There is a reason why Immaculate Heart Academy has been repeatedly named the Best Private School in Bergen County. In addition to its rigorous academic program and powerhouse athletics, students are empowered on a daily basis to lead with confidence and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
Service at IHA is more than just something that is required; it is a central part of the school’s mission to form students as young women who embody the Gospel and dedicate themselves to Christian service by giving back to their communities and developing compassion for others.
Students attend several Midnight Runs in New York City throughout the school year to provide food, clothes, and conversations with individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition to the Midnight Runs, IHA Campus Ministry also holds annual Christmas and Easter drives for clothes, candy, gift cards, and books for Strengthen Our Sisters Shelter and Sacred Heart School. Students also use the opportunity of Catholic Schools Week to hold an additional charity drive for Pencils for Pula (PFP), recently raising more than 3,600 school supplies for students in under-resourced classrooms. According to PFP, “IHA’s continued support is a powerful reminder of what a caring community can accomplish when it comes together for a common purpose.”
Students dedicate their time to support vulnerable populations across many generations. They host diaper drives for Saint Joseph’s Care Corner in Oradell, craft cards and bracelets with encouraging messages for hospice patients at Villa Marie Claire, and treat hundreds of senior citizens to a free dinner and companionship for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Service at IHA also extends to the athletic field as sports teams regularly host fundraisers and events for various causes. The IHA Softball Team, for instance, hosts an annual invitational tournament in honor of the late IHA coach Anthony LaRezza, who passed away due to cancer. Over the last several years, IHA Softball has raised nearly $125,000 to support Tackle Kids Cancer and Hackensack Meridian Health Children’s Cancer Institute. The school’s numerous clubs also get involved in service opportunities as part of their mission. As an example, the Military Awareness Club volunteered to place wreaths on the headstones of U.S. veterans buried at the United States Military Academy.
To recognize all of these efforts, IHA held its annual Service Awards Ceremony earlier this year to celebrate students for their inspiring commitment to service. From service to the elderly and individuals with disabilities to breast cancer awareness and dedication to veterans, IHA students served more than 33,000 hours during the 2025-2026 school year! Ms. Emily Ash ’19, theology teacher and director of Campus Ministry, explains why IHA is proud to recognize their service, “Through their dedication to service, our students bring so much light to the world and make the Love of God Himself present and real in the lives of others. In a world that says, TikTok and Instagram likes determine your worth and that a perfectly curated Instagram feed with a catchy caption is what you have to do to be known in the world, we celebrate all of our young women who say we know differently — we know that the one who truly knows us is God, and He asks us go out and love His people through our actions. Their service points to what authentic service should be: selfless, loving, and using one's God-given gifts to meet the needs of His people.”