BEMENT REPORT OF GIVING | 2020–2021
A Year Like No Other
W
ow, what a year it’s been! When we agreed to co-chair the Annual Fund at the start of this school year, we really didn’t know what to expect given all the uncertainty that still existed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were certain, however, that Bement was a special community, and we’ve been absolutely amazed by how everyone pulled together and contributed in numerous ways, making this year one of the most unique and special in anyone’s memory. In a year when we couldn’t even be face to face for gatherings, we managed to exceed our Annual Fund 2020–21 goal and set a record for parent participation at 95%! We received 100% participation from our board of trustees, and we had numerous families step forward to provide matching donations that helped enhance the impact of our individual donors. These results are humbling and can only be attributed to one thing: the ethos of Bement, which shined brightly through the challenges of this year. We’re most proud of the fact that we incorporated many different forms of giving during this year’s Annual Fund drive. The Bement Gives Back Challenge provided us all with the opportunity to give back through volunteering and community service. Participants from all corners of our community—alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, and grandparents— volunteered 216 hours during the month of December, and these volunteers raised an extra $21,600 for Bement in volunteer hours matched (in addition to their personal donations)! We hope that you’ll join us this December 2021 as we embark on this challenge again. We are so grateful for all the ways in which the Bement community thrived this year: faculty and staff going above and beyond to ensure our children’s safety and implementing hybrid teaching; families stepping up with considerable generosity to support the school and teachers as we operated hybrid classrooms; parents volunteering to help the Bement Family Association hold safe community-building events, including the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon under a tent at the closing employee meetings in June. The list could go on and on, and we are truly grateful. While this school year was one that could certainly be remembered for its many challenges, I know we will remember it as the year that highlighted the resilience and uniqueness of our Bement community. Thank you for believing in a Bement education and for this amazing demonstration of your support during this unusual year. We are so proud to be a part of this amazing school, and we are extremely grateful for your generosity to Bement! .
L to R: The McCarthy Family, Maddy ‘22, Lisa TT, Braden ‘28, Brian, Molly ‘30, Patrick ‘24
Lisa TT and Brian McCarthy P’22 ’24 ’28 ’30
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