Will I be asked to contribute to the campaign? What do I need to consider as a school parent/family for the success of this campaign?
We are asking all AOS families for a stretch gift to help with the success of this campaign. All of our current buildings were built with philanthropic gifts from those who came before us (and many who are still here!) This is our chance to pay it forward. We ask that everyone prayerfully consider a gift that reflects the financial blessings they have received, and that will inspire generosity in others. A multi-year pledge allows a family to make a larger contribution over a period of up to three years.
How can I pledge a gift over multiple years?
If you are interested in spreading your gift over three or five years, Jill Buja, in the Advancement Department, can help you structure a multi-year pledge. Please contact her to receive information on multi-year pledge options.
How will donors be acknowledged?
Donors will receive recognition for their generous gifts through various recognition opportunities. For information on recognition opportunities, please click on the “Recognition Opportunities” tile on the campaign webpage and contact the Advancement department with any additional questions.
Why do we need a new gym?
While our 1990s gym has served us well, it is showing its age and no longer serves all of our indoor athletics, physical education, arts, and extended-day needs. This presents daily programming challenges and prevents us from continuing to evolve our programs. Also, our locker rooms do not accommodate all students in a grade at the same time, creating logistical challenges for the athletics department - and our gym space is no longer large enough to safely accommodate all-school assemblies, as you may have noticed during our larger assemblies.
Why do we need new arts facilities?
The majority of our arts programming takes place in a building that was designed to be temporary. This requires daily “workarounds” to fit all aspects of arts programming. There is also a lack of space to add exciting, new programs such as dance or gymnastics, and inadequate storage facilities for supplies and art displays.
Will the recent increase in construction costs impact the estimated cost of construction for the Arts & Athletics Buildings?
We have been working closely with Harvey Construction in preparation for this project and do not foresee an increase that would affect our campaign goal or cause us to finance more than our current plan. Multiple contingency budgets have intentionally been built into the overall project budget to account for any surprises along the way.
Will the cost of this project lead to an increase in tuition or enrollment to help pay for it?
We do not currently anticipate increasing enrollment or having an outsized increase in tuition as a result of this project. (Note that we will still have predictable annual increases in tuition to ensure faculty compensation stays competitive and the school responds to inflation.)
Is a pledge to the Light the Way Capital Campaign in addition to our support of the AOS Annual Fund?
Yes, a pledge or donation to the Light the Way Capital Campaign is above and beyond anything you are currently contributing to the school’s annual operational needs. We sincerely appreciate the support of everyone who contributed to this year’s annual fund and we are grateful for your consideration of a gift to this capital campaign.
Why is AOS unique and worth the investment?
Annunciation Orthodox School is a place where students' unique talents and diverse backgrounds are celebrated, fostering a culture of empathy, resilience, confidence, and agape—unconditional love in action. Our approach to education goes beyond academic excellence, nurturing strong character and a lifelong joy for learning.
Independent schools like AOS rely on philanthropic support to grow and thrive, and our current facilities stand as a testament to the generosity of those who came before us. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, and an investment in them is an investment in a brighter future for our community and beyond.
