A Guide to - University Liggett School

GivingUniversity Liggett SchoolA Guide toand Getting Involved

University Liggett SchoolBoard of Trustees2009-10Elizabeth C. SullivanPresidentSusan C. Azar ‘87Marquita S. BedwayJohn W. Birgbauer ‘86Elizabeth D. Black ‘77William R. Chapin, GPUS ‘66William H. DanceVivian W. Day Stroh ‘75Douglass J. Diggs ‘82James A. Fitzgerald, GPUS ‘56Cynthia N. FordBetsy H. Fox ‘78Ted GatzarosGeorges B. GhafariThomas A. LaLondeDeAnn M. Lukas ‘85James T. MestdaghLindsay S. MorounLisa Cracchiolo Peracchio ‘78Diane Graham PlattErnestine L. SandersLawrence A. SimonBarbara H. ThomasGary A. Van ElslanderDavid A. WidlakDavid M. Wu ‘83Ex OfficioJoseph P. Healey, Ph. D., Head of School

Dear Friends,Your commitment to the school ensures oursuccess. We depend on your generosity and serviceto manage and advance so much of what we do.Everyone can make a contribution and everycontribution advances our work. Whether youare able to make a large gift or a very small gift tothe Fund for Excellence or give substantial timeto many projects, or a little time to one, it all makesa difference.We know how much your help is needed andhope that each of you will find a way to makeyour presence felt. We are a community, a team,a fellowship. Please join in and make your giftto help Liggett’s work.Sincerely,Joseph P. Healey, Ph.D.Head of School

Ways to getInvolvedHow can I get involved?Every school needs anactive constituency andstrong financial support.University Liggett Schoolhas historically enjoyed anengaged and generousparent body. There aremany opportunities toplay an active role inyour child’s education –perhaps getting involvedin the classroom whenasked, joining the Fundfor Excellence committee,the Parents Association,or cheering our studentson stage and on theplaying fields. Everyparent is a welcomemember of the UniversityLiggett School family.Financial SupportWe hope you will feel fully invested in thelife and work of our school. In additionto being engaged in school activities, wehope you choose to contribute to the Familyof Funds for the Fund for Excellence andsupport the special fundraising eventsthroughout the year. With so many worthyorganizations vying for your support, yourcommitment to University Liggett School issincerely appreciated.VolunteerWe encourage and invite parents, alumni,grandparents and parents of alumni toparticipate as volunteers. This is a way toshare your interests, talents, and time withthe school while providing a service to theschool community and allowing our facultyand staff to better serve our students.Some volunteer opportunities includehelping with the Fund for Excellence,athletics, parent associations, communityservice, admissions open houses, mailings,faculty appreciation events, alumni relations,fundraising events and the Book Fair.If you would like to be a volunteer, contactGinny Fox Hartigan, External RelationsEvents Manager, at (313) 884-4444, Ext. 414or ghartigan@uls.org.Alumni RelationsEvery current student will one day be amember of our alumni family. The AlumniRelations program at University LiggettSchool promotes fellowship amongalumni, fosters school spirit and advancesthe interests and welfare of the schooland its students. Our mission to engage,connect and build relationships with ouralumni community is carried out by theAlumni Board of Governors and includesalumni events, local and regional reunions,Perspective magazine, the alumni webpages, Facebook and young alumni andmentoring programs.Parents are encouraged to volunteer asmentors to provide career guidance tocurrent students and young alumni. Thementoring program allows parents andalumni an opportunity to offer professionalinsight, advice on a variety of career paths,first-job prospects and relocation support.If you would like more information onthe mentoring program or any otheralumni relations initiative, please contactMichael Zarobe, Assistant Director forAlumni Relations, at (313) 884-4444, Ext. 415or mzarobe@uls.org.

Opportunitiesto GiveThe Fund for ExcellenceFamily of FundsThe Fund for Excellence strengthens and sustains theextraordinary opportunities of a University Liggett Schooleducation by providing the ability to meet our budgetarygoals. Contributions to the Fund for Excellence ensure thequality of our academic programs and support initiativesdesigned to engage the entire community – students,parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, facultyand staff.These new options provide you with a way to directyour gift to areas of personal interest while supportingfundamental elements of the school program. Yourdonation can be applied to support the area mostmeaningful to you:• Academics• Athletics• Community Service• Creative and Performing Arts• Faculty• Areas of Greatest NeedThe Fund for Excellence is the foundation for investingin University Liggett School. If you have any questionsabout this program, please contact Mariana Gilbert,Annual Giving Manager, at (313) 884-4444, Ext. 412 ormgilbert@uls.org.

