Archmere Academy Capital Campaign

capi tal campaign

Ensuring Student Success in a Post-Pandemic World

Archmere Academy’s historic and beautiful campus buildings have served its students and teachers well, adapting to many challenges and changes through its history. They have enabled an education that empowers students and nurtures community.

Pictured above: Laying the cornerstone of St. Norbert Hall in 1959; Archmere Prom, 1952.

Pictured at left: Biology class in The Manor, 1933; class in the Patio in the 1940s; the first Archmere gym, erected in 1939.

M ak ing A Vision R e a l it y

I

nspired by its 90-year tradition rooted in Catholic values and Norbertine charism, Archmere Academy empowers young men and women to grow as scholars and well-rounded, empathetic leaders “prepared for every good work” (2Tim 3:17).

We empower our students through a dynamic and rigorous academic program, expansive athletic and extra-curricular programs, creative opportunities in the visual and performing arts, and teaching methodologies that develop students’ advocacy and critical thinking skills.

Archmere’s vibrant learning environment thrives because of the combination of motivated students and caring and innovative faculty, who meet in small classes and create strong teacherstudent learning connections. Our core values of community, reverence, wisdom, zeal, and respect, are foundational to our student, faculty, and staff interactions, as we live our mission daily, considering all student interactions as teachable moments. All facets of the Archmere experience reflect our Catholic and Norbertine tradition and values. School days begin with prayer, as do classes, and the whole student body gathers together for liturgy throughout the school year.

The Sport and Spirituality Program offers athletes on school teams opportunities to reflect on the presence of God in the wonder of creation through athleticism and sport. The Academy’s Norbertine spirit of hospitality welcomes students and families from diverse religious backgrounds, who enhance our faith journey. The Academy is enriched by our socio-economically diverse and inclusive student body. Seventy percent of Archmere students benefit from scholarships and financial assistance.

For all of these reasons, students and parents choose Archmere. This is the Archmere difference that you support with your annual contributions and special gifts.

Archmere Academy has always fulfilled its mission of developing the whole student — body, mind, heart, and soul.

Archmere Academy has always fulfilled its mission of developing the whole student — body, mind, heart, and soul. In this post-pandemic time, students are managing social and emotional reactions to the isolation and loss created by the pandemic. In addition to providing an excellent academic experience and maintaining campus facilities, it is critical that the Academy provides resources for and support to students, families, and staff, who need to process their responses to COVID-19 and its variants. As with many educational institutions, we have been challenged to secure funds to keep pace with growing financial assistance needs for our prospective and current families, a direction that has accelerated during the pandemic. We must continue to grow Archmere’s endowment to support operations, as well as scholarship and financial assistance programs, to meet our growing financial needs.

On the coming pages, we outline for you our plans that include programs and renovations to spaces in which these student programs occur — programs that will have a positive impact on our current and future students’ learning experiences, health and wellness, and our beautiful campus with expansive buildings and grounds. With your participation in this campaign, you will make a difference for our students. We hope you will join us in this vision. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Gratefully,

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76 Head of School

Th e Patio Bui lt : 1916

With its home in the Patio, the Helena Raskob Arts Institute, provides students with lessons in voice, piano, and other instruments.

For education and public concerts, the historic Patio Dresden Organ is being restored and preserved by the Archmere Academy Organ Society.

The Helena Raskob Arts Institute provides annual concerts and programs for the public in the Patio.

The former residence of John and Helena Raskob, the Patio is the heart of the school, having served as Archmere’s first school building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home is filled with unique craftsmanship and artistry. Today, in addition to housing Archmere’s administrative offices, the entire school community gathers in the Patio regularly for meetings, classes, fine arts programs presented by the newly established Helena Raskob Arts Institute, and signature student events, including junior and senior proms and receptions after Ring Mass and graduation, as well as wedding receptions and other family occasions.

Archmere has completed some interior and exterior renovations and maintenance over the years with the resources available. However, significant issues influencing the building’s integrity and function must now be addressed.

The Patio’s stained-glass ceiling skylight needs repair to prevent bowing. It is a significant work in the style of Tiffany, designed by his student, Henry Keck.

Installing an efficient, building-wide HVAC system will ensure a healthy air quality and constant indoor temperature and will help preserve the ceiling, as well as other finishes, the historic organ, and multiple pianos used for studio rehearsals and concert performances. Air conditioning the space will make the facility suitable for summer rental events, which is not practical at present due to extreme heat and humidity.

Combined with a refresh of the catering kitchen in the house, these renovations will offer an attractive venue year-round to support an increased revenue stream from event rentals.

The Patio: $1,650,000 | Work Planned for 2023-24 •

Install Phase 1 of a new HVAC system in the building for providing heat to all floors and air conditioning to the main floor.

