2007 Vol 1 No 2
Second Quarterly Newsletter to our Contributors and Supporters
ConVal award ceremonies were held on Wednesday, June 13 and graduation day was Saturday, June 23. Our first school year in operation ended well as attested to by the enclosed story written for the Monadnock Ledger - Transcript of June 19 by Kerry McDonald. In our first quarter newsletter report to you, our members - under our bylaws, all contributors are CVCSF members - we noted that from the beginning our purpose has been to meet a very special need. This is to identify, and motivate high school students with potential, with special obstacles to overcome, to finish high school, set their sights higher, and find the way to continue education or job training beyond high school graduation.
The June 19 Transcript - Ledger story, “Community Scholarship Foundation Gives 1st Awards”, reports in a heart-warming way that our first efforts have worked as intended. Heikki Lehtonen, Alycia Mudrack and Lee Corigliano have graduated and are on their way respective ways with heightened prospects for achievement. The real success story in 2007 is their’s.
Important to us is that this story is out. Heikki, Alycia and Lee, helped in reaching this level of achievement by the guidance counselors, teachers and staff who supported them, are inspiring role models for upcoming classes to emulate and to make our collective success story even greater in 2008.
Other Highlights – Second Quarter, April 1 through June 30, 2007
The award winner selection process is a success and a learning experience. Here is how it works. Joe Hayes, ConVal Guidance Department head, and others dealing regularly with the wide range of issues students face, first identify a target population of students with the most promising potential for benefiting from CVCSF award selection. By mid-senior year the field is narrowed. Potential winners are notified and encouraged to do what they need to do to be contenders. The CVCSF Awards Committee is briefed on candidates, the obstacles they face and their need for financial and other assistance. In stages, over the year, the field is narrowed. Next year ten students or more may win $100 awards, five or six could win $500 and three or four could win scholarships of $2,600 or more for each of two years. (All awards are paid only to students who demonstrate that they have entered some postsecondary education program in the calendar year in which they graduate from high school.) While this process has worked very well in the school year just ended, it will work better in the new year when we will be able to start the process earlier than was possible in 2006-7.
Fund-raising and Finance: As of the end of June we have received cash and solid pledges of $52,000 plus. Total expenses have been less than $800, mostly for postage and stationery. Our announced goal is to raise the balance of $100,000 by June 30, 2008, including some contributions to be set aside to start the endowment important for long - term sustainability. This letter is not a solicitation to those who have already given, but you can expect to hear more about this later in 2007. One achievement and strong indicator that the CVCSF concept appeals to donors is the extraordinarily high return on our spring mailing. Close to one out of four letters mailed resulted in a cash contribution. These came from 54 individual mailing respondents, 16 Founders and Directors, and nine organizations. These are Ames Planning Associates, The Gilbert Verney Foundation, Juniper Peterborough, LLC, Monadnock OBGYN, The Monadnock Rotary Club, NH Ball Bearing, Inc., Ocean National Bank, The Peterborough Lions Club and The Toadstool Bookshops. We are most grateful to all who have invested so generously in our not - for - profit initiative, in supporting us in our mission and in making it possible for us to start with such a promising first year.
Looking ahead, 3rd quarter and beyond:
- July: A second mail campaign focused on organizations - business, service clubs and others - will be sent to broaden our base of support. This mailing will emphasize the favorable effect of helping more students to achieve higher levels of education and, hence greater workforce potential.
- July - August: Grant application time - suggestions will be welcomed.
- September: A Board Members and Founders Retreat is being planned in which we will find ways to strengthen our organization and in other ways do more and better.
- September: 2008 scholarship selection process will begin.
- Late September - early October: Presentations are to be planned for various organizations. Let us know if you would like us to talk with your organization.
- Late October - Early November: A reception is being planned for first year contributors to allow for face - to - face discussion of the record to date, plans for next year and beyond, and to respond to your questions and suggestions.
- October: Year - end drive to get us well on our way toward achieving our $100,000 goal from inception through June, 2008.
Please use the addressed envelope enclosed for suggestions and questions.