Stand With Burke Campaign Update

Dear Burke Community,

While the pandemic forced Burke faculty and administrators to heroically reinvent our educational program on the fly, all aspects of our school operations endured disruption, including our Development efforts. Throughout the spring, we faced the dilemma of knowing that Burke had real and growing needs, but that everything we’d planned – including the conclusion of the Stand with Burke Campaign and the return of our beloved Auction for Financial Aid to the Burke gymnasium – would no longer be possible.

While we grappled with how to proceed knowing that some would not be in a position to give, we had confidence that our community would want to see Burke strong and intact on the other side of this moment of crisis. Though we’d been well on our way to achieving our $6 million goal, we decided it was best to pause the Stand with Burke Campaign, and redirect all of our fundraising efforts towards financial aid throughout the spring. We shifted to an all-virtual auction effort in April. We missed the joyful fellowship of our in-person event, but were thrilled to still be able to raise $40,000 in an online auction, and $100,000 in donations through our “virtual paddle-raise,” sponsorship, and other gifts.

As the spring progressed, the economic impact on our institution and for our families came into better view. It became clear that members of our community were facing acute hardships and loss. Damian and the Board made the bold statement that they wouldn’t allow the loss of a single student for financial reasons in 2020, and it was estimated that an additional $500,000 in aid dollars would be needed. In response, a generous parent donor came forward with a $25,000 matching gift, hoping to inspire the rest of the community to give. Wow, did our community respond! We blew past the match, and raised an additional $70,000 for financial aid in June alone.

While we did choose to postpone a final push for the Stand with Burke Campaign this spring, the goals of the Campaign are as important as ever. We certainly still intend to realize needed campus improvements through this campaign, but the goals of building a stronger culture of philanthropy and strengthening Burke’s financial outlook for times like these are equally important. Our community should be incredibly proud that giving to the Campaign has put Burke in a far better position to ride out this rocky period. We hope – as uncertainty is likely to persist – that you’ll stand with Burke once more when we come calling in the near future for one last chance to be part of this effort.

We are so grateful for all who have standing with Burke throughout the Campaign, especially our Campaign and Development Chairs – Sydney Bath, Wendy Cividanes, Sharon Davis, and Meredith Jason. Promise, we’ll get you a chair soon.

Be healthy and well Burke,

Jennifer Kozak Rawlings, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

This is just a brief synopsis of Burke Development in quarantine times. The next issue of 1968 will include a full reporting of the Stand with Burke Campaign and other giving in the 2019-20 Annual Report.