Other Gift TypesBeyond the vital current year support that the Fund forExcellence provides, the school offers opportunities forinvestment in many ways. Areas of critical importanceat this time include scholarships, financial aid, studentsupport services and facilities enhancement. There areseveral ways to make specific gifts for these purposes,as indicated below.Leadership GiftsLeadership gifts meet needs the school cannot pay forout of tuition or other revenue. Sometimes referredto as major or designated gifts, leadership giftsare important to the success of our school. Recentleadership gifts have provided an endowment fundfor the sophomore class trip to Washington, D.C.,an endowment fund for Summer Venture Grantsfor professional development for our faculty, andthe establishment of our Student Support Servicesprogram with learning specialists and resources ineach division. With a leadership investment in theschool, we can do even greater things. Leadershipgifts can be made in a variety of forms including cashor appreciated assets and can be given at one time orpaid out over several years.For more information on making a leadership giftto the school, contact Kelli Smith, Associate Directorof Development, Director of Leadership Giving(313) 884-4444, Ext. 413 or ksmith@uls.org.

Planned GiftsPlanned gifts allow friends of UniversityLiggett School to donate gifts intended forthe future. Planned gifts build the school’sendowment (its savings account). Namingthe school as a beneficiary in your will orin a life insurance or retirement policy aresimple ways to make such a gift that costnothing at the time of giving.There are several other giving vehicles thatcan support current family obligations andprovide a gift or gifts in the future. Plannedgivers are those of any age who believein giving back for the benefit of futuregenerations, who want to leave somethingas a link to posterity, or who can makea bigger gift in death than during theirlifetime.Capital GiftsCapital gifts are those that support a capitalproject at the school. Generally they arepart of a comprehensive campaign formallyannounced to address a capital project,such as a new building, renovations to afacility or to build the endowment of theschool. University Liggett School is notcurrently in a capital campaign but plansfor one are under way as the trusteescontinue to prepare for the future of theschool.Capital gifts are often leadership giftsthat accomplish a large project or projectsto benefit every constituency of the school.Therefore, everyone is asked to considerparticipating in a capital campaign insome way.Before naming University Liggett Schoolin a will or considering another kind ofplanned gift, you should consult with anattorney or financial advisor to explorewhat type of planned gift is best for youand your family.For more information on planned gifts,please contact Catherine G. Rogg, AssistantHead of School, Director of Development,at (313) 884-4444, Ext. 410 or crogg@uls.org.

FrequentlyaskedWhat do the trustees do?The school is governed by a boardof trustees. The trustees determineinstitutional policy, set tuition,approve the operating budget, overseefundraising, and employ thehead of school. The head of school isresponsible for the administration ofthe school’s program and facilities.Why does University Liggett Schoolneed to raise money?Tuition alone does not cover the fullcost of a Liggett education. This year87% of the school’s operating budgetwill be funded with endowment andtuition dollars. The remaining 13%comes from contributions to the annualFund for Excellence and special events.Who is asked for a Fund forExcellence gift?Everyone in the University LiggettSchool community – parents, grandparents,alumni, parents of alumni,faculty, staff and friends of the school –is asked to contribute. Each schoolyear our community is asked to makea gift or pledge payable by June 30,the closing of the school fiscal year.