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Repair and refurbish the stained-glass skylight

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Rewire/replace existing ceiling lighting with LED lighting

The Manor: Home to the Visual Arts Bu i lt : 1916 138 Delaware Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 2021 Recognized as a 2021 Top-50 High School Visual Arts Program 4 Students won National Scholastic Arts Medals in 2021

Archmere’s Visual Arts and Design program offers a broad range of visual, communication, and design experiences, and connects the arts with other disciplines, including the sciences and humanities.

Although art and design courses are not required for graduation, 42% of the student body is enrolled in at least one art and design class.

The Manor, built between 1916 and 1918, was the garage and staff quarters of the original Raskob estate, and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. First converted to classroom spaces in 1940, the Manor has had many uses. Today, it is home to the Visual Arts and Design program.

There have been some renovations and upgrades to the building, but a more comprehensive planned renovation is needed to support student programs. Recently, because of health concerns generated by the pandemic, a new HVAC system was installed. As a result of a comprehensive facility study conducted by ABHA architects, Delaware, a three-phase renovation plan has been developed estimated at $5 million. Taking elements from each phase, the Academy’s leadership has outlined an approach to the building renovation that creates immediate impact on students’ experiences and provides operational efficiencies. Refurbishing and/or replacing with historical accuracy all of the bronze windows; replacing glass block with glass doors in the style of the original wooden garage doors, updating some electrical and plumbing, upgrading the fire suppression system, and adding a chair lift and ramps for enhanced ADA accessibility are included in the scope of work.

The Manor : $741,000 | Work Planned for 2023-24

Th e Mo glia Fie l d Hou se Bui lt : 1939 / 1 9 6 7

31 DSAC Conference Championships since 2017 23 DIAA Varsity and JV Teams, 3 sports seasons, and summer conditioning 3.72 overall student-athlete grade point average in 2022

The Moglia Field House was built in two stages with the first gym, recently named the Marci Aitken Gymnasium, erected in 1939.

The second gym, constructed in 1967, is connected to the original building with a lobby, concession area, restrooms, and athletic director’s office. In 2006, a renovation of the complex included new bleachers and a conversion of a lower-level bus garage into the Ambrogi Fitness Center for athletes.

A well-rounded education exercises the body as well as the mind. As part of our Norbertine, Catholic charism, our Sport and Spirituality Program helps student-athletes to reflect on important values learned through sport; namely, teamwork, humility, skill, respect, and commitment, which align with the core values of the Academy: community, reverence, wisdom, respect, and zeal.

Eighty-two percent of the Archmere student body completes in interscholastic sports. The Moglia Field House is nearly in constant use. Two specific projects are necessary to improve students’ athletic experience, health, and safety.

The Moglia Field House is not air conditioned. Even with an air circulation system in place, the building can be uncomfortable, especially throughout spring and fall during Delaware’s hot, humid days. Adding a new HVAC system will provide comfort to athletes and spectators, and enhance air circulation and quality. Created 15 years ago, the Ambrogi Fitness Center’s original equipment needs to be replaced. Both equipment and training space need refreshing and updating, especially since student athletes access the facilities all year and often use the Center to train and condition off-season.

The Moglia Field House: $1,150,000 | Work Planned for 2024-25 •

New HVAC System

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Renovated Ambrogi Fitness Center

Saint Norbert Hall Bu i lt : 1959

Constructed in 1959, Saint Norbert Hall was renovated in 2017. The $8.5 million renovation was funded by a capital campaign, which raised approximately $7.5 million for the renovation project, and another $1.5 million for endowment. The project was completed on time and on budget; however, value-engineering decisions had to be made to keep costs in line with budget. One of the decisions was to maintain the existing exterior window and door system that was installed in the late 1980s, as the original estimate expanded significantly, after an engineering review determined that the window system originally planned needed to be upgraded to a commercial-grade system, which would have added more than $500,000 to the renovation budget. Five years later it is time to replace the now almost 35-year-old windows and doors that are starting to fail, generating chronic water infiltration and energy loss.

Saint Norbert Hall: $770,000 | Work Planned for 2024-25 •

New Exterior Windows and Doors

Ways To Give

Gifts of Cash may be made over a period of up to five years or as a one-time gift. A schedule of pledge payments may be arranged according to your needs.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities or real estate may

provide additional tax advantages. Generally, an income tax deduction may be taken for the full fair market value of the gifted property and no capital gains tax will be due.

The IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you, once you have reached the age of 70½, to donate up to $100,000 within each tax year directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) without treating the distribution as taxable income. The contribution can be counted toward satisfying your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year, if applicable.

Estate Gifts are another way to make a gift to the

campaign. You may plan a gift by bequest in your will or other written estate plan, or name Archmere Academy as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement fund.

Tribute Gifts may be made in honor or in memory of a

loved one. We will work with you to acknowledge your gift in a way that is meaningful to you.

Special Recognition Opportunities Archmere is pleased to discuss special recognition and naming opportunities related to Archmere Academy’s capital projects and endowment funds.

