Chapin Launches Campaign, Goal $2.5 Million for School

Candace Braun

The Chapin School recently launched its $2.5 million capital campaign to increase endowment for faculty salaries, student financial aid, and professional development of the campus.

The year-long effort, themed, "Where Young Minds and Hearts Grow," will focus on the needs of both teachers and students, with a plan to bring the school's endowment to more than $5.5 million by 2006.

Fundraising efforts will take place throughout the year, soliciting parents and alumni to help contribute to the campaign. A car raffle was held on Saturday, February 21 during the campaign kick-off.

"Chapin is its teachers," said Ann Nawn, a parent and co-chair for the campaign. "Attracting and retaining quality teachers through an endowment that ensures competitive salaries and incentives for further education is the best way to thank them for the enormous impact they have on ... children."

A total of $1.25 million of the campaign money will be used to increase the endowment for faculty salaries and professional development, while $375,000 will be put towards student financial aid. The remaining $875,000 will be used to initiate a multi-year plan of facility improvements.

But plans to expand the school's facilities started last spring, when Chapin purchased an additional 2.3 acres of land, the former home of Donald and Carol Doele on Province Line Road. This brings the total campus size up to 13.4 acres.

"Our lower school is straining at the seams, and this land now gives us the flexibility to build new facilities with fewer constraints as far as setbacks are concerned," said Headmaster Richard Johnson.

The new land will be used for additional facilities for the lower school. Chapin has yet to determine if they will knock down the home on the property or build their new facilities around it, said Anita Hanft, director of community relations.

Increasing the amount of money the school is able to offer in financial aid will help families enroll their children who were not able to meet tuition requirements in the past, said Ms. Hanft.

"The financial aid is need-based, and we're trying to expand whom we can offer money to," she said.

The tuition listed on the school's website for 2003-04 was $22,600, plus an additional expense ranging from $800 for kindergartners, to $2,200 for grades six through 12. These expenses include school supplies, lunch, insurance, and class trip costs.

"Chapin is such a big part of our lives ... that when my wife and I became aware of how critical these needs were to secure the school's future, we knew we had to make this campaign a major priority," said Jeff Martinides, a campaign co-chair.

The school hopes to raise the $2.5 million in endowments by the end of the year.

"We hope to have all pledges in by December 31," said Piper Huggins, director of development.