parent-guide-to-giving

Parent Participation:

A Guide to Giv ing and Getting In volv ed

“ You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

— Kahlil Gibran

Palmer Trinity School is committed to making your student’s experience one that builds a life-long passion for learning. We are dedicated to excellence, respect for diversity and tolerance for others, and as always, our school affirms a commitment to a core set of values: balance, community, dedication, diversity, honor, learning, respect, service and spirituality. As we educate our students according to this worthy mission, we continually strive to build a strong parent community to lead by example through their generosity, philanthropy and service.

Getting Involved Educating a child requires more than a great faculty and curriculum: it requires generous parental involvement. Parents, alumni families, grandparents and friends who care about your student’s education are actively encouraged to participate in the daily life at Palmer Trinity School and provide volunteer service and financial support beyond tuition.

Active Participation There are many ways to get involved: you can support an athletic team or club-related organization, attend fine arts or athletic events, volunteer as an Ambassador for the Annual Fund, serve on the PTPA or Boosters, or volunteer on campus (i.e., Bookstore). For some parents who work full time, travel frequently, and are unable to come to campus, you can assist our efforts by helping out with archival, communication, fundraising or other Alumni activities that can be done through the phone and internet.

We also ask you to support the school events that are organized and sponsored by our parents in the Palmer Trinity Parents Association (PTPA). These events include: Homecoming, Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament, International Festival, Book Fair and New Parents Reception.

Financial Support Tuition doesn’t cover the entire expense of educating a student, and we rely on our community of donors to provide support to our budget. Donors include: Members of the Board of Trustees, Faculty and Staff, Current Parents, Alumni, Grandparents, Past Board of Trustees, Past Parents, corporations, foundations and friends. Through thoughtful and coordinated fundraising, we provide a variety of meaningful ways to become involved in your child’s education.

Palmer Trinity School invites your family to contribute to the Annual Fund at the beginning of each school year, and encourages you to consider participating in the endowment and capital fundraising projects that support the infrastructure, athletic facilities, and buildings on the South Campus. Following best practice models of independent schools, Palmer Trinity funnels all fundraising efforts through the Advancement office.

WAYS OF GIVING ANNUAL FUND Each year, Palmer Trinity School conducts an Annual Fund Campaign to raise the funds necessary to maintain and enhance the excellence in education provided to all our students. These funds meet the operating expenses of the school not covered by tuition. Tuition alone covers approximately 90% of these expenses. This year, the gap between tuition and the actual cost per student is approximately $1,500. The Annual Fund supports the current-year operating expenses, and gifts make up this difference. A successful Annual Fund Campaign depends on participation from every member of the school community: parents, faculty, staff, our Board of Trustees, grandparents, friends, foundations and corporations.

ENDOWMENT Endowment gifts compliment the funds received through Palmer Trinity School tuition for long-range financial stability. The endowment gives Palmer Trinity School the opportunity to offer competitive teaching salaries and, most importantly, increase the amount of financial aid available to families. Often paid over three-to-five years, many gifts are a result of estate planning and bequests, while others are made through direct gifts of cash or securities. The endowment fund provides donors with an effective way of directing their assets to the school to benefit future generations of Palmer Trinity School students, ensuring the long-range financial stability of the school and its mission.

SOUTH CAMPUS – PHASE ONE CAPITAL PROJECTS For many years to come, Palmer Trinity School will be developing the South Campus and will ask all of our families to consider capital gifts for specific construction projects. Capital giving to Palmer Trinity School may support a new front entrance, landscaping, sidewalks, walls, a guard house, athletic fields, and tennis courts. We are calling this effort “Phase One” and completion of these first projects is vital to preparing the South Campus for future construction. Later, Palmer Trinity’s master site plan calls for the construction of a Performing Arts Center, Chapel, Gymnasium, Pool, Administrative building and additional academic buildings.

SCHOOL EVENTS Every year, Palmer Trinity School hosts a number of events which generate additional revenue for specific aspects of the school’s budget. For example, the Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament raises money for the Sandy Block Financial Aid Endowment and provides an outstanding student financial assistance. Our International Festival supports Palmer Trinity’s celebrated multiculturalism and proceeds from the annual Book Fair support the Matheson Library. All these events are wonderful opportunities to give back and get involved in the colorful life of the school.

GIFTS-IN-KIND “Gifts-in-kind” are donations of goods and services, rather than money. Examples of these gifts include, but are not limited to: vehicles, computers, musical instruments, carpentry, printing services, artwork, and other physical donations that complement the needs of Palmer Trinity School.

