August 29, 2005

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2005-2006 school year! The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to welcome you to St. Ambrose School. As you know, we rely on the cooperation of each family to help the PTO’s work to continue the growth of the school. The 2005/06 school year is already shaping up to be a busy and exciting year, but I would like to take a few moments to talk to you about the PTO’s new fundraising model introduced at the May General Membership Meeting. It is our hope that with the new model much of the stress and burden of fundraising will be relieved, giving each of us more time to spend with our families, more time to participate and volunteer in the day to day activities of the school, and more time to participate in community oriented activities in both the school and parish.

If each school family makes a generous pledge according to their family’s circumstances, it is the hope and goal of the PTO to meet its budgetary burden without ever holding another fundraiser. Since this is a transition year we will be selling Sally Foster gift wrap. We will continue to hold social events like the annual gala, but with the emphasis on the social aspects of these events and less emphasis on fundraising.

Each year the PTO Board is charged with funding not only enrichment programs and special school needs, but also in providing substantial pledge to the school’s operating budget which assists in keeping the cost of tuition down. I know many of you felt relief this year, as I did, with a tuition increase of only 3% as opposed to the 5 - 10% increases of recent years.

The budget required to fund these and other programs is a weighty burden on the entire PTO Membership Community. Fundraising activities, like the annual gala, are very stressful to those running the activities. The PTO Board hopes that by instituting the new fundraising model some of this stress will be relieved.

How? So how does the new model work? Rather than continuously holding fundraising activities, like the sale of cookie dough, candy, wreaths, etc. each family is asked to complete the attached donation pledge card and send it back to the school by September 26th. It’s as simple as that.

Why? Why not just raise tuition? Cash contributions are often tax deductible, private school tuition is never tax deductible. By making a cash donation you will be able to deduct the amount allowable by law on your tax return and the PTO/school will receive 100% of your donation.

Please take a moment to seriously consider your ability to pledge, then complete the attached pledge card, with a contribution that is generous according to your family’s circumstances. Please also complete the PTO Membership Directory Form and return both to the school by the week of September 16th. If you have any questions please feel free to call or email. Any comments or concerns will be held in confidence. Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Cecily Miner, President

St Ambrose School Fundraising Pledge

Yes! I would like to support St. Ambrose School with my pledge!

Why?

• Cash contributions are tax deductible
• The school will receive 100% of your donation
• No more time consuming and stressful fundraising activities

How?

• Complete this pledge card and send it back to the school by Sept. 16^th.

St Ambrose School Fundraising Pledge Form

PTO Membership/Directory

PTO Membership/Directory Form