By Geri O’Brien Williams Chairman, D’Evelyn Education Foundation Board of Directors This is a very special time in our school’s history as we celebrate our 25th year of academic excellence! The numerous achievements and accolades D’Evelyn has collected over the last 25 years are no secret and we continue to see D’Evelyn’s name at the top of various “best schools” lists year after year. Many of us remember the anticipation during the lottery process, waiting to find out if the door on a D’Evelyn education would be opened for our children. We wished there was something we could do, some action we could take, to ensure our children would be educated at D’Evelyn. Where would we be if not at D’Evelyn? Would we be paying thousands of dollars for a private school education? Now that our families are safely in the door, it is time to act and show your gratitude for the exceptional experiences offered to our students by supporting the Quarter Century, Quarter Million campaign! Fifty percent of all proceeds raised THIS YEAR will be dedicated to a full renovation of the D’Evelyn Main Gymnasium, and 50% will be dedicated to the annual D’Evelyn Education Foundation (DEF) budget. 50% Gymnasium Renovation- The D’Evelyn Main Gymnasium is the central hub for our school - not just for athletics but also for student assemblies and parent meetings. This renovation will have a positive impact on the entire D’Evelyn community. Here is an overview of the reasons why the D’Evelyn community needs this renovation: The Physical Need: The gym and bleachers were installed for the opening of the “new” D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School building in the 2001 - 2002 school year. The floor has been maintained over the past 18 years, but never redesigned, resurfaced, or fully refinished. The floor design has decayed over the 18 years, due to natural wear and tear. Parts of the gym floor have shifted, making it uneven and in need of repair. Further, once or twice per year, a new layer of finish has been applied to maintain the surface, without sanding or resurfacing. This has negatively impacted the quality of the floor for the competitive sports that use the Main Gym for practice and games, as well as students using the gym for PE classes. The bleachers have similar wear and tear. New bleachers increase functionality, allow the D’Evelyn Main Gym to achieve ADA compliance, and provide more comfortable seating. The Direct Impact: The Main Gym is the primary home of 400 students in PE classes daily, as well as approximately 150 students who compete in all levels of girls’ volleyball, boys’ basketball, and girls’ basketball. Their games are important community events, where we welcome D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and parents, along with visiting students, faculty, staff, and parents to our school. Additionally, elementary and junior high D’Evelyn Gold Crown programs for all three sports use the main gym for practices and competitions. The Gym is a Community Hub: The Main Gym is heavily used by the most D’Evelyn community members, along with the Library, Auditorium, and Cafeteria. An important responsibility of DEF is to support a vibrant, engaging environment that encourages a positive student experience, particularly in areas where the district-provided school funding is inadequate to fund an important school initiative. By providing first-rate facilities to students and staff, we have the power to promote not only a positive school culture, but an engaging, supportive learning environment to promote success for all D’Evelyn students. Improvements will occur over the summer of 2019. The newly renovated gym will be ready for use at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. 50% DEF Annual Budget- It is up to the D’Evelyn Education Foundation, our school’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, to raise and distribute the funds necessary to maintain and build the programs that make our school extraordinary. DEF manages about $90,000 annually to support a host of worthwhile initiatives including:
Progress so far- This year’s D’Evelyn DASH raised $10,640; our just completed Annual Auction, Cheers to 25 Years, netted $70,000. Adding the donations to date from our Annual Campaign brings us to a total of $165,000 toward our Quarter Million goal! We now ask you to help raise the balance of $85,000 so we may complete the renovation of the D’Evelyn Main Gymnasium and fund our other worthwhile student programs. If each of D’Evelyn’s 750 families contributed only $115 we would reach this goal! It is the continued generosity of people like you that will enable D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School to continue to thrive. No contribution is too small as we attempt to raise $85,000 during this year’s Quarter Century, Quarter Million Campaign. Please make your check payable to “DEF” and mail it to the school, marked “c/o DEF”, or use our website, https://quartercentury250k.weebly.com to donate online today. After you click donate, you will have the option of providing a one-time donation or making a monthly donation. Once you have sent your gift, smile in the knowledge that you have acted and that your donation will contribute to the continued excellence of our nationally recognized college preparatory school. Comments are closed.
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The D'Evelyn Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. The Board of Directors oversees the finances, legal issues and long-term strategic plans of the organization Archives
May 2023
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