DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE

Message from the Chair of the Development Committee

Last year’s School theme, Responsible Leadership and Student Voice, reinforced Brimmer’s commitment to its mission to educate our students PK-Grade 12 through opportunities in the classroom, on the field, onstage, and in our global community. Our faculty was purposeful in teaching students how to find and use their voice in individual and collaborative settings. The closing few months of the academic year took an unexpected turn globally with COVID-19, requiring us to move to a remote teaching and learning environment. Our faculty and students pivoted quickly to design a creative, stimulating learning experience for all of our students. The pandemic also brought out student voice and responsible leadership in helping those in need within our community.

The School created a special fund within the Annual Fund called the Brimmer Community Fund. With all the fundraising efforts throughout the year and the challenges of living in a new normal, I am proud to report that we had an overwhelming response from the entire Brimmer and May community for the 2019-2020 Annual Fund. With the success of surpassing our goal, we were once again able to ensure continued excellence for today’s students, provide our teachers with educational materials, fund professional development, fund financial aid, support the arts and athletics, and maintain a first-rate physical plant for teaching and learning. As a Board member and proud alumna of the School, it is an honor for me to oversee the fundraising initiatives for Brimmer. I am thrilled with the results and proud of the community effort to support the School.

Your dedication to contributing to the Annual Fund this past year is key to the financial health of the School and demonstrates your dedication to the Brimmer community of which we are all an important part. The record of support is extremely important, too, as we reach out to foundations, which look for strength in the percentage of parent and alumni support. As the cost of independent school continues to climb, your contribution bridges the gap in the operating budget; helps us attract and retain the best faculty; keeps our classrooms equipped with the most up-to-date technology; ensures that all students have a well-rounded program in the academics, arts, and athletics; and attracts a strong and diverse community of educators and learners.

The Development Committee and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated parent volunteer team, particularly 2019-2020 Annual Fund Parent Chairs Cindy and Paul Gamble P ’23, ’24 and our Leadership team of Sara and Panos Demeter P ’24, ’27; Howard Leeder P ’15, ’20; and Katie and Joe Terino P ’24, ’29. This leadership group and several additional parent volunteers along with alumni, alumni parents, and grandparent volunteers helped us surpass our goal of $850,000, raising over $975,000. Thank you so much.

On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, and the Board of Trustees, I am deeply appreciative for all the contributions and volunteer efforts that make this School thrive and allowed us to once again surpass the Annual Fund goal for 2019-2020.

Sincerely,

Kenyon Bissell Grogan ’76 Trustee, Chair of the Development Committee