The McDonogh Mothers’ Club was formally organized on October 13, 1923, by a group of McDonogh mothers whose objective was to support the School, mainly through financial contributions. One of their first acts was to present the School with a bus because, according to Bob Lamborn, on Visiting Days they had to take streetcars from downtown to the point on “The Pike” (Reisterstown Road) where it met “The Lane” (McDonogh Road) and then walk to the school. “Eventually, the mothers got tired of walking the lane and bought the school’s first bus,” he said.
Over the years, the Mothers Club provided the school with funds for new band instruments, grandstands for the drill field, and the outdoor swimming pool. It hosted large events, including oyster suppers, card parties, and later the Christmas Bazaar, to raise funds for these projects.
In 1931, when a father was elected president, the club reorganized and was renamed the McDonogh Patrons’ Club. The renaming also provided an opportunity for people with no connection to the School to support the fundraising efforts after the 1928 fire in Main Building. In addition to routinely making significant financial contributions to the School, the Patrons Club Executive Board provided valuable input on important decisions that shaped the School’s policy on coeducation, racial integration, dress code, college counseling, underage alcohol and drug use, the value of athletics and more.
In 2006, the Patrons Club was renamed the McDonogh Parents Association (MPA). The mission of the group is to foster a trusting partnership between the parents and the School through communication, parent education, and community interaction. The MPA also works to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive community for all McDonogh families.
