THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF ON APRIL 24, 2014 The Kick-off of “Imagine the Possibilities,” Far Brook’s Capital Campaign for new construction and Endowment, marked the beginning of its public phase. The festive evening in Moore Hall provided an opportunity for nearly 200 parents, faculty, Trustees, and guests to gather and celebrate this remarkable School and to hear the announcement of the Campaign’s goal and progress.
CONTENTS
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THANK YOU
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CAMPAIGN KICKOFF, APRIL 24, 2014
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RENDERINGS
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GIVING BACK
Gift pyramid and thank you to donors
Photos from the event
Images of the transformative effort to enhance Far Brook
As families and faculty mingled and enjoyed each other’s company in the spring evening with delicious food and libations, the Hall lights were dimmed. A brief slideshow, highlighting the daily and extraordinary life at Far Brook set to Louie Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” was shown, reminding us of this distinctive school experience we all share. Amy Ziebarth, Head of School, asked guests to “imagine” what the children will be experiencing in the new Music and Arts Building and the Science and Environmental Center next to the Wetlands Habitat. Tommaso Zanobini, Chair of Far Brook’s Board of Trustees, spoke to the importance of the Master Plan and the creativity and skill of Centerbrook Architects and announced a goal of $8,000,000 for the Campaign! Amy returned to the podium to announce how much of the $8 million had been raised to date. At that moment, the “Imagine the Possibilities” slide was suddenly replaced by a colorful Gift Pyramid showing that...
$7,339,421 IN GIFTS AND PLEDGE COMMITMENTS, HAD BEEN RAISED TO DATE!
Ways to support Far Brook article continued on next page
CAMPAIGN FOR FAR BROOK UPDATE | SUMMER 2014
COVER PHOTO - Tommaso Zanobini, Chair, Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of Campaign and Amy Ziebarth, Head of School PHOTO ON THIS PAGE – left to right – Jeff and Leah Kronthal, Diane Bakst and Tommaso Zanobini, Amy Ziebarth, Krissy and Joe Mannello
Campaign Kick-off Celebration Article continued from front page
CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS Diane Bakst and Tommaso Zanobini Leah and Jeff Kronthal Krissy and Joe Mannello
2013-2014 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tommaso Zanobini, Chair Robert Kelly, Vice Chair Tony Stovall, Treasurer Michelle Swittenberg, Secretary Amy Ziebarth, Head of School Chris Burns Carmine Fanelle Mary Sue Fisher Anne-Marie Kim Tom Kligerman Leah Kronthal Marybeth Leithead Krissy Mannello Megan Martin Elyse Post ’78 Chris Susko Bradford Wiley, II ’54
Editors: Suzanne Glatt and Carol Sargent
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Applause erupted in the Hall, as it had several times previously, with hoots and hollers of excitement. Bringing our focus to the top three boxes, Amy explained that these commitments, ranging from $1,000,000 - $2,000,000, were made by an alumni parent family and two alumni, a testament to their long-lasting gratitude for a Far Brook education long after they and their children have left the School. “That, to me, is true philanthropy,” Amy concluded. The remaining shaded boxes will match the clear ones as we top our goal. And Tommaso made it clear, “there is still much to be done!” Thank-yous were plentiful from both Amy and Tommaso for the generosity of the Board, and the incredible work of the Building and Finance Committees, the Campaign Chairs, and the faculty. As Amy reminded us, “how lucky we are to be here at this remarkable elementary school...to give our children the gift of an unhurried childhood, with time to question, explore, and think about things that matter.” You will be hearing more about the “Imagine the Possibilities” Campaign and construction as we move forward.
“IMAGINE...Seventh Graders in Art class with their easels on the back deck, facing the Habitat, creating their oil paintings...” Quote above and quotes throughout newsletter from Amy Ziebarth’s April 24, 2014 remarks.
