The 2021-22 Taft Annual Fund closed with record-breaking numbers. More than 3,400 donors from 41 countries and all 50 states and Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, raised $6,126,760 in support of Taft. These funds aid Taft’s operating budget and help close the $29,000 gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of educating a Taft student. Taft can boast an average class size of 11 and offer over 200 academic courses in large part due to the participation and funding the Annual Fund provides.
This is no small feat. We are so grateful for our generous and loyal Taft family. Without donors and volunteers, Taft would not be the incredible place it is today. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention just a few of those volunteers who helped achieve our goals this year with their passion, enthusiasm, and hard work. Taft’s Annual Fund co-chairs Dylan Simonds ’89 and Tamara Sinclair ’05 helped motivate all of our dedicated Class Agent volunteers. After 13 years of serving as Annual Fund chair, Dylan will be passing the reins to Charlie Watson ’88, P’21,’24 who will lead the 2022-23 Taft Fund alongside Tam Sinclair.
Parents’ Fund chairs Neile and Chad Messer ‘90, P’20,‘22 ensured that parent participation reached 90+% for the 30th consecutive year. Thanks to the Messers’ leadership and the incredibly hard-working Parent Committee volunteers, current parents contributed 45% of total giving, with a participation rate of 91% and gifts totaling $2,736,306. Jane and Chris Hentemann P’19,’21,’24 will succeed the Messers and lead the 2022-23 Taft Parents’ Fund. Other crucial volunteers include Grandparents’ Fund chair Linda Stroh GP’23 and Former Parents’ Fund chairs Jean and Stuart Serenbetz P’03,’06,’09.
Thirty-five percent of Taft alumni contributed $2,665,484 to the Annual Fund. With Taft's operating budget wholly dependent on tuition and philanthropic investment, Annual Fund participation is vital to our school. It is clear that the combined leadership of our volunteers and generosity of our donors continue to make a significant difference in the lives of Taft's students and faculty.
Some events of note in this successful year include Taft's seventh annual Day of Giving, which broke records with 870 supporters donating over $800,000. Also, the Young Alumni Participation Challenge in the fall was a success thanks to our participants from the classes of 2008 to 2021.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Annual Fund this year. You help guarantee Taft will maintain its status as an innovative leader among secondary schools. We are looking forward to another great year.
