Annual Fund

We have just closed a terrific year for the Annual Fund which resulted in $4,893,445 of total giving—more than $375,213 over goal—as well as achieving an impressive 43% alumni participation and 92% current parent participation. Notably, there were some particularly profound displays of generosity and enthusiasm by our young alumni. I know that I speak on behalf of all of Taft in expressing sincere gratitude to our Annual Fund donors for their commitment to sustaining educational excellence, and for the example they set for the rest of our community to follow.

We owe much of the success of this Annual Fund campaign to an incredibly devoted team of volunteers, including the Parents’ Committee; Stuart and Jean Serenbetz P’03, ’06, ’09, Chairs of the Former Parents’ Fund; Joanie Dayton GP’14,’16, ’20, Chair of the Grandparents’ Fund; and hundreds of Class Agents across more than a half-century of class years. I particularly want to take this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Marietta Lee and Jeff Keeler P’16, ’18, who are handing over the co-chairmanship of the Parents’ Fund to Sara and Bob Savage, P’18, ’20, after two years of exemplary service. As always, I also want to offer special thanks to the staff of the Alumni and Development Office for keeping the Taft community connected and strong—they work tirelessly and without much fanfare, but their impact is great and deserving of our genuine appreciation. I am truly grateful and humbled to work with such a wonderful group of talented and dedicated people—they are the pride of Taft.

On behalf of Taft, I thank all of the donors who have made this year’s Annual Fund such a success. It takes consistent, deep, and broad support from all corners of our community to build and steward the Taft we know and love, and I look forward to working with many of you to reach higher and achieve even more in the year and years to come.

With my warm regards and thanks,

Dylan Simonds ’89, Annual Fund Chair

Highlights of the 2017–18 Annual Fund

The Taft-Hotchkiss Young Alumni Challenge was held in November with the Classes of 2003 to 2017 competing with Hotchkiss to achieve the highest participation in one week. Taft bested Hotchkiss by reaching a participation rate of 19.4% vs. Hotchkiss’s 18.1. It was a fun competition, won with much team effort!

Taft’s Day of Giving on May 1 was a rousing success with 530 gifts totaling $274,005. The classes with the highest participation in their decades were: 2012, 2000, 1999, 1980, 1978, 1961, 1957, and 1946. The Class of 1999 had the overall highest participation rate of 15% from 21 donors. Congratulations to the hardworking class agents and volunteers who helped achieve so much in one day.

The Class of 1998 celebrated their 20th Reunion and reached record highs in both dollars raised and class participation. The class receives the Chairman of the Board Award for raising $419,996 in both annual and capital dollars from 57% of the class. Kudos to the class for their impressive show of school spirit!

Questions? Call the Alumni Office at 860.945.7900.