We are grateful that we were able to graduate from Bishop Ludden and we want to be sure that the Ludden tradition continues and improves. Ludden provided us with the foundation that allowed us to become successful during our college years, in our professional careers and as parents and community members.
We are happy to announce that Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School is kicking off an ambitious Scholarship and Academic Program Enhancement Campaign to provide for our long-term financial health and academic strength. This Campaign will ensure that Bishop Ludden will continue to develop in young women and men a faith in Christ, a vision for the future, and the will to succeed, through a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum and engaging extracurricular activities.
The Campaign will open up the opportunity to attend Bishop Ludden to all qualified students desiring a college preparatory education through additional scholarship monies raised. In addition, the Campaign will provide funds that will ensure that Bishop Ludden provides the highest quality academic programs by successfully implementing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (“the IB Program”).
The IB Program will provide us access to high quality programs of education, which support development of knowledgeable and inquiring students; professional
development that supports effective educators and collaborative professional learning communities; and to a worldwide network of highly respected IB World Schools, working together to share best practices. We believe the IB Program will set Ludden apart from all other schools in our area – we will become the school of choice.
We have a caring community that consists of Ludden alumni, friends, and the parents of students currently attending Ludden, as such, we are asking this community to help us raise $2 million in suppor of the above mentioned initiatives.
We are grateful that we were able to graduate from Bishop Ludden and we want to be sure that the Ludden tradition continues and improves. Ludden provided us with the foundation that allowed us to become successful during our college years, in our professional careers, and as parents and community members.
Because we are grateful for what Ludden has provided us in the past, we wish to and are fortunate enough to give back by providing financial and volunteer support to the school. Dan has been a
member of the Board of Trustees for a number of years and both of us have volunteered at many Ludden functions. Recently, Kathy has joined the team at Ludden to work in the Finance and Development/ Alumni Relations areas. We ask you to join us in this exciting endeavor by generously donating to the campaign.
You can’t help but notice that something exciting is happening at Ludden.
Please prayerfully consider what you can give to help the young people of our community.
Very Truly Yours,
Dan and Kathy Gilheney
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– DAN AND KATHY GILHENEY
Our Vision
It’s a critical time for Bishop Ludden: the future of our educational experience depends on the choices and investments we make now. As many of our alumni and supporters have asked, we are sharing here that while our current student enrollment stands at 275 students, we endeavor to grow to a student body of 350. We hope to achieve this goal in the next three to four years as it would allow us to both plan for long-term sustainability and afford us the opportunity to grow the level of educational experience that we can offer.
This goal is within our reach, and as such, we are choosing to invest now in two critical areas:
• Scholarship Support
• Implementing our new International Baccalaureate World School Curriculum
Brian Buttner (Class of 2021)
Upon graduation from the sixth grade at Holy Family Elementary School, my parents presented me with the choice of attending either public school at Camillus Middle School, or a private school, Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School. I chose Bishop Ludden. What I wanted in a school was not only a modern academic education, but also a proper mentoring program to become a person of genuine character. Bishop Ludden has not disappointed. Every teacher and faculty member works diligently to make sure that the students have the environment they need to excel in their studies.
I have taken advantage of the STEM, Performing Arts and Athletics programs offered at the school. I know firsthand just how passionate each and every coach and teacher is about what they teach their students.
When I leave Ludden in two years, I have no doubt that I will be prepared for the challenges that college and the corporate world will throw at me.
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Tyrone Fisher (Class of 1993)
TEACHER AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL
Thirty-two years ago Bishop Ludden changed my life. I was one of 12 children being raised by a single parent and I thought a school like Bishop Ludden was only for the privileged few. My future seemed confined within a few neighborhood blocks on the west side of Syracuse.
That all changed when Bishop Ludden took a chance on me and awarded me a scholarship, which would not have been possible without the contributions of generous donors.
Bishop Ludden opened my eyes to a world of possibilities, and helped me build the knowledge and skills necessary to take advantage of opportunities that had not previously existed for me.
The faith-based education I received from Bishop Ludden created a foundation I continue to live by, and the relationships that were fostered among students, teachers, coaches, and families still remain to this day. I graduated from Ludden 26 years ago, and the influence that my Ludden teachers and coaches had on me not only prepared me to earn my BS from Ithaca College while balancing the demands of a college football program, but also inspired me to return to Syracuse to become an educator and coach as well.
Attending Ludden was truly a blessing in my life and I am continually grateful for the generosity of those who made it possible.
