Contributions drive campaign | by BETSY TAMPKE

The Capital Campaign has decreased its original fund-raising goal of $7 million to $5- 5.5 million. The Campaign is still in its soliciting stage and currently about $3 million have been raised. The money will go toward a renovation of the auditorium, increase in endowment, advancement in technology and construction of a campus chapel.

The fund-raising goal was decreased due to an over estimate of the funds needed to renovate the auditorium. Bone is aware of the recession and the effect it has on STA students, yet she has not seen it dramatically effect Capital Campaign funds. She is surprised by the generosity of donors.

“The nice thing about a Capital Campaign is that there are a lot of ways you can appeal to a donor,” Bone said

In the Capital Campaign, donors decide to pledge a certain amount of money to STA. According to Bone, donors will rarely decide to pay their entire pledge at one time with cash. More frequently, donors will break down the amount they have pledged into monthly payments they plan to fulfill in the next three to five years.

“Let’s say you want to pay $1,000 per year over the next five years,” Bone said. “Well, you break that down monthly, that’s about $10 a month and suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad.”

The Alumni Leadership Team , made up of about 15 alumni, is responsible for contacting possible donors and encouraging them to donate, according to Annie Haden , an ’04 alumna and one of the youngest members of the Alumni Leadership Team.

“I decided to became involved because I want to do everything I can to help other girls love and appreciate their time at STA as much as I did,” Haden said.

Along with alumni, the St. Teresa’s faculty and staff have also made donations to the Capital Campaign. Bone said that she was surprised and pleased when she discovered that the faculty and staff contributed about $87,000 to the Capital Campaign.

“When we saw how many [faculty and staff] gave it was amazing to us,” Bone said.

According to Bone, donors will occasionally choose to contribute only to a certain aspect of the Capital Campaign.

“Donor’s sometimes have a passion,” Bone said. “Some donors just have a passion for St. Teresa’s in general.”

Endowment

According to Bone, several donors are passionate about endowment, or scholarship fund, portion of the Capital Campaign

“[Some donors] will say, ‘Oh I love all your goals but really our families interest is in endowment,” Bone said. “We just feel the need for more girls to go to a quality school like St. Teresa’s”

According to Bone, the Capital Campaign has currently acquired over $200,000 for the endowment fund out of a goal of $500,000.

Auditorium

The auditorium has already utilized Capital Campaign funds with numerous renovations including new chairs, carpet, and a paint job.

“[The auditorium] will probably fall to the bottom of the pile,” Bone said. “Because it’s already had its first renovation and that renovation has really kind of given it a sparkle you know it’s really made it a beautiful space.”

Future plans for the auditorium include extending the stage and air conditioning the facility.

Technology

Haden is passionate about technology.

“I think each of the four aspects of the campaign are important,” Haden said.”But upgraded technology is critical to helping these girls succeed in college and preparing them for careers.”

According to Bone, technology is currently the top priority in the Capital Campaign for the Campaign Cabinet.

“We don’t want to wait five years on technology or we’re going to need who knows what,” Bone said. “So you have to kind of keep moving on technology.”

According to Bone the technology goals are not set in stone but they may include individual netbooks for students, distance learning, digital response pads and an increase in smart boards.

Chapel

The Capital Campaign goal that will take the most time a realize is the chapel. The design of a chapel is pending, but Bone expressed that it will be complementary with the school. Originally the building was designed to be a chapel with four class rooms in it, but the administration is undecided on the purpose of the space intended for the four class rooms. Possibilities include four theology rooms, two larger class rooms, one big room that could serve as an overflow from the chapel or a multimedia center.

‘We have a lot of time to think about it,’ Bone said. ‘It’s not like we’re going to dig next week.”

Mrs. Mary Thompson, mother of senior Caroline Thompson, is a member of the campaign cabinet. The campaign cabinet is responsible for soliciting donations.

“It has been difficult to maintain a high level of enthusiasm for such a long process,” Thompson said. “But each new donation brings us closer to breaking ground on a new era of STA’s future, and that’s exciting to me.”