Class Gift

Everyone seems to agree that it is appropriate, in connection with our 50th reunion, to make a gift to the school on behalf of the Class of 1955. This idea presents two issues: (a) what we should give, and (b) raising funds.

What to Give

Over the months preceding reunion, we informally discussed several possibilities for a class gift: a landscaping project, support for improving the alumni database (which we know to be in poor shape for the 1950s classes) and the alumni portion of the school’s website, support for the FA archives office (which mounted the nice exhibition of 1950s items that we saw on Friday afternoon of reunion), support for student scholarships, support for the Faculty Enrichment Grants program, and a gift to a Quaker school damaged by Katrina. You can see some notes summarizing our thinking about these possibilities, as it was going into reunion, here.

Based on discussions at reunion, we decided informally on the first possibility listed above: a project to improve campus landscaping, preferably in a way that facilitates social interaction. This would beautify the campus and, symbolically, celebrate life. A likely possibility is an arbor (one dictionary defines an arbor as “a shady resting place in a garden or park, often made of rustic work or latticework on which plants, such as climbing shrubs or vines, are grown”). The old grape arbor -- pictures of which appear in the 6th and 7th pictures of the album Naomi sent -- triggered this idea. If you go to Google Images and search for “arbor”, you will find pictures of many kinds of arbors. There should be places to sit, preferably integrated into the arbor, or possibly nice free-standing benches around the arbor (see here for a picture of the kind of bench now in use on campus). Trees could easily be integrated into an arbor. A nice pedestal sundial with benches around it is a second possibility (see here for some photos of serious sundials), possibly with flowers around it but no trees (these would shade the sundial, so the benches would be largely unshaded). A third possibility would be a little grove of trees in some strategic spot, with a bench or two under them.

These are all landscaping projects, and the campus landscape architect may wish to offer other suggestions. We would leave placement pretty much to a competent campus landscape architect in consultation with our Class Gift Committee, which will in turn consult with the class. A bronze plaque commemorating our class would be appropriate, and would also serve the purpose of reminding students what they will be expected to do for the school one day.

To date, no specific proposal is on the table for our landscaping project, and it could be 2008 before it will be possible to put one there. Meanwhile, our contributions are being credited with 3% interest (the same rate as the school's Current Operations account earns).
 

Contributions

Our fund-raising began spontaneously at the dinner-dance on Saturday night. By the time the night was over, we had checks, cash, or pledges for $6,500 from 9 people. By the end of 2006, we had received $18,670 from 26 people!

The Class of 1955 Gift Committee very much appreciates the generosity of our classmates, and this fine showing was acknowledged in FA's Report of Annual Contributions for 2005-2006.

Gifts are still being accepted. Checks need to be payable to Friends Academy, should carry the annotation “Class of 1955 Gift”, and should be sent to Art (322 24th St., Santa Monica, CA 90402) for registration. He'll forward them to FA.

Here is the breakdown of gifts received to date:

• 4 gifts under $100
• 6 gifts of $100
• 2 gifts of $200
• 2 gifts of $250
• 4 gifts of $500
• 5 gifts of $1,000
• 1 gift of $2,000
• 1 gift of $3,000
• 1 gift of $5,000