2010-2011 Development Committee: Marianna Poutasse (Annual Fund Co-Chair), Claire Pollart , Hilary Ferrone (Annual Fund Co-Chair), Donna Elmendorf, Lisa Kantor, Paul Lindenmaier, Paige Orloff (Co-Chair), Laurie Schiff (Co-Chair), Joe Hornick Absent: Robin McGraw and Helice Picheny

It is my hope that everyone received a copy of our Annual Report for 2009-2010 and a letter (with accompanying brochure) asking them to please consider a tax-deductible gift to this year’s Annual Fund.  As the enclosed brochure describes,  as an independent school, we rely on income beyond tuition to fully support our faculty and programs.   The Annual Fund is the key source of this additional income, contributing approximately four percent of the School’s operating budget.  We rally the support of the entire BCD community when we ask for contributions: Trustees, current and past parents, alumni/ae, grandparents, faculty and staff, and friends.  The much needed funds raised directly support everything we do to enrich each child’s educational experience at BCD.

The Board of Trustees and I have established that increasing faculty salaries over the next few years is a priority.  Our teachers provide the children with a quality program, supporting their development as academic, creative, athletic, and social learners.  A gift to the Annual Fund helps us meet our objective to increase faculty compensation so that we can continue to attract and maintain a first-rate teaching staff.  This is more important than ever as we anticipate challenges in hiring during the next few years, not to mention how significant increases in health care costs and other benefits will impact our employees in the near future.  And, last year, thanks to the generosity of current community members, we established two special restricted endowed funds to accomplish our goals of ensuring that BCD’s faculty are better compensated and supported in their professional growth.  If you would like more information about these funds, please contact me directly.

I am very proud of all that we offer our children at BCD, and it is a privilege to be a part of this exceptional educational community.  I am similarly proud that we are a gift-supported school.  We stand on that as a value.  It is rewarding to be a part of a school with this kind of partnership, to see how everyone can support our commitment to excellence, and to witness what giving means to the present and future needs of the children.  Every gift to the Annual Fund, at any amount, is valued for the support it provides as we advance our mission and “inspire the individual promise of every student.”

Sincerely,

Paul