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS As an employee benefit, more than 550 American corporations match their staff’s philanthropy, allowing employees to double or triple their gift to a school. You may ask your company if they offer a matching gift program.

FOUNDATION GIFTS Across the United States and locally, many foundations are committed to nurturing talented young people and improving America’s education. Palmer Trinity seeks foundation support for several programs. With a stronger level of participation in Annual Fund and other giving, we stand the best chance of receiving such support, both today and in the future.

LEGACY GIVING Donors who wish to make a gift through their estate plans may join our Legacy Society. These gifts for the future are critical to the building of endowment and long-range financial stability.

Known as “planned gifts” you may leave a legacy by simply making a charitable bequest to Palmer Trinity School in your will. There are many tax benefits for different types of planned gifts. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about a gift that may benefit you and your family, and provide for the future of our school.

GETTING INVOLVED At Palmer Trinity School, we encourage you to take an active part and get involved in your child/ ren’s educational life. Continuing this effort, we invite all parents to participate in the following volunteer opportunities:

Board of Trustees Board of Trustee volunteers serve as the guardians of the school’s mission. It is the board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its mission. In addition, the Board is responsible for the strategic plan and accepts accountability for the current and future financial stability of Palmer Trinity School.

Annual Fund Ambassadors At independent day schools across the country, the parent community is vital to the success of the Annual Fund. At Palmer Trinity, we rely on grade-level parent volunteers to solicit their peers for philanthropic gifts, whether by letter or through outside phoning efforts.

Parent Organizations PTPA — The Palmer Trinity Parents Association (PTPA) is a volunteer organization of

all Palmer Trinity School parents and guardians, as well as persons from the community who show exceptional interest in Palmer Trinity School. The PTPA provides an organized structure and forum for all its volunteers, encouraging positive involvement in school life through meaningful programs and services. Volunteer time, talent and treasure are appreciated and acknowledged equally. The organization’s activities are governed by the PTPA Board, composed of the Executive Committee and Standing Committee Chairs which include, Helping Hands, Parent Education, Social, New Parent Mentors, Community Service and Staff/Teacher Appreciation.

Boosters — Palmer Trinity School Boosters volunteer to assist the school

administration, faculty, staff, coaches and students in support of the school’s spiritrelated activities and athletic programs. All parents and/or guardians are considered active members. Boosters host various events throughout the year, with the help of a large volunteer base. With revenue generated from our Falcon’s Nest, fan gear and Homecoming, we help purchase items for the athletic department and community.

With the help of all the volunteers, we can create awareness for all activities and provide much-needed support to our student athletes and other groups.

School Events Every year, Palmer Trinity School hosts a number of all-school events in which opportunities abound for a meaningful volunteer experience. At Homecoming, during the fall, our Boosters organization utilizes volunteers for their annual BBQ and game-day festivities. In January, the Sandy Golf and Tennis Committee always need event-day volunteers, both in the clubhouse and on the course. Our signature event, the International Festival, is a wonderful opportunity to get involved by selling tickets or hosting a food booth. And, in April, Palmer Trinity hosts the annual Book Fair—your involvement in which supports the Matheson Library. School events are the easiest ways to get involved in school life.

Alumni Relations Alumni are the foundation and building blocks of all great schools. At Palmer Trinity School, Alumni are participating in a number of ways: whether financially through the Annual Fund, as a volunteer Class Agent, or working on a committee like the Sandy Tournament. As an Annual Fund Ambassador, Alumni volunteers solicit classmates and Class Agents, keep in touch with peers, and report back to the Alumni Office. Alumni Relations and Admission have combined efforts to relay current information about the school to prospective families through the Admission Advisory Board (AAB). The Athletic Hall of Fame Committee gathers together yearly to nominate Alumni athletes who have made a major contribution to the success of the overall athletic program. Lastly, Alumni events like Homecoming, Holiday Party, Sandy Golf and Tennis Tournament, College and Career Day, and Reunion Weekend give Alumni the opportunity to visit the school, keep in touch with former teachers, rekindle friendships, and share college and work experiences with current students.

Contributions big and small—whether you make a call, donate a gift, attend a meeting, volunteer for a committee/event, voice an idea, or write a thank-you note—enable the growth and renewal of the Palmer Trinity School community, ultimately adding to its continued success.

For more information, please contact Susi Cetta, our Director of Annual Fund, at (305) 969-4243.