Cranbrook Schools Annual Fund Reaches $2 Million

The Cranbrook Schools Annual Fund has reached a record high $2 million. Thanks to the thousands of tremendously generous donors for the fifth consecutive year fund contributions have surpassed those of the previous year.

Director of Schools Arlyce Seibert is pleased with this year’s results, which represent an 18 percent increase over last year’s total of $1,703,000. “The Annual Fund continues to help us meet our operating budget needs through unrestricted contributions,” says Seibert. “We are fortunate that Cranbrook Schools continues to benefit from impressive philanthropic support at a time when other nearby schools are struggling.”

Gifts to the Cranbrook Schools Annual Fund help retain outstanding faculty members, provide classroom technology and grant scholarships to deserving yet financially challenged students.

Cranbrook Schools faculty also supports the Annual Fund with formidable dedication. In fact, for the fourth year in a row, there has been 100 percent faculty participation toward growing the Annual Fund. The office of advancement and development committee would like to recognize division heads, Charles Shaw, Larry Ivens, Fran Dagbovie and Brian Schiller. Without their leadership reaching the $2 million mark would not be realized.

According to the Schools Chief Advancement Officer Matthew Wawro, the Campaign for Cranbrook is ahead of schedule and expected to conclude successfully by June 30, 2010. During the past five years gifts to the Annual Fund, have reached $8.21 million toward an overall campaign goal of $12.25 million.

Parent Adele Acheson has flawlessly chaired the Schools development committee for the past two years and believes campaign success can be attributed to ongoing volunteerism as well as donor generosity. “The dedication of our committee volunteers and advancement staff along with the outstanding support of so many generous alumni, parents, grandparents and parents of graduates is overwhelming. The increase in donor commitment to the Annual Fund will help ensure Cranbrook Schools remains a premier learning environment,” says Acheson.

A special thanks to the 2006-07 Schools development committee members:

Adele Acheson, Chair
Alice Shaw Aikens, K’51
James J. Akers, C’57
Thomas J. Bray, C’59
Vikki Broer
Maureen Brown
Sue Feiten
Anne Lerchen Hanna, K’62
Mark Hooton
Kim Howlett
Delmarie LaGrasso
Annie Margulis
Mitzi Richard Martin, K’89
Dwijen Misra, C’76
Laura Newton
Ann North
Lisa Norwick
Bobbi Polk
Susan Aikens Post, K’78
G. Scott Romney, C’59
Mary Pat Rosen
Kim Stroud, K’76