Giving
Achieving Prospect Sierra's educational goals requires an ongoing commitment
of time, treasure, and talent from our school community. And thanks to
the level of support from our community, friends, and foundations, our
school is flourishing. Our contributors can take tremendous pride in their
role in making the school such a special place.
Developing voluntary sources of funding to support our school is a key
charge of the Development Committee, a standing committee of the Board
of Trustees. The committee, made up of trustees and parents,
is assisted by the Development Office staff. Learn about how gifts support
our goals for students:
Annual Fund
Scholarship Endowment
Faculty and Curricular Support
Capital Campaign
You Are Invited to Contribute
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The Annual Fund:
Ensuring Our Margin of Excellence
Tuition alone does not cover the actual cost of a Prospect Sierra education,
a financial fact that makes annual giving crucial to ensuring the excellence
of our programs. Tax-deductible contributions to the Annual Fund make
up much of this tuition-cost difference. These gifts allow the school to sustain its long-standing commitments to moderating tuition increases and maintaining as wide a socio-economic range of families as possible.
Specifically, the Annual Fund helps the school
- continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty
- ensure small class sizes with individual attention
- offer an enriched curriculum
- maintain a diverse student body.
Parent participation is important. In the past several years, we have raised well over $325,000 per year and roughly 90% of our current families contribute to the Annual Fund each year. Prospect Sierra's unusually high level of support demonstrates our
community's commitment to the school, is key to obtaining outside funding,
and inspires our fine teachers and staff.
Scholarship Endowment
Prospect Sierra places a tremendous value on attracting a student body
of children with diverse talents, backgrounds, and means. Almost ten percent of the school's tuition revenue is designated for financial aid, this year totaling $760,000 to assist 20.6% of the school's 471 students. The school
is committed to aiding students for whom the cost of tuition would otherwise
be prohibitive.
The school also continues to grow its Scholarship Endowment, which now stands at $409,000. Interest from the fund is awarded as financial aid each year.
The annual Celebration of the Arts raises funds for the
Scholarship Endowment. The benefit features music, dancing, food, and
a silent auction of student artwork and donated items. All are invited
to come, bid generously, and support our Scholarship Endowment.
Just as important are contributions to special scholarship funds. We
ask you to consider contributing to these funds:
The Prospect Sierra Scholarship Fund is an important source of funds to help us maintain a diverse student
body. Raising funds for this endowment is second only to our Annual Fund efforts each year.
The Leo J. Gaspardone Scholarship Fund
was established in 1998 to honor the co-founder of Prospect School and
his life-long dedication to opportunity and excellence in education.
Dr. Gaspardone helped establish Prospect Sierra, served as its first
Board chair, and continues to serve on the Board of Trustees.
The Lynn De Jonghe Scholarship Fund was established in honor of one of the founders of Sierra School for her vision and dedication to building a wonderful school community.
The David and Charlotte Grutman Memorial
Scholarship Fund was endowed in 1988 by David Grutman, father
of Gail Berland, a co-founder of Prospect and Prospect Sierra Schools.
The fund helps make a Prospect Sierra education accessible to students
of color who need financial support to attend the school.
The Gail Redman Scholarship Fund was
established in memory of Gail Redman, parent of Evan O'Brien ’03
and Briana Redman ’00, to honor her courage and her commitment
to the school community.
The Lewis MacGregor Phipps Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2004 in honor of Greg Phipps (1942-2002), husband of Maryann and father of Brandon and Lauren. This is a fitting legacy for a philanthropic man who had a passion for lifelong learning and honored all people.
Faculty and Curricular Support
The Frederick W. Heinrich Fund for Professional Development This fund was established in 2007 upon Buzz's retirement as Head of School of Prospect Sierra. The fund provides support for faculty to attend seminars and classes on subjects in their fields. This allows teachers to stay abreast of current practices, nourish their own interests, and bring new enthusiasm and energy into the classroom.
Jo Bradley Poetry Fund This fund was established in 2001 to honor Jo Bradley's invaluable contributions and dedication over many years to East Bay Sierra School, her instrumental participation in the creation of Prospect Sierra, and her continuing role as program developer, teacher, and mentor to teachers for the education of our students in the integrated humanities model. The fund will support an annual week of schoolwide focus on poetry, incorporating Jo's approach to the study and appreciation of that art.
Gregg Family Legacy Fund Upon her retirement as Director of Technology from Prospect Sierra in 2007, Caryn Gregg and her family endowed this fund to recognize and honor faculty and staff who have achieved milestones in their years of service to Prospect Sierra School.
Capital Campaign
In December 2001, the culmination of more than three years of work by
dozens of parents, faculty, and staff, the school moved ahead with major
portions of Phase One of its Campus Master Plan — a new library
and classrooms at the middle school and new library, art, music, and science
facilities at the elementary school. The ribbon was cut on these exceptional
new facilities in fall 2003. These projects are being funded through long-term
tax-exempt bond financing (at a favorable fixed rate).
The remaining top priorities identified in our long range Campus Master Plan - visual and performing arts and world language spaces at the middle school - are being funded through a capital campaign, the school's first. This method of financing relies on a special commitment to philanthropy by the school community. In summer 2005, we had raised sufficient funds to create two dedicated world language classrooms. The capital campaign will be concluded in the current school year and the arts building was completed on time and within budget for the start of school in September 2007.
You Are Invited to Contribute
Every gift is important, and there are many ways to contribute. Contact
the Development Office if you have questions about these or other ways
of giving:
Check
Checks can be mailed to:
Development Office
Prospect Sierra School
2060 Tapscott Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Appreciated Securities & Stocks
Gifts of common stock allow donors to claim the fair market value of
appreciated securities at the time the gift is made. For instructions
on how your broker can transfer your stock, contact the Development
Office, 510.232.4123, ext. 330.
Matching Gifts
If you participate in your company's matching gift program, your gift
to the school could be doubled or tripled. Obtain a matching gift form
from your company, complete it, and return it to the Development Office.
Online Giving
For your convenience, you may make your Annual Fund gift online:
eScrip, SchoolPop and Amazon
Learn more about earning money for the school while you shop through
eScrip, SchoolPop and Amazon.
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