Campaign Report: Nationwide effort raises over $500,000 for GS 2012, paving way for 2013

Update: The State Board of Education voted to adopt the GS Task Force’s recommendations in full. Governor’s School will open at least one campus in 2012, with the final decision on number of campuses to be made at a Task Force Meeting scheduled for January 17.

With the help of a successful series of alumni-driven events spanning the East Coast, as well as continuous positive media coverage throughout the state, the campaign to save Governor’s School reached its first major milestone last week.

The Governor’s School Task Force, responsible for determining the nature of the 2012 GS program, agreed at its October 26th meeting to recommend that the State Board of Education (SBE) allow the opening of one campus in 2012, and to permit the Governor’s School Foundation additional time to raise funds for the second campus. The SBE will take up the recommendations for approval on November 3; the Task Force will meet on January 17th to make final recommendations on the number of campuses to be opened and other program details.

“We’ve really accomplished something major. We’ve made sure that this thing that the state was in danger of letting go will continue,” said Governor’s School East director and Task Force member Michael McElreath in an interview with WRAL.

The Foundation launched an extensive fundraising and awareness campaign including online, radio and print outreach following an August challenge by the Task Force to raise enough funds to open a campus by November 1st.

Targeting alumni as well as parents and supporters throughout the nation, the Foundation secured new donations while increasing awareness of the Governor’s School funding crisis among the public.

The campaign kicked into overdrive in the final days before the Task Force meeting, resulting in a flood of contributions that, together with large grants from foundations and organizations including Salem College, SAS, BB&T, the Park Foundation and the Smith Family Foundation, put the fundraising total at over $520,000 on October 25th. The total has since broken $525,000, and is expected to climb higher with the addition of check donations.

Throughout September and October, news outlets across the state continued to cover Governor’s School and the efforts of the Foundation and alumni to save the program. Just in the days prior to the Task Force meeting, GS articles landed on the front pages of the Winston-Salem Journal and the Greensboro News and Record, with a third piece published in the New York Times on October 16th. (The News and Record followed up on the Task Force decision in a second front-page article published on October 31.)

Events take center stage

With the aim of connecting alumni and supporters directly to the cause and to each other, a group of alumni teamed up with the Foundation to organize events in support of the Governor’s School campaign.

Events kicked off in September with a GS-themed painting party hosted by GSE 2000 alumna Kristin Lozoya at Wine and Design in Raleigh. Lozoya, who had launched the grassroots GS site KeepTheTorchBurning.org earlier in the year, wanted to bring people together in a way that highlighted both the creativity and community shared by fellow alumni. The evening saw good turnout by a wide variety of alumni, who each painted a version of the GS torch based on an original design by Lozoya.

In the last half of October, the Foundation and several volunteer alumni followed up with a series of fundraising parties and benefits that garnered attendance from alumni of all ages. The events ranged from large gatherings at Salem and Meredith Colleges to meet-ups in Asheville, Greensboro, Charlotte and Burlington. Two benefit concerts were organized by alumna Katey Orr at venues in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Alumni living in Washington, DC and New York City also organized successful meetings, with at least one follow-up meeting planned for NYC on November 10th.

GSE 2011 alum Hunter Baxley organized his own benefit in his hometown of Rockingham, putting together a remarkable lineup of singers and musical/spoken-word performers. Several 2011 alumni from both campuses gave performances, joined by Sandy Hemenway (GSW ’79) who took the stage to perform three original compositions.

“It was a really well-organized program,” said Emily Scott-Cruz (GSW 2011), who recited Elie Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech at the Rockingham event. Prior to the performance, the Richmond County Daily Journal printed a piece on Governor’s School and Baxley’s efforts to plan the evening.

The Foundation hopes that alumni will continue to step up to organize their own gatherings, and is already working with several alumni for a second round of events. Ideas being discussed for future events include a 5K run, meetings at colleges organized by GS alumni support groups, and additional benefit performances similar to those organized by Orr and Baxley. Organize your own GS event

Legislators take notice

As the Foundation’s fall campaign phase progressed, extensive media coverage and direct appeals from Governor’s School alumni attracted the attention of legislators in the NC General Assembly. A few have informally voiced support for revisiting the decision to cut state funding for GS in the next legislative session.

One legislator, Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis, went on record in September with his support for reviewing the GS funding cut. Responding to questions from alumni attending town hall meetings throughout the state, Speaker Tillis repeatedly stated that he had “heard good things” about Governor’s School from its supporters, and that supporters should demonstrate the program’s importance to the state in terms of economic impact.

Following Tillis’ statement and other reports of support from both NC House and Senate legislators, the Foundation leadership agreed to acquire the information necessary to make the case for restoring state funding in the upcoming legislative short session.

Next steps

With one campus left to be opened for 2012, the Foundation will continue its fundraising efforts in earnest through the remainder of 2011 and into 2012. Thanks to the fall GS event series and the Foundation’s Facebook- and Twitter-based social media campaign, hundreds of new alumni and supporters are connected to the cause. Efforts to expand the GS support base are already in progress, with the GS Alumni Association working to obtain new and updated contacts for GS alumni.

Beyond these efforts, appeals to several organizations are underway. The Foundation aims to use its recent success to its advantage in securing the aid of numerous top business and foundation grant prospects.

Looking ahead to the upcoming legislative short session in May, during which education budget deliberations are expected to take place, the Foundation will continue to engage legislators with the aim of marshaling support for restoring state funding for 2013 and beyond. Beginning in late 2011, the Foundation will transition from fundraising to advocacy, spearheading a nationwide grassroots campaign to preserve Governor’s School for the next generation of students.

Help save GS today! Volunteer to organize your own GS event, reach out to fellow alumni, or write your legislator.

Alumni can ensure that they get the latest news from the Foundation by updating their contact information at the GS Alumni Association database.