QuestionsHow much does the school expectme to give?We hope each family will make it apriority to participate. Gifts rangefrom $10 to more than $100,000. It isthe cumulative total of all gifts thatmatters. In the 2008-09 school year, weraised $713,000 in Fund for Excellencegifts. In the 2009-10 school year wemust raise $750,000. Every gift toUniversity Liggett School, regardlessof size, is a valued and importantcontribution.What are the differencesbetween the Fund for Excellence,a leadership gift, and a capitalcampaign?Fund for Excellence gifts are solicitedeach year to provide support for thegreatest areas of need in the currentyear. Leadership and capital gifts,which fund the endowment, newconstruction or special projects, arelarger in size and usually paid overa period of three to five years.Am I expected to give to boththe Fund for Excellence and acapital campaign?When the time comes, the supportof both of these campaigns is crucialto the success and growth of ourprograms allowing the school toupdate and expand facilities tomaintain our standard of excellence.By supporting the Fund for Excellenceduring a capital campaign, you areensuring that the operating budget(infrastructure) is sustained whileadditional funding is raised forgrounds and facilities (bricks andmortar).Can I make a gift online?Absolutely! Contributions using aVisa or MasterCard can be madeover a secure server at www.uls.org.Click on Giving on the homepage.What about my company’s matchinggift program?Many companies match gifts toindependent schools. To find outwhether your employer has a matchinggift program check with the HumanResources Department. Obtain theproper form and send it to our Officeof Development & Alumni Relations,along with your gift. Our office willsecure the matching gift. UniversityLiggett School will consider yourcompany’s matching gift as a part ofyour total donation.What makes a leadership gift?Contributions of $1,000 or more tothe Fund for Excellence and/or agift of $10,000 or more for a specialpurpose are deemed leadership gifts.Leadership donor recognition includesan invitation to an event honoring giftsat the highest levels.

Ways toGiveCash, pledges, gifts of stocksand securitiesDonations and pledge paymentscan be made by cash, check, Visa orMasterCard, and through the transferof stocks and securities. Gifts can alsobe made online by clicking the givingsection on www.uls.org. Fund forExcellence gifts are due by June 30of the school year in which the pledgeis made.For gifts of stock or securities, pleaseuse the Liggett account at MorganStanley in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.The DTC number is 0015. The school’saccount number is 45886577154.In order to credit the stock giftappropriately, please advise theOffice of Development of the transfer.Planned GiftsGifts of insurance policies, trustarrangements, and bequests arelargely responsible for building theendowments enjoyed by some ofAmerica’s greatest universities andindependent schools. The transfer ofpaid-up insurance policies, as wellas certain trust arrangements are acreative and tax-savvy way to meetboth your philanthropic goals andthe needs of the school.Gifts-In-KindTangible items such as equipment andsupplies are considered gifts-in-kindwhen given to the school after firstdetermining that the school can usethe item(s). Numerous gifts, small andlarge, fall into this category every year.Gift-in-kind donors who contributethrough the Office of Development& Alumni Relations are recognizedin the Annual Report. For questionsregarding gifts-in-kind please callCatherine G. Rogg.Annual Giving SocietiesGifts to the Fund for Excellence arerecognized in giving societies:Rivista Society $25,000 and aboveHelicon Society $10,000 to $24,999Periscope Society $5,000 to $9,999Pericon Society $2500 to $4,999Spirit Society $1,000 to $2,499Knights Society $500 to $999Cupola Society Up to $499

2009-10Office of Developmentand Alumni RelationsEvent DatesSeptember 9September 18September 20September 22October 1October 2October 16-17October 22October 27October 29November 6-7November 14November 28December 26February 27March 11March 13April 21May 7-8New Parent Breakfast ReceptionArt Exhibit Opening – Richard YanduraAll School Back-to-School picnicAlumni Event – Dirty Dog Jazz CaféNew Parent DinnerAlumni Event – On the Road to Ann ArborHomecoming WeekendAlumni Football ReunionNew Parent DinnerLiggett Book of the Semester ClubMiddle School VIP DayNew Parent DinnerNew Parent Dinner“Liggett Celebrates Michigan Artists”– juried art showAlumni and Patrons Pre-Glow Reception“Lend Me a Tenor”Alumni vs. Alumni Hockey GameYoung Alumni ReceptionWinter Fundraising Event (to be announced)Former Faculty Pre-Theatre DinnerAlumni and Patrons Pre-Glow Reception“Into the Woods”Volunteer Recognition BreakfastAlumni Reunion Weekend

UniversityLiggettSchoolCook Road Campus1045 Cook RoadGrosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-2509(313) 884-4444Briarcliff Campus850 Briarcliff DriveGrosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1124(313) 884-4444, Ext. 200