West Catholic Preparatory High School (45th and Chestnut) recently received a $5 million gift, according to reports.

The benefactor is Leonard Mazur, a 1963 alumnus of West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, which merged with West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1989 to form West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

The money, which Mazur donated with his wife, Helen, will support the school’s strategic plan which focuses on academics and students.

A native of Southwest Philadelphia, Mazur is the CEO of Citius Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Maynard, Mass., according to a report by Philly.com. He’s also a member of the School’s board.

The 100-year-old school was in danger of closing in 2012 due to lack of funding, but was saved in 2013 with a $1 million donation. It also changed its name to West Catholic Preparatory High School. Since then, the school has been trying to remain financially self-sufficient, increase enrollment numbers and improve the quality of education. The school has also seen several changes in leadership over the past few years.

Last month, the school’s Board of Trustees in partnership with the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, officially began the search for the new president. Current President, Brother Richard Kestler, has announced his resignation effective June 30, 2016.

What a difference a year has made for West Philadelphia Catholic High School. The school, located at 45th and Chestnut, was supposed to have closed last year, one of many victims of school closures and consolidation undertaken by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. But it was saved and officials there announced on Monday that the school received a $1 million donation, the largest single donation in its 96-year history.

Pledged by an unnamed donor, the money will help fund a five-year plan focused on issues such as enrollment and technology. West Catholic’s president, Brother Richard Kestler, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the gift will also bolster the school’s plan to become financially self-sufficient by 2015.

The school will also get a new name – from now on it will be called “West Catholic Preparatory High School, located in University City.”

Enrollment figures are on the rise as well. The school had about 250 students last year. This year it will add a freshmen class of 145, three times bigger than last year’s class and the largest since the 2007-2008 school year.

The Inquirer has a fairly in-depth story today about the fight on Friday morning at the 46th Street El stop that left six West Philadelphia high school students, most of them college-bound, with injuries. The fight had been brewing for some time, the paper reports, and officials at both West Catholic and Boys Latin have met with their respective student bodies to call for an end to the violence.

The Inquirer quotes Boys Latin Chief Executive Officer David P. Hardy as telling juniors and seniors at his school:

“Anyone at this school who retaliates will be expelled. This is over,” he said. “Think about your future. . . . You don’t want to throw that away.”

For the complete story click here.

It turned out to be easier than West Catholic players ever could have imagined. West Catholic won the PIAA Class AA state title today with a 50-14 defeat of South Fayette at Hersheypark Stadium.

West Catholic dominated on the ground, rushing for 406 yards on 48 carries. West’s David Williams led the ground attack with 183 yards on 14 carries. The win will help West fans and players forget the 35-34 double overtime loss in the title game against Wilmington Area two years ago.

West Catholic takes on South Fayette today in the PIAA Class AA state football championship at noon. If you didn’t make the trip to Hershey you can still catch the game live on television.

The game will be televised on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN). Here is a listing of the channel numbers for a bunch of cable companies.

A few bus ride/game  tickets remain for the West Catholic football state title Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults and include bus transportation from West Catholic (4501 Chestnut St.) for the noon game against South Fayette, an undefeated team from the Pittsburgh suburb of McDonald. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by 9 a.m. on Friday. Call the school at 215-386-2244.

A pep rally will be held at the school tomorrow at noon for students and alumni.