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LIKE MOST INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, ST. MARTIN'S RELIES ON PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE OUR EXCELLENT PROGRAMS WHILE ADVANCING THE SCHOOL’S MISSION."
Wholehearted Support b y L AU R E N S I M S DI R E C TO R O F A DVA N C E M E N T
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t’s not every day you start a new job during a global pandemic. Officially beginning on April 1, 2020, it wasn’t exactly a quintessential first day. In fact, my welcome note and beautiful flowers were accompanied by a facemask, and you guessed it, hand sanitizer!
Despite the armor of supplies, rigorous protocols and masked faces, I witnessed a strong community of committed faculty and staff willing to be vulnerable and nimble for their students. Things were changing daily, and although the days were long and often uneasy, the faculty and staff quickly affirmed I made the right decision to join the St. Martin’s Episcopal School community. Fundraising in the midst of a global pandemic is a somewhat daunting challenge. Yet, I continue to witness commitment on a level I have never experienced before. The SMES case for support unfolds right in front of me every day. It would be so easy for our teachers to become sidetracked. Distraction is inevitable and constant; however, their genuine love for our students shines bright and is unlike anything else. You don’t see that just anywhere. And that is the reason I have faith in what we are doing and believe in our community’s willingness to make charitable giving to St. Martin’s Episcopal School a top priority. OUR MISSION IS THE SECRET SAUCE So what is advancement? And why does The St. Martin’s Fund matter? Why don’t we increase tuition? And more importantly, why do we expect families to contribute above and beyond the cost of tuition? Like most independent schools, St. Martin's relies on philanthropic support from our community to sustain and enhance our excellent programs while advancing the school’s mission. The Advancement Department exists to develop relationships between the school and our families to create a philanthropy culture. Philanthropy plays an essential role in the vitality of SMES and is also part of our Episcopal identity.
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WINTER 2021 | ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
