George School is grateful to announce that the school has met and surpassed its 2008-09 Annual Fund goal of $1,050,000, with a final total of $1,067,982. The support of 2,417 donors—alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, students, George School Committee members, and friends—made it possible for the school to exceed its highest Annual Fund goal to date during a fiscal year for which the Council for Advancement and Support of Education has predicted an average decline of 3.9 percent in giving to colleges, universities, and independent schools.

“Despite a very challenging year economically, thanks to so many members of the George School family we exceeded our Annual Fund goal,” said Head of School Nancy Starmer. “Annual Fund dollars play a critical role at all times, but particularly at times when endowment income is down. These funds go directly into our operating budget to support the programs and teachers that are so critical to the education George School offers.”

The Annual Fund provides the essential top five percent of George School’s annual operating budget. Gifts provide the school with resources to be used where the need is greatest, in areas such as student services, technology enhancements, fine and performing arts, athletics, weekend activities, assembly programs, and other components of the educational program. The school’s fiscal year began on August 1, 2008, and ended on July 31, 2009.

George School’s Annual Fund goal was met not only through school community members’ donations, but also through their efforts. Students worked at phonathons in the spring, and alumni and parents offered volunteer support at similar events throughout the year. In addition, George School faculty spouses Paul Machemer ’65 (a math teacher) and Pam Rea Machemer (a college guidance counselor and 1964 Westtown School graduate) sponsored the George School-Westtown Loyalty Challenge, an Annual Fund competition that George School won for the 2008-09 year.

The challenge measures the participation of donors from the youngest twenty classes of alumni from both schools, plus the graduating senior classes. For each class year, one Loyalty Point is awarded to the school with the highest percentage of Annual Fund donors. The winner is the school with the greatest number of Loyalty Points. George School finished with thirteen points, while Westtown earned five, and three class years were tied. As the winner, George School will display the Machemer Cup on campus for a year.

Director of Development Joanna Storrar noted, “We have been so encouraged by the willingness of our donors to give warmly and generously during what has been a difficult and uncertain year.”

About George School
Founded in 1893 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), George School, a rigorous coed boarding and day school for grades nine through twelve, educates students from twenty-one states, thirty-two foreign countries, and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Through its commitment to diversity and the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and peacemaking, George School inspires students to be led by their own truths while respecting and appreciating opinions and beliefs different from their own. George School was one of the first schools in the United States to implement an International Baccalaureate diploma program. For information about admission, please call 215.579.6547 or visit http://www.georgeschool.org.