Leadership Donors Launch Ranney Annual Fund 2010-2011

Celebrating the success of last year’s Annual Fund was an easy job for Ranney School thanks to event hosts, Kristen and Peter Gerhard, parents of Peter ’15 and Madison ‘18, who generously opened the doors to Due Process
Golf and Stables last Wednesday evening for Leadership Donors to the Ranney Annual Fund.

Ranney School’s Annual Fund Leadership Donors were extended a special invitation to this evening of appreciation and thanks which also celebrated the resounding financial success of last year’s fundraising efforts.

Jamie Price, parent of Madison ‘13 and Chairmen of the Board Development Committee eloquently addressed guests saying, “Because of your leadership, generosity and belief in the Ranney mission, the Ranney Annual Fund reached record-breaking highs allowing Ranney School to fund more special projects than ever before, ensuring the best possible educational experience for all Ranney students.” Mr. Price continued, “Our work as parents and volunteers for Ranney School requires us to continually set the highest of expectations for our children and our school. Our ambitious goal of $711,000 for the current school-year requires every single person in this room to be missionaries for Ranney School – to spread the message regarding the Annual Fund and its impact on our children - to ask fellow parents to join in our efforts - and to personally reaffirm a gift to Ranney in support of the Annual Fund this year.”

Head of School, Dr. Lawrence Sykoff, thanked Tom and Carol Martin, Co-Chairs of the 2009-2010 Annual Fund Committee, for their leadership which helped to bring the Annual Fund to new heights. Echoing Mr. Price’s remarks, Dr. Sykoff expressed a tremendous sense of gratitude to the parents of Ranney School. “The positive culture of philanthropy is evident at Ranney School. The partnership that exists between our parents and our mission-promise is unmistakable. The outcome of last year’s Annual Fund affirms how parents feel about Ranney School and the quality of the education that our children receive.”

Russell Gartz, Director of Institutional Advancement closed the evening by introducing Christopher and Alison Fitzmaurice, parents of Liam ‘17, Shana ’19 and Tyge ‘23 who are leading the charge to take the Annual Fund to the next level as the Co-Chairs of the 2010-2011 Annual Fund Committee.

Annual Fund Gifts are usually unrestricted gifts that support the general operating expenses of Ranney School. Last year’s Annual Fund in part supported special enhancements to Ranney School, among them: new instruments for our music program; professional development opportunities for faculty which included a two-day seminar with Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of curriculum and instruction; a rock wall for the sports program; easel workstations for the art department and a renovation of the Middle School Science Lab. The Annual Fund, Ranney’s number one fundraising priority, supports all aspects of the Ranney experience and is the most effective way to support Ranney School.

To make your gift to this year’ Annual Fund, please contact Lynn Lucarelli, Director of Annual Fund at llucarelli@ranneyschool.org or make an online donation at www.ranneyschool.org/giveonline.