Dear Friends,
Annual Fund After last fall’s production of “The Crucible,” an AFS parent told me of her frustration at not being able to hear the actors well, adding that she would happily provide funding for new sound equipment if that was needed. Thanks to her timely donation, we now have a new soundboard that is a wonderful asset to the auditorium.
In January I received an email from an alum who wanted to honor his late grandmother with a special gift to the School and Meeting. She had been a firm believer in the transformational power of travel and he wanted to honor her memory by providing that experience for students here who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Through his generosity, we were able to support a rising senior’s trip to Liberia this summer and another student’s volunteer adventure in Nicaragua. Recently, a School Committee member who knew of our plans to renovate the Muller Auditorium let me know that her mother (a grandmother of an AFS student) wanted to make a significant contribution to that project. Though she had only visited the School on a couple of occasions to see her granddaughter, she wanted to do something to support all of our students. None of these gifts were solicited, nor were they part of a formal campaign. They happened because people who care about our students saw that they could be helpful. While each story is unique, they all speak to a shared belief in the mission and vision of AFS that is truly heartening, and humbling. Jon M. Harris Assistant Head of School for Advancement
Ever think of Planned Giving…. The Light Keepers Legacy Society honors those who have arranged to support AFS through a planned or estate gift. Members of the Light Keepers Legacy Society have made a provision for AFS in their wills, named the school as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or individual retirement account (IRA), or established trusts to benefit AFS. The Light Keepers Legacy Society enables members of the School community to plan for the future and benefit from tax advantages available through giving to AFS during their lifetimes. These legacy gifts ensure that AFS can continue to nurture the light in every student now and for the future. If you have made a provision for AFS in your estate plans, please share this information with us so that your generosity can be acknowledged. For more information on making a planned gift to support AFS, please contact Jon Harris at 215-576-3956.
Highlights We did it! In 2013-2014, 1,049 donors (+21%) raised $552,408 (+10%), the highest donor and dollar totals ever We met the $75,000 AFS Challenge by exceeding 1,000 donors and inspiring top donors to increase their collective giving by nearly $100,000 Gifts ranged from $1 to $45,000 and $562 was the average gift per donor We received 93 gifts at the leadership levels of $1,000 or more 100% of our School Committee members (trustees), 92% of our faculty and staff, 47% of our parents, and 13% of our alumni students contributed (please see page 18 for the Alumni Annual Fund Report) 26% of our students gave a gift, including 42% of the Upper School—the Class of 2017 achieved 80% Our deepest thanks to our 1,049 donors for being such an important part of the 2013-2014 school year. Keep a look out for information about our goals for the 2014-2015 AFS Annual Fund.
Total Contributions to the AFS Annual Fund for the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year: $552,408 Note that these numbers are estimates pending the completion of our audit.
Please visit http://www.abingtonfriends. net/Giving/13-14AnnualReportofGifts to view donor honor rolls. We are grateful for everyone who supports AFS financially and in many other ways.
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