Campaign Pillars
SCHOLARSHIP $1,000,000
Our goal is for a Ludden education to be holistic, rewarding, and accessible to all. We know it is of the utmost importance to attract and retain top-tier, high performing, and considerate students to our school, regardless of their financial background. This cannot be done without additional Scholarship Support. The support we seek would be broken out between scholarship and financial aid. We know the importance of rewarding top-tier students with academic scholarships. We also know the importance of giving access to students who can prosper here but need financial help to attend. With these funds, we estimate there will be an additional 20 to 30 students joining our community.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME AND RELATED AREAS
$1,000,000
The International Baccalaureate Programme is a differentiator. This program, implemented in more than 140 countries around the world, emphasizes research and encourages students to learn from their peers, encouraging inquisitive thinking and caring
young people. It is recognized by the world’s leading teaching institutions as a program that prepares seniors to be admitted into the best collegiate academic programs with its emphasis on critical thinking. This type of differentiator to our educational experience will help support our goal in growing Ludden’s student body by an additional 40 to 50 students. There are focused investments that must be made in order to maintain our new status as an International Baccalaureate World School.
BREAKDOWN OF IB INVESTMENT
• $120,000
IB training for teachers and counselors, dues, and expenses over 3 years
• $90,000
Continued education and training for new technologies for all faculty over 3 years
• Phase 1 – $450,000
Improvements to all science labs
• Phase 1 – $100,000
Improvements to the library
• $240,000
LCD screens, laptops/desktops, software licenses, interactive classroom technology, chromebooks
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Patrick Mooney (Class of 1989)
PRESIDENT MOONEY MARKETING GROUP
Bishop Ludden provides more than just a traditional classroom education. There’s a sense of community, a dedication to helping others, and a deep commitment to integrity that’s instilled in all Gaelic Knights – traits that have continued to serve me well both personally and professionally.
Kurt &Anne Brunger BISHOPLUDDENPARENTS
We see the evolution of Catholic education manifested in our children as they become young adults. Faith is being taught as a way to live with self-discipline, values, compassion, self-confidence, and service. This is regularly exercised through civic engagement. Our children truly love the close-knit, safe, and supportive learning environment and are continually challenged to be better students, citizens, and friends. While both of our children have very different interests, Bishop Ludden has afforded them the ability to be involved in many STEM related clubs, band, sports, theater, service, and government. The Bishop Ludden culture stems from high standards set in place by a determined leadership team and is executed by dedicated teachers. Staff meeting with students and parents before and after school to give extra help or to provide guidance is common. The Ludden community is an extension of our family, welcoming and sharing the same values and drive for students to reach their full academic and personal potential.
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11:1 Student to Teacher Ratio
Top3
2019 Best Private High Schools in CNY (Niche.com)
38 Clubs and sports teams in which students are encouranged to participate
96% College Attendance Rate
91 AP exams taken by 62 students in 7 subject areas during the 2018-19 school year
17,157 Total number of service hours students completed during the 2018-19 school year
Please Join Us...
100% Graduation rate
$8.7M in college scholarships awarded to the 48 graduates in the class of 2019
We are extremely grateful for the time you have taken to understand our vision and continued desire to offer the best education and experience to our students and faculty.
As we turn to the future, we know the importance of engaging those close to us for their thoughts and feedback on our plans. We need partners to help us establish and achieve our goals. Ludden is concentrating on continuing to develop students who think critically and are rooted in faith -- our pursuit of excellence supports this mission.
It is an exciting time for our school and we look forward to having you as a part of it.
Inspiring students to go out and make the world a better place.
Ways of Giving
GIFTS OF CASH
Cash and checks of any amount are welcome. Please make checks payable to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School.
GIFTS OF PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES
All securities that are traded on the New York and American Stock Exchanges, the NASDAQ, and other major U.S. Exchanges shall be accepted. The value of a gift of regularly traded securities will be the mean of the high and low of the stock(s) or bond(s) on the day the transfer is affected by the donor to the organization.
GIFTS BY BEQUEST
Cash bequests represent an important potential source of gifts. Direct, unencumbered bequests provide Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School the full value of the bequest and provide the testator’s estate with a charitable deduction for the same value. Attempts shall be made to discover bequest plans whenever possible in order to determine whether inappropriate non-cash items have inadvertently been left to the organization so the donor can be advised how to conform his or her plans to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School.
There are four ways that a bequest can be made to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School:
1. A fixed amount of cash or securities or a percentage of the estate can be given.
2. In a residual bequest, after other beneficiaries receive a designated portion of the estate, the remainder of the estate is left to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School.
