Dear St. Luke’s Family,
We are the Barnetts -Brian, Margaret, 3rd grader Elizabeth, kindergartener Kate Rose and shark-in-waiting Grace. It is an honor to have been asked to serve as the 2011-2012 Annual Giving Campaign Chair Family. We are not unlike many of you. Someone we trust, in our case a family member, recommended we tour St. Luke’s. The rest is history! Our children and their friends thrive in an environment where teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to challenge, inspire, and encourage in all pursuits – spiritual, academic and emotional. St. Luke’s has become our extended family, and a true gift to us and our girls.
We are asking for your consideration in contributing to the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is the foundation for charitable giving to the school. A common question is, “Why do we need the Annual Fund when we have tuition?” Tuition is used to cover the yearly operating costs of the school. The Annual Fund is the primary mechanism used to enhance the educational experience of our children. This is accomplished through purchasing advanced technologies to improve learning, assisting our faculty in developing as better educators, and providing for upgrades and advances to the school facilities. For example, last year the Annual Fund was used to purchase 8 new computers for the computer lab as well as a new laptop cart complete with 20 new laptops. Additionally, our teachers were able to participate in conferences, training sessions, and online courses. Furthermore, the Annual Fund provided for the purchase and installation of a new security system, the new carpool retaining wall, renovation of the art room, and two new air conditioning units for the Noland Building.
Over the last several years, the majority of our families have contributed to the Annual Fund. The level of participation has been between 50 to 75%, with the range of the gifts being anywhere from $1 to $10,000, and the average gift per family being between $300-400. These contributions are acknowledged in the Annual Report sent to all those associated with St. Luke’s.
A high level of participation is important because in addition to being part of a school family that is highly motivated to deliver the best resources possible for our children, we have an active staff that is working to acquire additional funding via grants provided through educational foundations. An important component of the grant application is the percentage of school families who participate in giving. Simply put, the closer we are to 100% participation, the better the grant application looks, and the more competitive we will be for the grant. This elucidates the truth behind the statement that no gift is too small.
Please join us in contributing to this year’s campaign. The Annual Fund is a way for all of us to give back to St. Luke’s for the wonderful experiences and opportunities that have been afforded to us and our children. Not only will it be put to use this year, but the amount of the Annual Fund contributed to the school’s endowment has been increased this year to 5%, so “it’s a gift” that truly will continue to give.
With sincere appreciation,
The Barnett Family
Please contact Laurie Adams, Institutional Advancement Director, at 225- 927-8601 if you have a question about these giving opportunities or would like to discuss a gift to
St. Luke’s Episcopal Day School.