Archmere Ac a de m y C a m pa ig n G oa l : $ 4 , 3 1 1 , 0 0 0 To raise much-needed funds to empower students and nurture the Archmere community, including: The Patio

$1,650,000

Manor House Restorations

$ 741,000

The Moglia Field House

$1,150,000

Saint Norbert Hall

$ 770,000 $4,311,000

the following investments will be required in order to Archmere Academy’s campaign to be successful.

GIfts may be paid over a five-year pledge period.

Number of Gifts

Gift Category

Annual payment for 3-year-pledge

Annual payment for 5-year-pledge

Total Dollars per Category

1

$1,000,000

$100,000 gift + $300,000/year

$200,000

$1,000,000

1

$750,000

$250,0000

$150,000

$750,000

1

$500,000

$100,000

$500,000

1

$250,000

$50,000

$250,000

3

$150,000

$30,000

$450,000

4

$100,000

$20,000

$400,000

6

$50,000

$10,000

$300,000

8

$25,000

$5,000

$200,000

10

$15,000

$3,000

$150,000

15

$10,000

$2,000

$150,000

15

$5,000

$1,000

$75,000

Many

Many Other Gifts

< $1,000

$86,000

Total

$50,000 gift + $150,000/year $25,000 gift + $75,000/year $50,000 $10,000 gift + $30,000/year $5,000 gift + $15,000/year $4,000 gift + $7,000/year $5,000 $1,000 gift + $3,000/year $500 gift + $1,500/year

$4,311,000

Your support of these urgent projects will empower students and nurture community at Archmere Academy.

“Archmere helped me find my way to a career in science and healthcare in many ways. Being one of three women science Olympiad captains with Mr. Hartman my senior year solidified my continued interest in the sciences and pushed me to succeed in a leadership and team setting. It is also no surprise being one of the co-founders and presidents of the B+ club, I ended up as an oncology nurse! The interactions with the foundation and the brave children who spoke at the tournament each year were inspiring. It was not just my collegiate preparation but also my high school experiences that have given me confidence to succeed in the nursing field.”

Lauren Yaslov, BSN, RN ’16 Nurse, Hospital at University of Pennsylvania

“As educators, we are so grateful for the way the Archmere community has provided an enriching academic and social experience for our daughter, even under the difficult circumstances of the past eighteen months. With thorough planning, a dedicated faculty, and a caring community, Archmere has provided an elite academic experience for our daughter. The community has also welcomed our youngest daughter with open arms this fall. We are so fortunate to be part of the Archmere community, grounded in faith, and dedicated to providing an environment that ensures all students have the opportunity to grow academically, socially, and in faith, and to leave Archmere better then they found it.”

Julie and Tim Hamburger, P’22, ’25 Educators

Mi s sion State m e n t Archmere Academy is a Catholic, Norbertine college preparatory school, valuing community, respect, zeal, reverence, and wisdom. Nurturing body and soul, mind and heart, Archmere focuses on the whole person through academic excellence, faith reflection, social development, and service to others.

Inspired by its heritage, Archmere cultivates empathetic leaders – young men and women prepared for every good work.

B oard of Tru ste e s

O u r C ore Va lu e s

Dr. Ernest Addo P ’22, ’24 Kristy K. Ambrogi PP ’04, ’11 Rev. Richard Antonucci, O.Praem., Abbott Emeritus Rev. Andrew D. Ciferni, O.Praem., B.A., S.T.L., Ph.D. Richard Anguillo PP ’88, ’90, ’95 GP ’19, ’25 Joseph P. Clark ’77 Nancy Cooper PP ’04, ’08 Dr. William J. Doyle PP ’97, ’99, ’01 Bernadette Gilmore David Hogan ’87, PP ’14, ’18, ’20 William Larson, Esq. ’04 Dr. Jose Maceda P ‘24, PP ‘20 James Maddox ’89 PP ’18, ’21 Kathryn K. McCord PP ’11, ’16, Board Chair James T. Prendergast ’77, PP ’19, ’21 Marc A. Ross ’91 Dr. Eric G. Ruoss Ravi Subbaraya PP ’16, ’20

COMMUNITY, recognizing our connectedness and our responsibility to one another in our school place and in all of our relationships;

L egal C ou n se l Anthony G. Flynn, Esq., ’69, PP ’03, ’04 Neilli Mullen Walsh, Esq., PP ’12, ’14, ’18

Head of S c ho ol Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ’76

P ri nc i pal Katie Eissler Thiel, M.A.

RESPECT, for ourselves, our unique individuality and the uniqueness of others; ZEAL, using our talents fully to respond to God’s call- to discern our purpose in life; REVERENCE (PIETATE), prayerfulness and a vibrant spiritual life; WISDOM (SCIENTIA), critical thinkers who use skills and information wisely and ethically.

3600 Philadelphia Pike Claymont, DE 19703