ST. MARY S SCHOOL GUIDE TO ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY

ST. MARY S SCHOOL GUIDE TO ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY

ST. MARY S SCHOOL GUIDE TO ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY THE FOUNDATION OF ST. MARY S SCHOOL is its crystal-clear mission to provide an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum that prepares and inspires our students to become courageous, caring, global citizens and enlightened leaders of tomorrow. Educating a child requires more than talented teachers and outstanding curriculum. A St. Mary s education would not be the incredible experience that it is without the investment of gifts and time from our parents. You can make a positive and meaningful difference in your child s education and in the life of our school community by partnering with us. This guide is designed to introduce you to opportunities to support St. Mary s School in two meaningful ways Engagement and Philanthropy. One of St. Mary s Pillars of Excellence is a continued sense of community among students, families, faculty and staff. To this end, we foster an inclusive campus culture which supports and encourages family engagement. Our students, as well as our IB curriculum, are enhanced when our parents are actively involved in school and community-based activities and events. As a St. Mary s parent, you are considered a member of the Parent Teacher Fellowship. Through PTF and other on-campus groups there are numerous ways to support your child and impact the St. Mary s community with your time and talents. Participating in these activities will make your St. Mary s journey that much more rewarding and contribute to the fabric of our community. 2

PARENT TEACHER FELLOWSHIP (PTF) Our Parent Teacher Fellowship is the volunteer organization that underscores the value placed on community at St. Mary s. Our PTF provides and builds community-based experiences through allcommunity events, service learning projects and a parent education series. PTF COMMUNITY EVENTS PTF brings two large community events to our campus each year. Founders Family Fun Day is a good, old-fashioned carnival complete with a ring toss, sack races and a dunk tank. This all-community afternoon is in celebration of Father Earnest Sillers birthday. Additionally, in the spring, PTF hosts FalconBall Blast, which is an all-school European Hand Ball tournament complete with a costume contest, food trucks and grand prize trophy. SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS Each year PTF brings the Community Candy Canes project to campus, which enables the community to give back, providing to those in our local cities who are in need during the holiday time. In addition, PTF provides smaller, experience-based service learning over the course of the year, which enables parents and students to give back together. PARENT EDUCATION Working with our parent community and school counselor, the PTF provides a parent education series that strives to deliver subjects that reflect current community parenting topics as well as continued education on IB curriculum and implementation. 3

2017-2018 PTF DATES September 1 PTF Welcome Back Coffee October 6 Founder s Family Fun Day October 13 Coffee in the Courtyard November 10 Mother/Son Game Night December 1 PTF Community Candy Canes Kick-Off January 23 PTF Parent Education Series February 9 Father/Daughter Dance April 13 Coffee in the Courtyard and Parent Education Series May 4 FalconBall Blast May 17 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast VOLUNTEER-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS Battle of the Books Grade 8 Graduation Book Fair Grade 2 Mystery Readers Classroom Parties Hot Lunch Service Community Candy Canes Jog-A-Thon EEP Multi-Cultural Day Lost and Found EEP Voting Day Moms in Prayer Faculty & Staff Appreciation Lunch Spring Musical Gala Spring Track Meet Golf Classic St. Mary s Fund Committee And more 4

PARENT AND SCHOOL COLLABORATION Our parent volunteers and the Advancement Office collaborate on the following events, which not only raise funds for our school programs and growth, but offer a myriad of opportunities for family engagement. GOLF CLASSIC November 6, 2017 The St. Mary s Golf Classic brings together golfers of all skill levels for a fun-filled day of friendly competition and contests, plus a reception with cocktails and a raffle. The golf classic typically takes place in the fall and offers a wonderful opportunity to get to know other parents, as well as the opportunity to get engaged with other St. Mary s families either through participation or volunteering. GALA March 10, 2018 The Annual Spring Gala is an evening dedicated to fun and fundraising. As a community, we gather together to support St. Mary s programs, through silent and live auctions. The event also has a Fund-A-Need component to raise funds for a specific program or enhancement at St. Mary s. The gala offers a fantastic opportunity for an evening out in a beautiful venue to enjoy the St. Mary s community. 5

GRANDPARENTS DAY EEP & LS Grandparents Day: November 17, 2017 MS Family Day: May 24, 2018 St. Mary s community includes our grandparents and we set apart a day for our EEP and Lower School grandparents in the fall, and a day for our Middle School families including grandparents in the spring. At these events, we are honored to host our grandparents and families in our courtyard for interactive IB exhibits and provide a student-based program in our gym that highlights our IB framework and culture. Families are then free to tour classrooms. HOW TO GET INVOLVED Volunteer opportunities can be found at www.smaa.org/volunteer/ For more information on our parent engagement and events and to discuss opportunities to volunteer please contact: Stacie Daniel Event and Volunteer Manager 949.448.9027 x328 stacie.daniel@smaa.org 6

PHILANTHROPY For nearly 25 years, St. Mary s has benefited from the generosity of our community. The campus and programs we enjoy today are the result of the philanthropy of those families that came before us. We continue to rely on a combination of annual gifts to support current expenses, as well as special gifts toward capital improvements to ensure a strong future for the next generation. Your ongoing support, beyond tuition, will directly impact every student s experience and future success and ensure a strong future for the next generation of Falcons. THE ST. MARY S FUND The St. Mary s Fund, formally known as the Annual Fund, is the single most important philanthropic priority for our school. The St. Mary s Fund supports our community by providing substantial funding, outside of tuition, to support St. Mary s students and programs every day. Contributions to the Annual Fund are directed to the school s highest priorities and bridge the gap between tuition and what it actually costs to educate a St. Mary s student. This represents the difference between a solid education and a truly exemplary one, where innovative ideas and state-of-the-art resources for teaching and learning practices are not held back by operating budget constraints. Every student at St. Mary s benefits from the St. Mary s Fund Like tuition, the St. Mary s Fund supports the daily operations of the school, from faculty salaries to the magic that happens in our classrooms to the maintenance of our buildings and grounds. The St. Mary s Fund helps make possible the school s economic model of classrooms with low studentto-faculty ratios and enables us to hire exceptional faculty that continue our innovation in education both reasons that parents say they chose St. Mary s. 7