3.A contingent bequest can be made where Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School will receive a portion of the estate only if the named beneficiaries predecease the maker of the bequest. Those who must provide for younger family members often select this form.
4.A testamentary trust bequest creates a trust and the income or stated amount is paid to the beneficiaries. On their death, Bishop Ludden Jr Sr High School receives the use of the gift. This option may actually increase life income for beneficiaries since it reduces the amount of the estate subject to estate taxes.
Questions &Answers
DIRECT GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
Donors who are ages 70 or older can instruct their plan administrators to make direct transfers of up to $100,000 to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School. The gift will count towards the donor’s minimum distribution requirement. The gift is not included in taxable income, and no charitable deduction is allowed.
GIFTS BY LIFE INSURANCE
Life insurance may be given to the organization. Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School encourages donors to name the organization to receive all or a portion of the benefits of life insurance policies that they have purchased on their lives. New or existing policies may be given outright or the organization can be named the owner and beneficiary of an existing policy.
Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School will accept fully paid life insurance policies in which the donor has named the organization to receive all or a portion of the benefits of the insurance policy. The donor’s tax consequences hinge on whether the policy’s ownership has been endorsed over to the organization and whether the benefits have been irrevocably assigned to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School.
A donor who irrevocably transfers life insurance to Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School can claim income tax deductions for the policy’s cost basis or cash surrender value, whichever is less. The donor can never claim an income tax deduction on the policy’s face value.
Naming Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School as the beneficiary on the policy is not sufficient to generate an income tax deduction for the donor because the donor can change the beneficiary at a later date. To be entitled to a deduction, the donor must make the organization both beneficiary and owner of the policy. Upon receiving a paid-up policy, the organization, as owner, can surrender it and obtain the cash value or keep the policy until the death of the donor.
GIFTS BY CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS
Charitable Remainder Trusts are separate legal entities, and their obligations are limited to their assets. Trusts file their own returns and make all payments from their assets and must have a federal trust number, making payments to beneficiaries under strictly hierarchical rules.
WHY IS BISHOP LUDDEN EMBARKING ON A MAJOR CAMPAIGN?
The Campaign will secure funding to provide scholarship support and help as an International Baccalaureate (IB13031) World School. These two programs will allow Ludden to increase our enrollment to our goal of 350 students over the next 3 to 4 years, thus securing a more financially stable model and positioning us for growth.
IS THE DIOCESE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF CATHOLIC EDUATION IN THE WESTERN REGION?
We have the full support of the Diocese. There are no plans to close or merge with another Jr/Sr high school.
Bishop Ludden is decentralized from the Diocese of Syracuse. The joint effort of the Diocese and local communities have reinvented the way Catholic schools operate. A transition committee began discussing the business model with the Diocese several years ago and drafted a Statement of Strategic Vision in 2011. It articulated core values of the committee to create vision for the restructured schools and outlined strategic goals, governing principles and identified critical challenges.
As of July 1, 2015, the Diocese and Ludden entered into an Operating Agreement “whereby the Diocese transferred the operational control, management, development and all obligations and duties relative to the operation of Ludden to the Board of Trustees of Ludden.” The Board of Trustees is operating as an independent management board of the organization and has the full support of the Diocese behind it.
I HAVEN’T HEARD FROM LUDDEN ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. HOW WILL ALUMNI RELATIONS IMPROVE?
We know that in many cases we have not had a strong history of having consistently built deep-rooted relationships across our alumni base. With support of Ludden’s leadership and board, we are trying to intentionally change this, and this communication is a part of our initial steps in building relationships. We are truly grateful for your willingness to build a relationship and to partner with us to accomplish our goals. Nothing is more important to planning and shaping our future than involving our trusted partners.
HOW DID BISHOP LUDDEN SETTLE ON A CAMPAIGN GOAL OF $2 MILLION?
Our recent experience and the results of our feasibility study tell us that the Ludden community is prepared to support a project of this magnitude. $1 million will be used for scholarship and financial aid and $1 million will be used to make investments in our faculty, technology, labs, and library to implement for the International Baccalaureate Programme.
WHO WILL BE ASKED TO SUPPORT THE “SOMETHING ISHAPPENING” CAMPAIGN?
All members of the Bishop Ludden family, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, friends, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees. We want to grow relationships with everyone, and we hope that as those relationships grow, so, too, will philanthropic support.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Increasing Enrollment
• Improving Academic Performance and College Scholarship Awards
• Alumni Engagement
• Excellent Training for Our Faculty
Independent Organizational Oversight by a Board of Trustees
