2009-2010 Parents Annual Fund
“Maintaining Our Traditions”
Dear St. Charles parents,
As you read this, St. Charles has already begun our school year with a record number of 642 students – the highest enrollment in our 86 year history. We continue to witness ever increasing numbers of prospective students attending our fall Open House and competing for academic scholarships during our winter scholarship exam.
Academically, we are blessed with a great student body exemplifying talent shown both in and out of the classroom. Our ACT composite (combined) score of the Class of 2009 was a 29 which placed us in the top 5% to 10% of high schools nationwide. Our overall pass rate on Advanced Placement tests continues to hover at 97%. Our retention rate has continued to improve over the last five years and now stands at 75%, due in part to continued emphasis on tutoring and after school study tables. This accomplishment stems from the fact that we continue to focus on one level of education – we are a college preparatory high school only, and we will never surrender that emphasis.
Much of the success we are enjoying has to do with the very generous Annual Fund support we continue to receive from our alumni, parents, and friends. These gifts play a critical role in maintaining Bishop Hartley’s founding promise that “No Young Man will be Turned Away from St. Charles Due to Economic Means” remains intact, by funding need-based scholarships and financial aid (to the tune of $1.3 million this year) for over 190 of our 645 young men (over 30%) as well as supporting the faculty, maintaining our buildings and grounds, and helping meet operating expenses. Over the summer, a considerable amount of work was completed on our physical plant – namely the tuck-pointing of the classroom building to the tune of $280,000, and Annual Fund dollars played a key role in making a necessary project like that affordable for us.
Our goal for this year’s St. Charles Annual Fund is $1,000,000 and it is our sincere hope that you will consider a sacrificial gift to assist in maintaining the fine traditions of our great school. Annual gifts totaling $1,250 and above are recognized by membership in The Cardinal Society and donors at that level will be invited to attend a year-end celebration. All Annual Fund support is critical to continuing our ability to meet the needs of students and faculty, but gifts at this level and above allow us to continue to make great strides in meeting these needs within our St. Charles community.
Thank you for considering a gift this fall and may God continue to bless your family and St. Charles.
Sincerely,
Dominic J. Cavello ’64
Principal
John (’78) and Linda Mackessy
Parents Annual Fund Co-Chairs
For more information regarding the 2009- 2010 Annual Fund contact the school's Development Office and ask to speak with Michael Duffy, the St. Charles Development Director. he can be reached at
(614) 252-9288 extension #20
Website: www.stcharlesprep.org/support/gift_online
Development e-mail address: Givetosc@stcharlesprep.org
Annual Fund FAQ and Fact Sheet
Question: Why does St. Charles have an Annual Fund?
Answer: An Annual Fund, a part of the landscape at most parochial and private schools all over the country and certainly Central Ohio, raises funds to help maintain the school’s founding promise 85 years ago that "No qualified student who could benefit from a St. Charles education would ever be turned away because of a family's inability to pay tuition," as well as maintaining our buildings and grounds, supporting the faculty, and helping meet operating expenses. Annual Fund contributions are applied directly to meeting all of these expenses of running the school during the fiscal year July 1, 2009- June 30, 2010.
Question: Where can I see my contribution at work?
Answer: Everywhere our 640 young men and their teachers are at work! Some other areas that are supported include technology upgrades and faculty professional development opportunities for recruitment and retention.
Question: Why is a gift of ANY size important?
Answer: Support for the Annual Fund represents your belief in the St. Charles mission. Your gift of any amount combines with others to provide a compelling case to other constituencies, including alumni, foundations and corporations, that those who benefit the most directly from a St. Charles education – you, our current parents – are committed to what the school is doing.
Question: I know what I want to give, but I can’t until 2010
Answer: Make a pledge! Pledging a gift and making payments according to a schedule that you determine enables St. Charles to plan for your gift and to take your planned participation into account. Our Development Office will send you reminders according to the schedule that you request. Simply fill out the Annual Fund reply envelope accordingly and make your final payment by June 30, 2009.
Question: Who is asked to contribute to the Annual Fund?
Answer: Parents of current students, alumni, and parents of alumni are invited to ensure the day-to-day excellence of the school they know, that is educating their boys today. Other donors include grandparents, neighbors, and some local businesses. This group takes advantage of the giving opportunity given to them annually to keep St. Charles fiscally strong and healthy.
Making Your Tax-Deductible Gift
Annual Fund Pledge & Gift Levels
Leadership gifts of $50,000 to $100,000. Making gifts of appreciated stock are especially tax-wise, so consult your professional advisor to learn the full benefits.
Major gifts between $10,000 and $50,000.
Investor gifts between $5,000 and $10,000.
Special gifts between $1,000 and $5,000. Don’t forget to request a corporate matching gift!
One-time gifts between $100 and $1,000 are greatly appreciated.
Tax deductibility of gifts: All gifts to the Parents Annual Fund are 100% tax-deductible. The school encourages you to utilize your corporate matching gift benefit, which matches cash gifts at face value.
Gift of stock/appreciated securities: For a stock-transfer instruction sheet, send an email to: givetosc@stcharlesprep.org
Consider Joining The Cardinal Society
The parents and alumni of St. Charles have a long and proud history of helping maintain many of our school’s most cherished traditions through charitable giving.
Charitable gifts of $1,250 or more to the Annual Fund will qualify a donor for membership in The Cardinal Society.
Renewed annually, members will receive a one-of-a-kind St. Charles keepsake and an invitation to attend a year-end Annual Fund celebration.
For additional information, please call our Development & Alumni Office at (614) 252-9288 or E-mail us at: givetosc@stcharlesprep.org
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