of financial circumstance.

As a parent of three Warriors, Bennett quickly recognized what makes Brother Rice unique: a place where academic excellence and championship athletics are grounded in brotherhood, forming young men of purpose and character. Drawing from his own journey in the construction and real estate industry, where he built his business from the ground up, Bennett embraced hard work, personal discipline, leadership, and faith in his professional life; values that seamlessly align with the mission of Brother Rice.

During their years as a Brother Rice family, Bennett and Roseann have been steadfast in their support for the school’s mission, especially in the area of tuition assistance. They understand firsthand both the transformative power of a Brother Rice education and the responsibility it bears to make this opportunity available to others.

From Kairos retreats to the Band of Brothers, the Donaldsons have fully immersed themselves in the Brother Rice Experience alongside their sons, James ’19, Russell ’20, and William ’22. Reflecting on his decision to attend Brother Rice, one of their sons shared, “It felt like I wanted to be part of something bigger than anything I had ever known.” This sentiment captures the very heart of our community and the Donaldson Family.

In gratitude for the profound impact Brother Rice has had on their family, Bennett and Roseann made a transformational $500,000 gift dedicated to tuition assistance and the Donaldson Family Scholarship, ensuring the doors of opportunity and the life-changing experience of a Brother Rice education remained accessible to as many qualified young men as possible.

Their generosity, compassion, and commitment to building foundations and opening doors embody the very best of the Brother Rice brotherhood. We are deeply grateful for their example and proud to honor their family with the Edmund Rice Tuition Warrior Award at this year’s Rice in the D Band of Brothers Dinner.

Please join us in celebrating the Donaldson Family for the lasting difference they are making in the lives of Brother Rice students and families.

We invite the Brother Rice community to join us for Rice in the D on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Detroit Athletic Club as we celebrate an evening of brotherhood and mission by passing the gift of a Catholic education on from one generation of Warriors to the next. Registration information can be found here.