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From our Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement
MS LIANE GIULIANO
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
You may recall when I began my journey as Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement at Loreto Normanhurst just over six months ago, I reflected on the words of Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Chosen by our students as the theme for the 2020 Music Festival, the words embodied the difference that they—and we— wanted to make through our Music Festival and Annual Giving appeals for all Loreto Normanhurst girls. As I reflect on the year, I find myself again thinking about those words; if 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us how important love, family and community are in holding us together and lifting us up. While the pandemic may have limited my ability to meet our wider community in person, it afforded me the opportunity to witness our students supporting each other through one of the many opportunities at the School, such as the Year 10 SPRINT program or assisting our future students on Orientation Day. I’ve seen parents and teachers partnering to ensure our girls stay resilient and keep their minds and hearts open to change the world. I’ve had conversations via Zoom and over the phone with ex-students sending prayers and offering gratitude for the education that shaped their lives. HOW OUR COMMUNITY GIVES BACK
This leads me to the impact and purpose of philanthropy – which is to bring people together to help each other, to stimulate the human spirit, to foster kindness and generosity and to liberate and empower our girls.
WORKPLACE GIVING
You may be interested to know how philanthropy is deeply embedded in our school. Many of our staff give on a regular and ongoing basis to the Work and Welcome Program which helps refugees find a place to work in our communities. There are also work staff that contribute from their salary each fortnight to the Building and/or Bursary Funds, so that girls who might not otherwise have the chance to benefit from a Loreto education can study here. We are deeply grateful for their generosity.
BURSARY (WELFARE) FUND
During a difficult economic year, our parents and ex-students stepped up in a life-changing way. Many contributed towards the sum of more than $95,000 that was raised for the Bursary (Welfare) Fund. This year alone, we supported fifteen families in necessitous circumstances to a value of $309,374. This is a 100% increase on 2019.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BUILDING FUND
We raised more than $190,000 for the Building Fund, which will help upgrade the Science Labs and Drama Space, and drive the sustainability initiatives aligned with our vision of being an ecology-centred school.
We are so grateful for this generous support and for our past benefactors who gave knowing that their gift would change lives in the future. Yes, this has been a demanding and challenging year in so many ways. Nevertheless, our community of students, staff and families have responded undaunted, standing on the shoulders of the giants and looking further into the future. While we live with hope, we know that there will be obstacles to many of our students and their families. Your help is still urgently needed. In 2021, you will be invited to join us by supporting one of our key priorities: (1) our existing Bursary (Welfare) Fund to open doors for families in necessitous circumstances; (2) a new Bursary Program to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families; or (3) the Building Fund to undertake major capital works to provide a first-rate learning experience for our students.
Every gift, no matter the size, will make a difference. You may like to consider a gift in your Will or a legacy gift in honour of a loved one. These gifts have the potential to change the life of not just one girl but a generation of girls if you choose. Information on bequests and legacy gifts can be obtained by contacting me at lgiuliano@ loretonh.nsw.edu.au or by phone
(02) 9473 7307.
There’s never been a more important time to join us on this journey as we look to the future and continue to honour the past in the spirit of those who have gone before us. This is your opportunity to make a difference so that our girls will be able to see further from your shoulders. 2020 IN NUMBERS
Gifts from our Community
72% 9% 4% 3% 12%
Current Parents
Alumni
Staff Friends of LN, including past and future parents
Alumni Current Parents
Thank you to our parent community – past, present and future – who together contribute the most gifts.
Some Giving Statistics
200
Advents Calendars sold
250
Donations from the Music Festival
2020 Building Fund donations $192,616
2020 Bursary (Welfare) Fund $95,986
(comprised of Music Festival, Annual Giving, staff Workplace Giving and miscellaneous donations)
Donations can be made via the Donations and Giving page on our website.
THE KNOWLES FAMILY REFLECT ON THE SUPPORT OFFERED BY BURSARY ASSISTANCE
“Loreto offered my family bursary assistance after Mum was diagnosed. Mum was unable to work and it also meant Dad was able to spend more time caring for Mum. I will always be so grateful for the support I was offered by my friends and all the staff, especially the Director of Boarding and my boarding supervisors.”
Georgia Knowles (’16)
“The Bursaries meant all our daughters could finish a Loreto education, which was very important to my wife Bernadette and me. Our eldest daughter Hannah had already received a full-tuition scholarship but without the financial assistance provided by the Bursary Fund, we would not have been able to give our other girls this opportunity.”
