2007-2008 Fundraising Campaign

~~Click HERE to download the Building and Learning Together Campaign Information Packet~~

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Dear CCS Friend,

As I write this letter, Children’s Community School is nearing completion of the middle school construction project.
When the next school year begins in August, our school will occupy the full building at 565 Griffith Street, with
classroom capacity for kindergarten through eighth grades. Our current lease allows us to occupy the building for
up to twenty years. As you may be aware, this is no small feat for a new charter school. Through the extraordinary
efforts of our school community (both parents and staff), our school has a permanent facility in a great location in
the community of Davidson.

CCS will add a grade each year for the next three years to expand to kindergarten through eighth grades. CCS is
authorized by the State Board of Education to continue this growth through high school. But of course, our 565
Griffith Street building will only accommodate K-8. We will need to build (or lease and renovate) another facility
for high school.

As a charter school, CCS receives public funds for the administrative costs of school operations, such as teacher
salaries, learning materials for students, utilities and lease payments (we receive the same amount as local public
schools for these operating expenses). However, we do not receive public funds for capital expenses, which is a
significant part of our annual budget. This includes capital start-up expenses associated with our school such as land,
buildings, renovations, classroom furniture and equipment. Public charter schools ONLY get the operating
expenses portion of public school funding and not capital expenses. If we received the capital funds that other
public schools receive, our funding would be significantly higher and we would have less need for fundraising.
Over the past three years, CCS parents have stepped up to help fill our capital funding gap. Generous cash
donations have directly resulted in the ability to have our current permanent facility, which is filled with all that is
necessary to teach our children. We have a sound budget that has allowed us to use a mix of cash and borrowings
to pay for our renovation projects.

We expect to always engage in annual fundraising to subsidize our budget for things like instructional supplies,
classroom furniture, computers, software, and media center. But for the next two years, our fundraising efforts will
be the determining factor as to whether we can purchase or lease/renovate a facility for high school. As I have said
many times, being the pioneers of a charter school is not for the faint of heart. I feel a deep sense of responsibility
to be completely forthright and honest about the challenge we have ahead of us. If we cannot achieve our
fundraising goals in the coming year, we likely will need to abandon our efforts to obtain a high school facility. I feel
strongly that this year needs to be considered the pivotal year for fundraising in order to allow our parents to plan
for the important high school future for our children. If we meet our fundraising goal by next spring, I will feel
comfortable making a commitment to move forward with our planning and preparation for high school.
If we pursue high school, I want for my children what most of you probably want. I want my children to be
academically prepared to excel in college. I want my children to be known as individuals and for their academic,
physical, social and emotional needs to be met each day as they attend school. I want my children to have the sense
of community that sports bring to a high school program and the opportunity to pursue a variety of sports to enrich
their lives. I want the world of the arts to be an integral part of my children’s lives. I want my children to leave
high school not only ready for college but ready for life and all that it offers. I want them to make a difference in
this world and to be the best people that they can possibly be. I believe deeply that our vision for high school is one
that will do all of this for my children and yours. The vision has been created and we have the next three years to
finalize the details before opening an award-winning, rigorous, and intellectually stimulating high school.
I have been continuously touched and inspired by the community of caring parents and staff that represent CCS,
and I have complete faith that we can make this happen. But we do need the help of every single CCS family from
kindergarten to sixth grade. If our lower grade families sit back and expect this effort to be handled by the older
students’ parents, we will not be successful. I am often asked the question, “How much should each family give to
make this a reality?” Please understand that some families are stretched to give even a small amount to our school,
but they also give of their time and hearts, and our school is richer for their efforts. We also have families who
could pay private school tuition of $12,000-15,000 per year per child. Many of those are able and happy to give
larger sums of money as well as give of their time. It is ALL of those families who have made our school special and
rich and I suspect that it is all of those families who will help make the high school dream a reality for our children.
I ask that you also look into your hearts and consider this an opportunity to give for those who cannot give, and to
help us expand our mission to create an education alternative that will continue to serve our community.
We have established a fundraising goal this year of $300,000, based on our estimate of the amount we will need to
undertake the high school facility project. Attachment A to this letter describes our preliminary budgeting for this
project.

Please participate in our Building and Learning Together campaign by sending in your
pledge or donation in the envelope provided by Monday, July 30, 2007. Our only formal fundraisers in the 2007-08
school year will be this letter and the annual CCS Golf Tournament. You will not be bombarded by a million
fundraising requests.

As you consider your contribution, keep in mind that CCS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Please consult your
tax advisor about the tax benefits associated with your contribution. Like last year, we will post updates on our
website at www.ccsch.org so you can see the progress toward our $300,000 goal.
There is nothing that I detest more than asking for money. This has been a difficult letter for me to write.
However, I felt I owed it to all of you to share this information so that we all understand the importance of the
coming year and fundraising. If we reach our goal, then I feel confident that we can make this high school a reality
for our children.

Most Sincerely,

Joy K. Warner
CCS Director

2007-2008 Fundraising Goal - $300,000