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Why Saint Mary’s? Alumnae across the board say Saint Mary’s is the foundation that helped prepare them for the world and their next steps in life. Have you ever asked, “Why Saint Mary’s?” or examined your student experience – what Saint Mary’s gave you then or as an alumna? In the past five years, Saint Mary’s Development and Alumnae Office staff have traveled across the country, meeting alumnae, families, and friends. We’ve heard countless stories that capture the “why” for hundreds of Saint Mary’s graduates. Some alumnae chose Saint Mary’s, while others say Saint Mary’s chose them. If you ponder your own “why,” you might discover Saint Mary’s helped you develop independence, resilience, leadership skills, new ideas, a love for learning, growth in faith, or was the catalyst to developing lifelong friendships that remain even today. No matter your individual reasons, alumnae across the board say Saint Mary’s was the foundation that helped prepare them for the world and their next steps in life. Each year, thousands of Saint Mary’s alumnae choose Saint Mary’s again when they decide to invest in their alma mater. They know that doing so ensures their alumnae legacy and secures Saint Mary’s for future generations. Alumnae also choose to stay informed, engaged, and connected by reading the bi-annual magazine and monthly Around the Gove; host or attend regional and campus events; come back for Reunion Weekend where they reminisce and remember what Saint Mary’s means to them; and they volunteer as guest speakers and guest artists, offer internships, and so much more. Alumnae also discover ways to give back philanthropically. Some join the Heritage Society when they add Saint Mary’s to their estate plan while others give to established scholarships or create endowed funds of their own. Some give to capital projects for improved buildings and grounds, and 1,593 alumnae (19 percent) gave $1.1 million to Saint Mary’s Annual Fund last fiscal year. Those gifts to Saint Mary’s Annual Fund supported technology advancements that allowed us to convert our entire academic program,
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
in record speed, to an online learning environment after COVID-19 hit. These funds helped us purchase cleaning supplies and create health and safety provisions for cross-campus updates (made swiftly over the summer allowing us to open school in-person in the fall), resources for teachers and students, the hiring of an additional nurse and housekeeper, new annual scholarship dollars, and make facility upgrades like new lighting, hoods for our science lab, new chillers with filtered air conditioning, and improved classroom spaces. Because of that investment, Saint Mary’s – unlike many school districts and systems – began in-person, on-campus classes with students also able to participate in athletics, dance, the annual Sigma-Mu challenge, and other extracurricular activities. Students also held their class elections, attended assembly and chapel, all while adhering to social distancing to ensure the close of a successful fall semester. Though things might not have looked the same, our students benefit from the Saint Mary’s experience thanks to the support of our donors. Last fall, the West Rock alumnae and development team also began sharing quotes on social media from alumnae about their personal reasons “why” they chose Saint Mary’s then and why they continue to support the institution today. Now is the perfect time to examine your “why” and make the decision to invest in Saint Mary’s because the heart and soul of your “why” connects you to today’s students who have also chosen Saint Mary’s. And your support helps secure for them a foundation from which our students can build upon – just as you did when you were a Saint Mary’s girl. Make your secure online donation to Saint Mary’s Annual Fund today, or pledge a gift to be paid by June 30, 2021, at www.sms.edu/give2021. Thank you for choosing Saint Mary’s again. By Lauren E. Gerber, Director of Annual Fund and Major Gifts
