Vision in Action: people, program, potential
Campaign Update March 2009 Faulkner family members at the Campaign launch.
Off to a Great Start, continued:
Off to a Great Start: Campaign Leadership Committee
Ann Thompson and Pat Mutchler, Co-Chairs Naomi and Skip Atkins Marc and David Berman Jill and Randy Bown Gwen and Dave Campbell Patty and Rob Delany Herb Fisher Ricki and Steve Fisher Heather and Mark Garrison Suzanne and Keith Hodges Janet and Jim Israel Suzanne and Jeff Kahn Margie and Kevin McGlynn Paula and Marc Perry Beth and Mitch Sargen Bonnie and Peter Schorsch Tracey and Rod Sandmeyer Rich Nourie Jon Harris
Giving to the Campaign
I hope you enjoy this first issue of our campaign newsletter, which will be coming to you three times a year to keep you up to date on the progress of Vision in Action. Given our launch of the Campaign on November 19, 2008 just as our financial markets were beginning to tumble, I feel very good about where we are at this early stage. To date, we have raised more than $1.2M in capital pledges, and nearly all of that comes from about 35 people. This tells me two very important things. One, the Campaign’s goals resonate with our philanthropic leaders and two, these same people are making significant contributions to the School even at a time when people might be reluctant to pledge future dollars toward
Heather and Mark Garrison at the Nov. 19 kickoff.
a campaign. My conclusion is that they believe enough in the school to make sure that AFS will weather this economic storm and come through on the other side with an enhanced academic program, more competitive salaries for our faculty and a renovated cafeteria to better accommodate our students.
Dear Friends: Over the past four years, I have eaten a lot of pizza with seniors during the lunches I host in my office for senior advisories. I like to check in with them about how senior year is going and learn what has been most valuable to them about their AFS experience. Overwhelmingly, there is one common theme in these discussions: how AFS teachers have ignited PASSIONS for them and generously shared their lives with them.
One of the most important aspects of our Campaign is that we are taking the opportunity to build our Annual Fund at the same time. Our hope is that $1.7M of the Campaign goal of $4M will be generated by Annual Fund dollars. We aim to double our Annual Fund in the next three years to fuel significant aspects of our program. With that in mind, I hope you will consider the enticing mathematical possibilities if everyone doubled their Annual Fund gift to AFS. We could generate $800,000 that way and be in a very healthy place financially. To date, a number of friends of the school have made this a philanthropic priority and I thank them for their leadership.
“
Tracey and I are very pleased to support the Campaign because we love the AFS product. My oldest daughter is thriving in college because of what she received from AFS and I have no doubts about what Diana will take with her when she graduates in 2011. We believe the Campaign’s goals will only enhance an already great school
”
Rod Sandmeyer, AFS parent of Lindsay ’08 and Diana ’11
From the Co-Chairs: We want you to know how excited we are to be the co-chairs of Vision in Action: People, Program & Potential. We have been thrilled with the response so far. We know times are tough but we feel it is now more important then ever to show our support for AFS. As parents of an AFS 10th grader and, an AFS graduate, and as longtime members of this vibrant community, we hope you will share our excitement about the School’s vision for creating an even stronger program. This $4 million Campaign builds on the significant capital improvements achieved in the last few years and will have a profound and lasting impact on every student in the school. With your commitment and support, we are confident we can achieve our goals.
Please enjoy this first issue of the campaign newsletter and thank you for your support. Jon Harris Assistant Head of School for Advancement
Progress Report:
As Campaign chairs, we have made two pledges to the Campaign. We have pledged a gift to the capital component and we have pledged gifts to the Annual Fund over the next three years so that our Annual Fund gift in 2010 will be double what it is today.
$4M TOTAL PLEDGED $1.9M PERCENT TO GOAL 48% CAMPAIGN GOAL
For information about making a restricted gift to the Vision in Action campaign, contact Jon Harris, Assistant Head of School for Advancement at 215-576-3956. For information about making a gift to the AFS Annual Fund, contact Gabrielle Giddings, Director of Annual Giving at 215-576-3957. Abington Friends School
575 Washington Lane Jenkintown, PA 19046 215-886-4350 www.abingtonfriends.net
Our faculty are our TREASURE, forming relationships and creating opportunities that change lives. Teaching well today takes an extraordinary range of skills and talents. Creating a great faculty means not only finding and hiring excellent teachers, but sustaining their best work. It means providing compensation and benefits that can competitively attract and retain teachers of great spirit and promise. The Vision in Action Campaign significantly advances our ability to “invest in faculty”. There is absolutely no better investment we make in the education of our children than in the people who share their daily EXPERIENCE as teachers, advisors and mentors.
RICH NOURIE, Head of School
CAPITAL GOAL
$2.3M
CAPITAL PLEDGED
$1.2M
ANNUAL FUND GOAL
$1.7M (over 3 years)
ANNUAL FUND PLEDGED
$670K
We ask you to join us in supporting the Campaign with your own gifts to both the capital component of the Campaign and to the AFS Annual Fund. Let’s work together to achieve our goals for this Campaign so that our students can reap all the benefits of this compelling Vision in Action. With deep appreciation,
Pat Mutchler and Ann Thompson, Campaign Co-Chairs