7 December 2009

Dear Friends of the Antioch School:

By the time you receive this letter, we will have celebrated our school’s Thanksgiving Feast. This annual event, with delicious food prepared by our children, brings us all together to celebrate, to share, to reflect and to give thanks as a school community. This year, we had a particularly special element to bring to the celebration – food grown by our children in the school’s garden. Planted last spring by the Younger Group and tended during the hot summer months by an amazing group of families and teachers, our garden provided some fabulous potatoes for our Feast – one hundred and three to be very precise (and one carrot!).

But, of course, we harvest so much more than potatoes and carrots from our school environment. Our children are learning and growing, mastering math, reading and the unicycles, creating great works of art and lifelong friendships. With the nurturing support of our faculty and staff, parents, alums and the community beyond, we have a truly special environment for which we are all very thankful.

Just as those potatoes needed rich soil, space, water and attention, it takes more than mulch to make our school work. So, it is time again to ask you as parents, alums, family and friends to remember Antioch School as part of your annual giving. Antioch School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity making all donations fully tax deductible.

Here are some ways you can help:

§ Unrestricted Giving: Gifts to Antioch School support every child, every day. Unrestricted gifts meet the school’s areas of greatest need, such as, academic, arts and physical education programs, faculty and staff salaries and benefits, financial aid and facility and campus maintenance.

§ Designated Giving: Designated gifts are single or multi-year gifts designated to support specific goals, programs and projects identified by the Board of Directors in the school's Strategic Plan. Above and beyond Antioch School’s need for yearly operating support is its need to plan and provide for the school's long-term future. This requires additional gifts for increased endowment and campus improvements.

§ Planned Giving: Remember us also as you update plans for the disposition of your estate. These estate gifts are the foundation of Antioch School’s endowments and capital projects, and as such, provide financial stability for the school.

We ask that you give as you are able and as you see fit. Every gift is appreciated. There are no small potatoes.

For extra convenience, you can download a donation form or make a contribution to the school via PayPal right here on the website.

We send our warmest wishes and appreciation to you.

Cindy Sieck, Finance Chairperson
Antioch School Board