After assessing the school's current needs, the PBS Board of Trustees
commissioned a feasibility study in 2004 to gauge the school community's
interest in investing in PBS' present and future and to assist the Board of
Trustees with formulating PBS' fundraising plans for the future. One of the
initiatives to spring from this study was a plan conceived by the Board of
Trustees and the Head of School to implement a Major Gifts Program at The
Phillips Brooks School. The resulting Legacy Gifts Program is a vehicle
through which the school is able to match its current needs with families
and other supporters of PBS desiring to partner with PBS to fund them. The
Legacy Gifts Program is designed to ensure the longevity of PBS as an
institution of superior academic learning for ELC through 5th grade.
The Legacy Gifts Program was instituted in the 2006-2007 school year and to
date, we have raised over $7.4 million. In 2008-2009, the program raised
funds to support four areas of needs at PBS.
1) General Endowment
Gifts made to strengthen PBS' overall financial position give the school's
trustees flexibility to apply annual income to any need. This means that
resources are available to meet that top priority: seizing a new opportunity
in technology, strengthening library acquisitions, recruiting a new teacher,
or undertaking important planning. General endowment can be invaluable in
times of economic stringency, when a reliable source of annual funds can
protect quality. Endowment funds are the backbone of and security blanket
for a non-profit institution.
2) Elizabeth Root Endowment for Tuition Assistance
The Elizabeth Root Endowment Fund for Tuition Assistance was established in
1997 to honor one of the founders of The Phillips Brooks School. Bitsie
served PBS, and its predecessor, for 36 years and was Head of School from
1984 until 1997. She had a particular passion for ensuring that a PBS
education was within reach of as many families as possible.
3) Beth Passi Endowment Fund for Professional Development
The Beth Passi Endowment Fund for Professional Development was established
in 2005 to commemorate the retirement of PBS' third Head of School, Beth
Passi. PBSA raised these funds as part of its first ever adult only benefit
auction, 'Boots, Beans and Jeans.' Beth's legacy to PBS was her commitment
to faculty and their professional development.
4) Legacy Learning Fund for Program Development
The Legacy Learning Fund for Program Development was established in 2006 to
support research and development for academic programming across the
curriculum. The objective is to support the core fundamentals of curriculum,
math, language arts and science programs, while adding and enhancing world
cultures, service learning, communications, technology and much more.
The Legacy Gifts Program is an integral part of the work that PBS is
undertaking to secure its future and to ensure a home for future generations
of PBS students. PBS will continue this important work in the 2009-2010
school year.
Please contact Erin Wright, Director of Development, if you have any
further questions or wish to give securities at emwright@phillipsbrooks.org or Phone: (650) 854-4545 x113 or Fax: (650)
854-6532.