Unlike Tuition, Gifts to the St. Mary s Fund are Tax-Deductible St. Mary s relies on contributions to the St. Mary s Fund every year from Trustees, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, faculty and staff. It is our expectation that 100% of our families will partner with us in providing our students with an exceptional educational experience by donating to the St. Mary s Fund. How much each family contributes is a personal decision, but we ask that everyone be as generous as possible given their financial circumstances. Gifts range from under $1,000 to over $25,000. Every gift, of any size, has an impact on all of the students of St. Mary s School. 2017-2018 ST. MARY S FUND CAMPAIGN October 10: The St. Mary s Fund kicks off make a pledge or donation December 15: Attend St. Mary s Fund Giving Day December 31: Make a donation for year-end tax benefits February 8: Attend the St. Mary s Fund Donor Appreciation Breakfast May 31: Pledges to the St. Mary s Fund are due GIVING LEVELS Visionaries Circle: $25,000 Millennium Circle: $10,000 $24,999 Head of School Circle: $5,000 $9,999 Donors who give $10,000 or more are invited to a dinner with the Head of School. Donors who give $3,000 or more are invited to the Leadership Reception the following fall. PROGRAMS ENHANCED BY THE ST. MARY S FUND Your gifts to the St. Mary s Fund support the school s growing program needs in all areas. The St. Mary s Fund strengthens and sustains the educational experience of a St. Mary s student each and every day. These six funds represent the core elements of St. Mary s program. Donors may choose to direct gifts to the particular area of the school s operational budget that they find most meaningful. Academic Programs Athletics Faculty Professional Development Fine Arts Sustainers Circle: $3,000 $4,999 Benefactors: $1,500 $2,999 Patrons: $1,000 $1,499 Science Technology and Innovation Supporters: $500 $999 Friends: Up to $499 Area of Greatest Need CAPITAL CAMPAIGN To realize goals identified in the school s Strategic Plan, the Board of Trustees will, when needed, initiate a Capital Campaign in order to meet facilities, program and endowment needs that the school cannot pay for out of tuition funds. A Capital Campaign will support major projects such as new campus construction and renovations to maintain state-of-the-art facilities. Capital Campaign gifts are significantly larger than annual contributions and therefore are pledges paid over a multi-year period. 8

WAYS TO GIVE CASH OR CHECK Choose to make your gift to St. Mary s by check, either as a single donation or as payments toward a pledge. Simply make your check payable to St. Mary s and deliver or mail it to the Advancement Office. CREDIT CARD Make your donation or pay your pledge with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express card online at www.smaa.org/give/ or visit the Advancement Office. PLEDGES Pledges are a popular way for families to demonstrate their commitment to support St. Mary s early in the campaign, yet delay payment for a later date that works better for their family or maximizes a tax deduction. Pledges can be fulfilled by cash, check, credit card or securities in one installment or monthly installments before a specified pledge payment period. Pledges can be made online at www.smaa.org/pledge/. MATCHING GIFTS Many corporations demonstrate their support to St. Mary s by matching their employees donations to our school. Matching gifts can double your contribution to St. Mary s. Donors are recognized for the total of the combined amount of their gift plus their employer s matching gift. Please consult your company s Human Resources Dept. to inquire about a matching program or the Advancement Office so we can research that information for you. GIFTS OF SECURITIES Gifts of appreciated stock and/or securities represent a two-fold savings opportunity. Donors avoid paying capital gains taxes on the increased values of their stocks. In addition, donors receive a tax deduction for the full market value of the stock on the date of the gift. 9

PLANNED GIVING Planned gifts are made now and distributed in the future. Including St. Mary s in an estate plan provides for the long-term fiscal health of St. Mary s and gives donors the opportunity to receive immediate or deferred tax benefits while leaving a legacy. All parents and grandparents are encouraged to consider naming St. Mary s in their will and making the school aware of their gift. CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION GIVING St. Mary s strives to attain grants and funding from foundations and corporate giving entities for school needs. Because these grants are quite competitive, it is extremely helpful to have a contact within the funding organization. Please let us know if you or your extended family has contacts with philanthropic agencies. OTHER WAYS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ST. MARY S SCHOOL Gifts of tangible personal property Attend fundraising events Event sponsorship/underwriting Register your debit and credit cards with escrip (ID 137122061) and your Ralph s grocery card (#80397); these stores will make contributions to St. Mary s when you use those cards. Support St. Mary s when you shop on Amazon at www.smile.amazon.com. Choose St Mary and All Angels Christian Church as your organization to support and we will receive.5% back on all eligible purchases. HOW TO GIVE Donate online at: www.smaa.org/give/ or make a pledge at www.smaa.org/pledge/ Bring your donation to the Advancement Office Mail your donation to: St. Mary s, Advancement Office 7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Because St. Mary s is a 501(c)(3) corporation, your gifts to St. Mary s are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law; tax identification number 33 0771131. For further information regarding these opportunities, please contact Christine Downie, Director of Development, at (949) 448-9027 x324 or christine.downie@smaa.org 10

St. Mary s School 7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 FIRST CLASS www.smaa.org