LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL C E L E B R AT E P H I L A N T H R O P Y
ALL FOR THE LOVE OF MERCY Dear Merion Mercy Community, In my first-year journey as Head of School, I have been blessed by the Mercy spirit, now, my guide and my inspiration. This robust spirit of Mercy lives inside and outside the walls of our school, witnessed by each of you—our students and their families, alumnae families, our faculty and staff, and our cherished alumnae. You lit up my path with grace, courage, and determination in the face of anxiety and uncertainty. Our challenges were great, but our resilience was greater. Now, we are stronger than ever because your support has been more abundant than ever before. Through the course of this spring and summer, we heard from many current Merion families who faced harsh new financial realities because of the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Merion Mercy has always prioritized the financial need of our families, with a significant portion of our budget going directly to student financial aid each year. This year, the needs were far greater than ever. As one of our girls recently wrote, “The Latin word for mercy is misericordia, meaning ‘a suffering heart.’ To show mercy is to have...empathy for others...in their hardships.” That is exactly what you did. You showed up in the true spirit of Mercy. Our goal was clear: We did not want to lose a single Merion girl. And, we met that goal. Because of you, we were able to help everyone in need, providing families the necessary resources to allow their daughters to return to MMA. Each of us cherish this journey of Mercy. Mine began when I proudly opened our doors last September and first heard sounds unique to Merion: The laughter and learning resonating in our building. The halls that came alive with the “Sound of Music” at our annual Sip ’n Bid, when more than 370 of us joined together to raise $170,000 in support of students, faculty and staff. The dulcet joy of Carol Night. Our Fashion Show celebrating “The World Awaits.” We had no idea of how prescient that theme would be. Through it all, I learned our love of Mercy is a unifying force, bringing us together as a community, through our faith, our compassion, and our commitment to others. I am grateful for your enduring support and commitment to Merion Mercy Academy. Please know that we hold you and our entire Merion Mercy family in our hearts, and we pray for your health and safety. In Mercy,
Laura Farrell Head of School 1
REPORT ON GIVING 2019-2020