THANK YOU
$7,339,421 $2,000,000-$1,000,000
CAMPAIGN GOAL
$8,000,000
$999,999-$500,000 $499,999-$250,000 $249,000-$100,000 $99,999-$50,000 $49,999-$25,000 $24,999 AND BELOW = gifts committed
“These transformational commitments… are a true testament to the long-lasting gratitude for the benefits of a Far Brook education and what this experience means to them…”
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CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF April 24, 2014
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1 – Tommaso Zanobini and Bradford Wiley, II ’54 2 – Lisa Butler 3 – (left to right) Nino Badridze, Nicole Stovall, David Jack, Erika and Carmine Fanelle 4 – Amy Ziebarth, Jen and Marc Gonyea 5 – Joseph Baker ’62 and Judy Armstrong 6 – (left to right) Mary Sue Fisher, Anne-Marie Kim, Marybeth and Ed Leithead 7 – Lauren Stadtmauer and Valerie Grant
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8 – (left to right) Nancy Weidner, Sue Wyeth (Centerbrook Architects), Chris Susko, Jeff Kronthal, Donna Chahalis
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9 – Beautiful Flowers Adorn the Celebration 10 – (left to right) Diane Bakst, Jenny Reinhardt, Dan Reisen and Amy Weiss, Kristen Carlberg 11 – (left to right) Diane Manahan, Heather Braun, Nicole Fabian Engelke ’88 and Mark Engelke 12 – Dorsey Grant 13 – Tony Stovall 14 – Penny Sokolowski, Brian Saluzzo and Brian Croshaw 15 – Lourdes Blanco and Andres Lederman, Ileana Martin-Novoa
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16 – (left to right) April Bell-Martha, Kate Hewitt, Paula Levin, Emi Ithen 17 – Katy Burns
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES: THE CAMPAIGN FOR FAR BROOK SCHOOL
“IMAGINE... being invited to the new amphitheater to watch a Shakespeare play rehearsal.”
Music and Arts Building
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“Imagine The Possibilities” is a transformative effort to enhance the intimate environment where Far Brook students explore, learn, and take part in the rich experiences that remain with them for a lifetime. The Campaign will support the construction of two new buildings: a Science and Environmental Center and a Music and Arts Building, both of which will face the Wetlands Habitat, our wonderful natural resource. The new Music and Arts Building will include a larger and more functional orchestra and choral room with direct access to an outdoor amphitheater, a larger Lower School music room with flexible space for dance and instrument storage, and a larger, more functional fine arts room with an outdoor deck facing the Wetlands. The Science and Environmental Center will include three separate labs for Lower, Middle, and Upper School science, all with age-appropriate furnishings, layouts, and equipment. A new Woodshop will be incorporated at the end of the building closest to Moore Hall. The new facilities will allow the School to better accommodate Far Brook’s student body, while enabling our faculty to continue to offer new and innovative programming to deepen the creative learning that takes place at Far Brook each day.
Science and Environmental Center
Annual and Capital Giving Annual Fund support remains as important as ever during and after the Campaign. Regular annual contributions are given and spent within the current year for unrestricted use by the School in support of ongoing operating needs. Capital Campaigns are designed to raise funds for specific needs like buildings, programs, and endowment, and are generally pledged in full and then paid over a pre-determined number of years. We ask that while helping us support our Campaign projects, our regular donors continue to make the Annual Fund a priority.
Endowment Giving Far Brook’s Endowment topped $5,000,000 last year. Gifts to the Endowment support scholarships, faculty development, facilities, and general needs. A healthy Endowment ensures our long-term security, serves as a safeguard against unforeseeable market challenges, and allows the School to have the flexibility in responding to future challenges and opportunities. The Campaign includes gifts made to the general Endowment or to specific Endowment funds.
The Simple Gifts Society – Planned Giving
“IMAGINE... Third Graders quickly pulling on waders and running right out from their Lower School science lab to the Wetlands to find pollywogs or collect samples of sludge!”
While we encourage direct gifts to the Campaign, donors may also make a Planned Gift. Planned gifts may appeal to those who want to deepen their philanthropic commitment to Far Brook or who would like to do more than their present financial circumstances allow. Planned gifts can be fairly simple to implement and are an important way to increase the Endowment and to support Far Brook.
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LEFT AND BELOW – Delivery of temporary classroom building modular pods and temporary classroom architectural rendering Photos taken on this page by Emi Ithen.
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
on how to help or ways to make a gift to the Campaign, please contact Suzanne Glatt, Director of Development, sglatt@farbrook.org. Contact Carol Sargent, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, csargent@farbrook.org, to discuss Planned Giving. Both Suzanne and Carol can be reached by phone at 973-379-3442.
“IMAGINE…Fourth Graders partnering with a city school-they come here to work in the Wetlands and we go there to work on their roof-top garden.”
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