Page 31 - 2019-20-AnnualReport
P. 31
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF
Advancement
contributions from alumnae to Class
Endowed Scholarships. While that will
certainly remain an option, this year, we
will also give alumnae the opportunity
to “help a student now” by automatically
Dear Cor Jesu Community, directing new contributions to the
Annual Fund. We are grateful that our
At the risk of sounding like a success in building the endowment
broken record, what a year of over the last decade has afforded us the
change we’ve all experienced! opportunity to make this adjustment.
When the world effectively shut down You will also hear less about the “tuition
in March of 2020, I assumed donations gap.” Before you get too excited – no,
would effectively shut down, as well. it hasn’t gone away. The gap still very
How would we manage? Our goals for much exists. But we know many parents
the fiscal year were ambitious to start, are struggling with unemployment or
but now we would never reach them. As working from home while overseeing
we began to see furloughs and layoffs the educations of multiple children.
among our families, I became increasingly I understand firsthand how challenging
nervous for our community members these circumstances are. So, we are
facing hardships as well as those relying asking parents to meet us where
on financial assistance. We couldn’t they can as we focus on achieving
possibly raise the funds necessary to 100 percent parent participation.
keep these students at Cor Jesu. Whether that’s $5 or $5,000 – we are
grateful for any amount you can give
I have never been so delighted to be to ensure Cor Jesu remains accessible.
proven wrong. Thanks to you, we closed
the 2019-2020 financial year having I know we all think about how we will
raised over $900,000, with more than remember this remarkable year. Will
$550,000 directed to grow the corpus of we remember the hours we spent
our endowment, and just over $325,000 in worrying in the middle of the night?
unrestricted dollars to shore up funding Will we remember that we had more
for scholarships and general operations. time for family meals and neighborhood
walks? Probably both. I know that I will
This astounding accomplishment certainly remember the dedication of
gives me reassurance as we navigate this community. The 2019-2020 school
a new year of uncertainty. Regardless year was my first full year as Director
of the circumstances, the Cor Jesu of Advancement and my first full year
community will come through. as a member of this community. In
We are also aware of the extraordinary that time, you have shown me the
responsibility we have to ensure we true spirit of Cor Jesu. Thank you.
properly steward the dollars you donate Sincerely,
and meet the needs of our current
students in this economic climate.
Our focus for the 2020-2021 financial
year will be on our Annual Fund. In the Abby Samel
past, we have automatically directed Director of Advancement
CORJESU.ORG | 29
