The 2012-2013 Parents Annual Fund
The Robert D. Walter West Campus Initiative

Dear St. Charles Parent, 

We are excited to start another academic year here at St. Charles.  Our enrollment this fall is 645 students and will be the most diverse in school history.  State-wide and national rankings place us as one of the top college preparatory high schools.

Our singular focus of being a college preparatory school has enabled us to continue to be the leader in Catholic education.  Keeping the bar high challenges our students, preparing them to compete successfully at the college level. 

The ongoing generous support that we receive for the Annual Fund from alumni, parents and friends plays a critical role in maintaining Bishop James J. Hartley’s founding pledge “that no young man seeking a St. Charles education will be turned away due to lack of economic means.”  By funding need-based and academic scholarships worth over $1.3 million last year, over one-third of our students received financial assistance.  Annual Fund proceeds also support the faculty, help meet operating expenses, and play a large role in maintaining our buildings and grounds.

On Sunday, September 9^th, members of the St. Charles family gathered for Mass and a well-attended celebration of Dominic Cavello for his 40 years of service to our school.  In addition to honoring Dominic, many in our community have contributed to the newly funded Dominic and Kathleen Cavello Endowment.  This fund provides financial aid for qualified students and is an effort you may wish to consider supporting.  Your gift to this endowment would be counted in our Annual Fund total.

Our goal for the 2012-2013 St. Charles Annual Fund is $1.5 million.  Please consider an investment in our mission that would allow us to continue to offer an affordable education for our students and maintain the tradition of the highest standard of Catholic education in Ohio.  Annual Fund Gifts of $1,250 and above are recognized by membership in The Cardinal Society and donors at that level will be invited to attend our annual year-end celebration at Muirfield Village Golf Club. 

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and may God continue to bless your family and the St. Charles community.

Sincerely,

James R. Lower, Principal

John M. Salyer ’85, Dean of Students

Drs. Ken and Kathy Lutter, Parents Annual Fund Co-Chairs

For more information regarding the 2012-2013 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 or at miduffy@cdeducation.org

Website: www.stcharlesprep.org/support/gift_online

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 – June 30.

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 2014
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, 2013.

 
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 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 or by e-mail at miduffy@cdeducation.org