Cornerstone Chronicle - Issue 2

December 7, 2022 Issue 2

Cornerstone Chronicle

Monthly Campaign Newsletter

Generations of Support The Baker Family Drs. Julie and Duncan Baker recently shared their views regarding the Cornerstone Campaign. Their family has been connected to Riverside Presbyterian Church for many years and both of their children grew up in the church and attended Riverside Presbyterian Day School. As a family, they look forward to the Family Life Center bringing the church, the school and the community together.

In choosing a school for their children, it was important to them to find a school that reflects Christian values. As a mission of Riverside Presbyterian Church, every Thursday RPDS students, faculty, staff, and families gather for morning chapel service.

“The weekly chapel service is one of my favorite parts of the RPDS experience”, shares Julie. Duncan adds, “Chapel gives the children a chance to become involved in the church and gives them opportunities to present to a group of people by singing, reading, and performing. Chapel truly gives students an opportunity to develop confidence and leadership skills.”

Reflecting on their time as RPDS parents, Julie shares, “Both of our children had teachers they thought were challenging at the time, but now having gone through higher education, they appreciate the foundation that was laid at RPDS.” Julie and Duncan explain how their children, RPDS alumni James Baker (‘01) and Catherine Baker (‘96), recall using the fundamentals and tools from their RPDS English teacher, Pam Roberts, as they navigated through both middle school and high school.

Beyond the curriculum, Julie says, “The teachers at RPDS really cared for our children as individuals. As parents we witnessed how the teachers recognized each student and their individual needs and differences, personalizing their experiences and helping them succeed.”

With the church and school playing such an important role in the Baker Family’s lives, both Julie and Duncan have been committed to volunteering and serving the church and school throughout the years. Julie served on the RPDS Board of Trustees, and both participated in the capital campaign for the school and church in 1996. She is now serving on the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign’s steering committee. The Bakers share that the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign ties three important elements together - the church, the school, and the community.

One component of the Cornerstone Campaign the family is particularly excited about is the Mary Lou Davis Family Life Center. Julie explains, “The Family Life Center, including a gym, was something both the church and school wanted to do years ago but it wasn’t financially feasible at the time. It is great to see this vision come to reality.” The Bakers believe the Family Life Center will serve as a wonderful connection to the community

through RPC’s expansive basketball league, through their family and youth programming, and through RPDS Athletics as well.

Additionally, the Family Life Center will offer crucial space for RPDS physical education classes and provide additional play space for inclement weather days. Duncan shares, “I think it’s important for RPDS and the church to have this center to provide better athletic and youth facilities in keeping with similar independent schools and churches.

In addition to the Family Life Center, the Cornerstone Campaign will establish several endowments. Duncan explains, “Another piece of the campaign that our family believes is incredibly important is the scholarship component. For some people a concern about private schools is that they are not financially available or accessible to everyone. The scholarship endowment will help to provide the RPDS experience for families who might not otherwise be able to afford it.” Secondly, there is an endowment for missions which has been an integral function of the church and school and embraces the concept of caring for the greater community. Lastly, there is the essential endowment for maintenance to assure the stability of the facilities.

As RPC church members, RPDS alumni parents, and now proud RPDS grandparents to their grandson, PreK 3 student, John David, the Bakers continue to celebrate the past of the Riverside community and its great history, while encouraging and supporting the vision and growth of Riverside Presbyterian Church and Day School for future generations to come.

Reimagining the Rice Sports Zone Established in 2010, the Rice Sports Zone has served as an integral recreational and gathering space on RPDS’s campus for the last 12 years. The Rice Sports Zone is at the heart of the School’s campus and is utilized throughout the year for physical education classes, athletic practices, recess, lunch, after school and summer programing, RPC Youth Group activities, and school and church events such as Fall Festival and Vacation Bible School. Understanding how important it is to have quality outdoor space for students, families and church community, especially in the metropolitan Riverside area, the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign will provide enhancements to the Rice Sports Zone supporting both the school and church’s programs and missions.

Reflecting Riverside’s commitment to community and active healthy lifestyles, the new Rice Sports Zone will include a regulation size flag football athletic field. This grass field will provide the community with a larger space for athletics and play and will serve as a practice field for the RPDS Flag football teams who will also have the new and exciting privilege of hosting league home flag football games. In addition to the larger field, the Rice Sports Zone will include an extended track which is double in size compared to the existing track. This enhanced feature will help elevate physical education classes, recess experiences, and auxiliary programs such as Girls on the Run. Spaces around the sports zone will also include refreshed amenities the students have become accustomed to and have enjoyed as part of their RPDS experience such as basketball hoops, four square, gaga ball, picnic tables for lunch, outdoor classes, and community-centered events.

Offering many benefits to the entire community, the new Rice Sports Zone will help Riverside enter into the next era of its history and will position both the school and church to advance their missions, remaining well prepared to uplift and serve the next generation.

Current Matching Gift Opportunities There are currently two matching opportunities to increase support to the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign.

Matching for New & Existing Donors An anonymous donor has issued a challenge to both new and existing donors—for every $2 that is received in gifts and pledges, this donor will provide an additional $1 matching gift, up to $500,000, through the completion of the campaign. To give further illustration, all new gifts or pledges from new donors or increased gifts and pledges from existing donors will combine for a potential match up to $500,000.

Matching for Current RPDS Parents Riverside Presbyterian Church and School members Ann and Martin Harrell have generously provided a challenge gift for current RPDS parents. From November 1 through December 31, for every increased percent of parent giving to the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign, Ann and Martin will donate an addition $1000, up to $75,000.

Through both challenge gifts, current RPDS parents can provide a double match with their donation. We are very grateful to our challenge gift donors who are offering these giving incentives to help us reach out campaign goal. To take advantage of these gift challenges, please go to the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign website at riversidecornerstonecampaign.org to make your gift or pledge of support today.

If you have any questions about ways to give or available naming opportunities, please contact Doug Walker, RPDS Director of Advancement, at dwalker@rpds.com (email) or 904.520.7564 (direct phone).

Campus Development Committee Update The Riverside Campus Development Committee is excited about the progress of site preparations and ensuing construction plans made possible through the Riverside Cornerstone Campaign. Work on the first phase of construction, which is the redesigned Oak Street parking lot, will begin any day with a completion date in mid-February. Shortly after the completion of this phase, the construction team will move onto the main campus to begin the site work for the reimagined Rice Sports Zone and the new Mary Lou Davis Family Life Center. This is an exciting time for Riverside Presbyterian Church and Day School. The energy surrounding this project is truly remarkable. Thank you for your continued support as we take the next step in expanding the rich history of Riverside. I look forward to sharing additional information and progress in the upcoming issues of the Cornerstone Chronicle.

Ben Campen, Campus Development Committee Co-Chair

riversidecornerstonecampaign.org