Development

Development Dispatch

By Andrew Stith
December 2004

Notre Dame Annual Fund Update

At the close of the 2003-2004 fiscal year on June 30, the Notre Dame Annual Fund surpassed its goal of $200,000. Thanks in large part to a groundswell of support from alumni, alumni parents, current parents, religious, faculty and staff and friends of Notre Dame, the Annual Fund saw a dramatic increase in its final total.

With the help of an anonymous donor who pledged to match any new or upgraded gift cumulatively up to $30,000, we were able to create the momentum we needed to exceed our goal of $200,000. Because of the enthusiastic show of support from so many, the anonymous donor decided to increase the match to $35,000. The school proudly was able to take full advantage of this matching opportunity. Thank you to all who helped us to both surpass the $200,000 Annual Fund goal and to capitalize on this tremendous matching gift opportunity.

Parent Fund Project Announced

Notre Dame launched its new Parent Fund Program this fall. The goal of the Parent Fund is to provide a more concentrated outreach to Notre Dame's current parents in the area of charitable giving, thereby creating a measurable impact in the quality of education their sons receive. Given the sacrifice made by many parents to meet tuition payments, we simply ask for 100% parent participation regardless of the amount of a family's gift. We ask for parents to give at a level which they feel comfortable, whether it is $5 or $500.

Through this program, parents will receive a greater understanding of the needs of the school, become more aware of the difference between tuition and the cost of educating their sons at Notre Dame and grow more involved in helping the school achieve goals in its areas of greatest need.

This year all funds raised from the Parent Fund will support upgrading technology in the classroom. Overhead LCD projectors and other classroom technology will make a direct and immediate impact on the education of all students.

New Endowed and Annual Scholarships Announced

Notre Dame High School would like to especially thank the following for their very generous scholarship gifts to the young men of Notre Dame:

The DiMaria Family Scholarship endowed by Frank and Josephine DiMaria and the DiMaria family
The Marge and Gene Faut Endowed Scholarship endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Gene Faut '59
The Ed McCaskey Scholarship Fund annual scholarship established by The McCaskey Brothers
The Walton Scholars annual scholarship established by Tom Walton '59

A Taxing Time of Year

As we near the end of the calendar year, there is an opportunity to do some planning and maximize your tax savings come April. In some cases, a donor's gift will be both deductible from income taxes and allow the donor to bypass burdensome capital gains taxes as well. Now is a perfect time to make an outright gift of cash or securities or a planned gift through a bequest in a will, retirement assets or life insurance to Notre Dame High School. So, as you close the books this year and get ready for tax day in April, please keep Notre Dame in mind through your charitable giving. You may make a gift through our Christmas Appeal or online. To make your gift online, simply visit our web page at www.ndhsdons.org and then click on the Giving to ND link.

Is Your Car Too Old to Sell? Donate it to Notre Dame

Last spring, Notre Dame initiated a car donation program and many alumni have already taken advantage of this unique opportunity to support the high school. Whether it runs or not, you may still donate your car. Just call Andy Stith in the Development Office at 847.779.8614 to set up a time for your car to be towed. With Dec. 31 approaching, take advantage of this opportunity to make a gift to Notre Dame and receive a tax deduction next April.

Be Part of Notre Dame's Golden Celebration

In the fall of 1955, Notre Dame opened its doors to students, thus providing an education of the mind and heart to all those from the Northwest Side of Chicago and the northern suburbs. Fifty years later, we look to remember those beginnings, celebrate who we are today and advance our belief in Notre Dame's future, a future that will be built upon the mission of educating the mind and heart though the gospel values of faith, scholarship and service.

This year's Spirit of Notre Dame Dinner Auction on April 16, 2005 will be special in that it will kick off the celebration of our 50th Anniversary. In addition to your participation in the Dinner Auction and other celebrations, we seek many sponsors to help underwrite the costs of some of our special events. Details about event sponsorships and sponsorship benefits will be forthcoming. Please refer to p. 13 of this Legacy for more information.